Best Dispersed Camping near Long Barn, CA
Searching for a dispersed campsite near Long Barn? Dispersed camping is the perfect way to get off the grid. Search dispersed campsites you've visited before, or discover new spots and read camper reviews.
Best Dispersed Sites Near Long Barn, California (25)
1. Hardin Flat Road
12 Reviews•44 Photos•355 SavesEastman Lake, California- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Group
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
2. Bear Valley Dispersed Camping
7 Reviews•16 Photos•407 SavesBear Valley, California- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Equestrian
- Dispersed
- Drinking Water
3. Forest Route 4N39 Dispersed
2 Reviews•11 Photos•66 SavesStanislaus National Forest, CaliforniaMany people enjoy the solitude and primitive experience of camping away from developed campgrounds and other campers. Dispersed camping is the term used for camping anywhere in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a designated campground. Dispersed camping means no services like trash removal, and few or no facilities such as tables and fire pits, are provided.
Dispersed camping takes a lot more effort than camping in a developed campground, but for those with an adventurous spirit, it can be a lot of fun.
Here are some important points to remember about dispersed camping:
The maximum length of stay in a forest ranger district is 21 days per year. Please practice good outdoor ethics about camping, travel and behavior while visiting. Dispersed campers are allowed to park within one vehicle length (including any tow vehicle) of a National Forest transportation route and walk into camp. Dispersed camping is not permitted in developed campgrounds and day use areas. Other areas closed to dispersed camping include historical and archaeological sites. Also, be certain that you are within the boundaries of the National Forest before setting up camp. To prevent resource damage please keep your campsite within 150 feet from a roadway. Dispersed camping is not allowed in these areas: within one mile of Pinecrest Basin along 7N83, Clark Fork Road along Hwy 108 between Clark Fork Road and Kennedy Meadows Road Leave No Trace Camping – Camp so no one notices you while you are there, and no one even knows you were there after you leave. Please respect nature and other visitors by keeping noise to a minimum. Always pack out whatever you pack in. No permanent structures are to be constructed to an area, such as building rock-lined fire pits, trenches around tents, or carving into trees. Human waste should be deposited in a hole dug 6 - 10 inches deep and then covered with organic soil. Vehicles are not permitted off of roads, but if you can safely park your vehicle adjacent and parallel to the road and are not blocking the roadway, you may park and camp. Most sites will have a parking spot nearby while other sites may not. Because the footprint of a vehicle can have a large impact to soils, please do not create new “parking spot” for a campsite. Please park in designated or already impacted spots. If you are going to an area where others have camped before, pick a site that has been used before. Plants, soil and wildlife are impacted by new campsites so using existing ones will minimize your impact in the forest.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Equestrian
- Standard (Tent/RV)
4. Top of Arnold - FR 5N56 Dispersed
2 Reviews•5 Photos•170 SavesArnold, CaliforniaDispersed camping takes a lot more effort than camping in a developed campground, but for those with an adventurous spirit, it can be a lot of fun.
Here are some important points to remember about dispersed camping:
The maximum length of stay in a forest ranger district is 21 days per year. Please practice good outdoor ethics about camping, travel and behavior while visiting. Dispersed campers are allowed to park within one vehicle length (including any tow vehicle) of a National Forest transportation route and walk into camp. Dispersed camping is not permitted in developed campgrounds and day use areas. Other areas closed to dispersed camping include historical and archaeological sites. Also, be certain that you are within the boundaries of the National Forest before setting up camp. To prevent resource damage please keep your campsite within 150 feet from a roadway. Dispersed camping is not allowed in these areas: within one mile of Pinecrest Basin along 7N83, Clark Fork Road along Hwy 108 between Clark Fork Road and Kennedy Meadows Road Leave No Trace Camping – Camp so no one notices you while you are there, and no one even knows you were there after you leave. Please respect nature and other visitors by keeping noise to a minimum. Always pack out whatever you pack in. No permanent structures are to be constructed to an area, such as building rock-lined fire pits, trenches around tents, or carving into trees. Human waste should be deposited in a hole dug 6 - 10 inches deep and then covered with organic soil. Vehicles are not permitted off of roads, but if you can safely park your vehicle adjacent and parallel to the road and are not blocking the roadway, you may park and camp. Most sites will have a parking spot nearby while other sites may not. Because the footprint of a vehicle can have a large impact to soils, please do not create new “parking spot” for a campsite. Please park in designated or already impacted spots. If you are going to an area where others have camped before, pick a site that has been used before. Plants, soil and wildlife are impacted by new campsites so using existing ones will minimize your impact in the forest. We want you to learn some of the many reasons to enjoy the quiet and solitude of dispersed camping, it’s up to you to LEAVE NO TRACE.
