Primitive camping near Forest Knolls, California offers unique opportunities across diverse topography ranging from 1,000 to 7,000 feet elevation. Most dispersed sites in the region experience significant temperature variations between seasons, with summer highs reaching 90°F and winter lows dropping below freezing. Road closures commonly affect access from November through April due to snow accumulation at higher elevations.
What to do
Fishing at alpine lakes: Union Valley Reservoir provides excellent fishing opportunities with relatively warm water during summer months. "Pretty easy to get to and lots of spaces for dispersed sites," notes one camper at Union Valley Reservoir Dispersed Camping, though they caution about finding a clean site.
Hiking to secluded camps: Several backcountry trails lead to remote camping spots with minimal crowds. A visitor to Loch Leven Lakes reports, "We backpacked up to the high loch levens lake where we found many available campsites. The middle lake is very large and had many beautiful spots to camp."
Winter recreation: Some areas remain accessible during winter months for snow camping and activities. However, conditions can be challenging as one camper at Lake Valley Rd Pullout discovered: "We were looking for an overnight spot in this area and checked out this listing but there's just still too much snow at this time. The weather isn't cold, but the snow plows have pushed all the snow off the road."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: The dispersed nature of primitive camping near Forest Knolls creates natural separation between campers. At Loch Leven Lakes, one visitor noted, "All the sites are very dispersed and you have so much privacy. We saw some people even camping on the boulders!"
Swimming opportunities: Many dispersed sites offer direct lake access for cooling off. "It was such an awesome experience. I'm super excited to go back," writes one camper about Loch Leven Lakes, adding "The view of the lakes at the top makes it all worth it."
Cooler temperatures: Higher elevation camping provides relief from valley heat during summer months. A camper at Grouse Ridge Campground noted, "It was 25 degrees cooler up there than in Sacramento. We loved this campground. I can't wait to go back."
What you should know
Vehicle requirements: Many primitive camping areas near Forest Knolls have challenging access roads. A visitor to Bowman Lake Dispersed advises, "Do not attempt to do this in anything smaller than an SUV. Sedans would definitely not be able to make it to this site. Road has lots of holes and rocks sticking up out the ground."
Site availability timing: Most dispersed areas operate strictly first-come, first-served with no reservation system. "We didn't start our hike up early, we started at 5:30pm. The middle lake is very large and had many beautiful spots to camp. But we headed to the upper lake since a lot of day hikers go to the middle lake," reports one Loch Leven Lakes visitor.
Bug protection: Mosquitoes can be problematic at many sites, particularly near water. One camper at Loch Leven Lakes warned, "I will say that there was a lot of mosquitoes. Even with bug spray I left with 7 bites."
Tips for camping with families
Bear safety precautions: Some areas provide bear boxes at dispersed sites for food storage. A visitor to Grouse Ridge Campground mentioned, "Quite a few sites there with fire rings, beat up, bear boxes that didn't open and picnic benches that were in bad shape."
Accessible dispersed options: For families seeking less rugged access, consider areas with shorter approaches. "It has a few roads with a couple campsites. Pure dispersed camping. But beautiful, any AWD car can make it down these roads. Only about 2 miles of the main road," writes a camper at Kyburz Flats.
Early arrival recommended: Popular areas fill quickly, especially during weekends and holidays. "I'd start early in the day to make sure you get good parking as this is a very popular trail, and so that you can get a good campsite and enjoy the lakes for as much time as possible," advises one Loch Leven Lakes visitor.
Tips from RVers
Pullout camping options: Several roadside areas accommodate RVs without requiring difficult access roads. One RVer noted about Mormon Emigrant Trail Pull Off: "Large pull off area I found and stayed at for 4 days with amazing views of the sunset and sunrise! A couple of level spots and lots of room to hike around."
Seasonal access limitations: Winter conditions frequently make RV access impossible at many sites. A camper at Lake Valley Rd Pullout reported, "We actually had cell reception with Verizon and Att here, which surprised us. It's a beautiful area to come back to when the snow clears!"
Limited amenities preparation: No hookups or services exist at these primitive sites. "Completely free and peaceful but 0 amenities so come prepared," warns a visitor to Mormon Emigrant Trail Pull Off about the self-sufficient nature of dispersed camping.
