Dispersed camping near Groveland, California offers access to the Sierra Nevada foothills at elevations ranging from 2,500 to 5,200 feet. The area experiences hot, dry summers with temperatures often exceeding 90°F and cooler fall conditions with overnight lows dropping into the 40s. Most free camping sites in this region are located along forest service roads with varying levels of shade coverage and ground conditions that can be dusty during summer months.
What to do
Stargazing opportunities: At Goat Meadow - Dispersed Camp Site, campers enjoy exceptional night sky viewing. "Beautiful scenery, clean, close to Yosemite, and easy to reach. Follow Mount Raymond Rd up until you see the sign for the snow play area, and look to the right," notes Derrick H.
Snow play in winter: Goat Meadow doubles as a winter recreation area. "When I was there recently, some of the 'campsites' had 0-3" of snow, whereas other spots were about 6-8". I'm glad I didn't set up in the parking lot though, as around 7am, the place filled up with people sledding," reports Alexander Mark C.
Mountain biking: Bear Valley Dispersed Camping provides access to numerous trails. "Location was near trails to rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking," mentions Esther Y. The area offers both beginner and intermediate trails through forested terrain.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At Hardin Flat Road, campers appreciate the separation between camping areas. "This was a really nice stay close to Yosemite with really spread out spots. Couldn't even see your neighbor and the vicinity to the park made it perfect," Bobby J. explains.
Cell service availability: Many dispersed sites maintain usable connectivity. A Hardin Flat Road camper reports, "Enough T-Mobile service for messaging and lite web browsing." At Top of Arnold - FR 5N56 Dispersed, Michael S. found "2 bars LTE of Verizon."
Fire rings at established spots: Several areas feature basic fire facilities. At Goat Meadow, campers mention "an open area with fire pits." According to Ashley M., Hardin Flat Road has spots with "a small rock fire pit. I believe fires are allowed as long as you have a permit."
What you should know
Road conditions vary significantly: Van Haven Dispersed Site Yosemite requires capable vehicles. "Red Cloud Rd offers few viable camping sites. The road becomes increasingly rough and eroded, with deep ruts and drainages. 4WD or AWD is necessary," warns Mark L.
Wildlife activity: Be prepared for animal encounters. Alexander Mark C. cautions: "Coyotes and bears are active in the area—coyotes raided a bag I had hanging from a tree and stole my food!" Leah H. adds regarding Hardin Flat Road: "Lots of ticks! be prepared."
Weekend crowding patterns: Arrive early during peak periods. Katelin M. notes about Goat Meadow: "Stayed about a week which also crossed over Memorial Day weekend. This place gets CROWDED. At 5:30 it's like everyone got off work and headed home."
Tips for camping with families
Arrival timing: With children, plan to arrive with daylight. At Evergreen Rd Dispersed camping, Melissa M. advises: "We got in a lil late and was a little tricky finding a spot. But once we did, it was perfect. Now that we know about this spot we will definitely use this area again. We'll just make sure we get there earlier."
Noise levels: Consider site location relative to developed areas. At Hardin Flat Road, one camper noted: "We found one away from the water and not at all buggy. It turned out to be near enough to Rush Creek Lodge that you could hear kid noise from the pool during the day but it got quiet after 9pm."
Safety considerations: Choose sites with neighboring campers when with children. Leah H. mentions about Hardin Flat Road: "There were many other groups camping in this area which provided a sense of comfort."
Tips from RVers
Length limitations: RV sites are limited but available at some locations. Ashley M. reports: "Great spot a little farther up Hardin Flat Rd. I am parked across from a private drive so I can turn around with my RV if needed."
Clearance requirements: Forest roads demand adequate vehicle clearance. Nick F. cautions about Forest Route 4N39 Dispersed: "You don't need 4x4 but you definitely will need a vehicle with some decent clearance. There are some weirdly purposefully placed speed bumps on the west end of the road approaching 4N01 and Spring Gap Rd."
Parking logistics: Some sites require strategic parking. At Goat Meadow, Helen F. notes: "Bumpy roads around the actual camping area but manageable in a camper van. Actually saw a few big rigs here too."