- Pets
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Equestrian
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
6. Evergreen Rd Dispersed camping
1 Review•83 SavesEastman Lake, California- Phone Service
- RVs
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
- Tent Cabin
7. Iron MT. Dispersed
6 Reviews•20 Photos•360 SavesEldorado National Forest, California- Pets
- Fires
- Dispersed
- Firewood Available
- WiFi
- Alcohol
8. Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping
14 Reviews•21 Photos•534 SavesEcho Lake, California- Fires
- Phone Service
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
- Equestrian
9. USFS Silver Fork Dispersed
6 Reviews•27 Photos•233 SavesKyburz, California- Pets
- Phone Service
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
10. Dewey Point Backcountry Site — Yosemite National Park
1 Review•11 Photos•53 SavesYosemite Valley, CaliforniaA wilderness permit is required year-round for backpacking, overnight climbing, or any other overnight stay in the Yosemite Wilderness. A wilderness permit is not required for day hikes (unless hiking to Half Dome) or for staying in lodging facilities and frontcountry campgrounds.
Wilderness permits are only issued to a limited number people for each trailhead in order to provide outstanding opportunities for solitude, as required by the Wilderness Act. Since many trails are very popular, reservations are recommended. Of each daily quota for a trailhead, 60 percent can be reserved ahead of time. Normally, 40 percent of wilderness permits are available on a first-come, first-served basis at park wilderness centers.
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Dispersed
$5 - $10 / night
Recent Dispersed Reviews near Long Barn, California
63 Reviews of 25 Long Barn Campgrounds
Tim R.
Guide
Packsaddle Pass - El Dorado National Forest Dispersed
Standard Dispersed Camping
Standard dispersed camping on national forest land. Paved main road with dirt roads and areas for camping branching off. Plenty of room. Some areas have beautiful views of strawberry valley!
Serena W.
Traveler
USFS Silver Fork Dispersed
Dispersed camping
Plenty of dispersed camping spots. My flat spot that I found not too far from a Creek and I even had 2 bars on my cell phone and watch the movie.
- AAnthony F.
Scout
Hope Valley Dispersed
Hope Valley dispersed
Free camping
- KKen J.Traveler
Dispersed USFS
Beautiful Free Camping
Several areas along Blue Lakes Rd offer dispersed camping. We had a wildflower-filled meadow to ourselves in early August with plenty of near-by trails for dirt bikes, Jeeping, horses, mountain biking or hiking.
Alex P.
Ranger
Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping
Dispersed and pleasant
Dispersed camping not far from Lake Tahoe. Easy to drive into just be careful of potholes and large puddles from rain, even in summer. No amenities, but it’s a very beautiful area. There are herds of cows that will make their way through the area, please be respectful of them! Scott’s lake is just up through this area if you have 4x4 capability.
- Susan L.Scout
Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping
What a beautiful place for our 40 ft 5th wheel
We are new to dispersed camping and have a 40 ft 5th wheel as well as a GMC Denali 350 dually. We need a large space to fit into. We arrived on a Monday at noon and found that the large area about 1/4 mile in was not at all crowded. We had our choice of several places to set up. It is very quiet here, not hearing any road noise. A forest ranger told us there were more spaces up near the lake, but we didn’t venture up there.
- Kristi D.
Legend
Hardin Flat Road
Lovely spot by the NP gate
Lovely spot if you like to boondock. Hardly anyone drove by....lodge right down the road. Mountain bike/hiking trail a quarter mile up road. Extremely peaceful, pretty level and 10 minutes from park entrance. No reception!! 20 minutes from nearest town to get food
- EElliott L.Scout
Leavitt Lake
Great lake
This is a beautiful lake. I like visiting it and geometry dash breeze which is amazing. Upon reaching the lake, you will discover approximately twelve camping spots. These sites are fairly basic, each equipped with uncomplicated stone fire pits, though only around half of them seem to feature picnic tables based on my observation. Upon our arrival, all the Lakeview sites were occupied, prompting us to locate a pleasant spot towards the back to set up our camp. Unfortunately, there is a segment of the camping area that would typically be open for use but was closed off by the Department of Fish and Game(DFG) due to environmental concerns. It's regrettable as there were some appealing campsites situated beyond that wooden barrier.
- CCheyanne G.Scout
Bear Valley Dispersed Camping
Pin is incorrect
So disappointing this app has failed us like 5 times now on camping spots. Not the right location.
- AAlexTraveler
USFS Silver Fork Dispersed
Endless Possibilities
The coordinates listed on the app are simply for the entrance to the dispersed camping. There are infinite amounts of primitive roads to drive down and find camp. I stayed at N38.768811• W 120.238630° — on top of a peak that offered 360° views with sunrise and sunset right from my tent. At this specific sight, there are no overhead trees. Despite being primitive, the roads are well kept, even if you have a small SUV. It could get slightly tricky with a car. I stayed here for 7 days (10/31-11/6) and only saw one other person on the primivite roads. The above coordinates are about a 6 mile drive in from US50. You will see a campground on your right about 5 miles down when driving in, about a mile further down the road you will come up on the dirt road leading you up the mountain.
A couple of notes:
- You are required to have a permit for any day/overnight use in Eldorado, including this area. They can be easily acquired at recreation.gov
- Cell phone reception is very spotty, in and out of a couple of bars throughout the drive in. — AT&T coverage. At the above coordinates, there were 2 bars of low grade coverage allowing basic texts to send. Not enough service for web browsing or sending photos via text.
- This area has been widely burnt by fires last year. There are still large areas unburnt. You will find yourself going in and out of them while driving.
- KEEP IT CLEAN — this area is immaculate and besides dug out fire pits, human trace is non-existent. Leave it cleaner than you found it, pick up your trash (and other’s if you see any), respect the area and it will respect you.
- NO CAMP SERVICES — There is no trash service or even dumpsters at the signed entrance; pack it in pack it out. There are no restrooms in the area either.
Jr A.TravelerScotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping
Easy access and lots of spots
You follow a dirt road and have camping spots along the road. When I was here it was jammed packed RV, vans and tents all set up along the road. To me it was good for a an overnight stay. No At&t service what so ever. Little highway noise.
- Serena W.Traveler
Bear Valley Dispersed Camping
Camp in Bear Valley Park
This is a nice little private camp spot for the most part, There's a campground with its own fence around it for private camping With signs posted very near it, "no camping here" in the other spots without the signs good to go.
- Raymond B.Traveler
USFS Silver Fork Dispersed
Overnight stay
We recently spent a night at this campsite and found it to be perfect for a quick overnight getaway. The area is spacious and conveniently located not too far off the main road, making it easy to access without feeling too isolated.
There are plenty of sites to choose from, catering to different preferences. However, we recommend taking some time to survey the land before setting up camp, as some spots are slightly sloped.
A huge plus is the gas station just about 5 minutes down the road. It’s well-stocked with all the convenient store items you might have forgotten at home, making it easy to grab any last-minute necessities.
Overall, it was a delightful stay. Just remember, always practice Leave No Trace principles—pack out what you pack in!
- NNick F.Scout
Forest Route 4N39 Dispersed
Not bad if you're looking for something quick.
This road follows power lines pretty much for the entire length of the road. It would be a really nice area to disperse if they weren't there as the area is beautiful. That said, 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 that will let you know if you have enough clearance pretty quickly. Overall not a super terrible road to disperse off of. There are a lot more and a lot better spots nearby and it's not too far from Beardsley Lake which can get pretty busy.
- Tisha S.Traveler
Iron MT. Dispersed
This place is really cool and easy to find! Great views!
This place is really cool and easy to find! Great views
Weather isn’t to hot and very secluded.
Damien M.Traveler
Top of Arnold - FR 5N56 Dispersed
Fun Spot
Super fun spot went in September. Dirt road to get to spot is pretty rough but my Taurus wagon did just fine. There are a few people on dirt bikes ripping around trails so not fully secluded but still a good spot.
Orion B.TravelerUSFS Silver Fork Dispersed
Beautiful free camping is a real thing!
My 9 yr old son wanted to try camping in or near the snow, and the weather was favorable on this December weekend (high 56, low 39). We are pretty new to camping and not hardcore, but this was very easy and comfortable. We camped right at the entrance because nobody was there and there was plenty of flat area. Easily accessible on paved roads. Spotted a rock climber on the nearby rock face when we arrived, who later came by to pick up his car he had parked there.
Caldor Fire damage was evident everywhere, but this made it easy for my son to chop down a small dead tree that we used for firewood. It was breezy, which made it chillier than the temps indicated, but we were fine and very toasty once in our tent cots.
We found a few beer bottles around (which we took home to recycle), and small amounts of building waste such as concrete. But overall the setting was peaceful and beautiful. Amazing to have a resource like this that's free. We brought a privacy shelter and portable camp toilet, and our own water. Those are really the only things you need that would normally be provided by a paid campsite.
Matt S.Guide
Dewey Point Backcountry Site — Yosemite National Park
Great Spot!
Booked a last minute permit for the Pohono trail on a recent trip and had Dewey Point as one of my camp sites! Beautiful views of el cap and the valley made for an iconic back country spot !
- AAustin M.Traveler
Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping
Sweet Spot
Easy to see right off the road with plenty of campsites down either side of a nice dirt road. Rocky and steep road access to Scott’s lake, but easy camping on the edge of the valley.
Shane C.TravelerScotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping
Dispersed camping with campground layout/feel
Camped here for a night in early October. Easy access and reasonably good road quality make it very RV friendly - I would say that it was at least 75% RVs/Trailers. Beautiful views of the valley and hills to the east. Most sites are obvious, with a driveway and stone fire ring. We like a more "dispersed" feel, but felt comfortable.
There are no services - bring all the water you will need and practice "leave no trace." This goes for your waste (human and animal) as well. I wish I could say that we didn't see any dog waste or "TP Flowers" but we did. Not a significant amount, but any is too much.
The place was pretty much full, but still good vibes and quiet neighbors. Very close to Hwy. 88, so road noise and campers coming in looking for a spot after dark. Gets quiet later in the evening.
Overall, a nice spot.
- OOnyx E.Guide
Mormon Emigrant Trail Dispersed Pull Off
Large dirt pull off
Large pull off area I found and stayed at for 4 days with amazing views of the sunset and sunrise! I was there on weekdays so was pretty much alone the whole time but even if the main spot is occupied there’s a couple of dirt roads that lead to more areas to camp. A couple of level spots and lots of room to hike around. Completely free and peaceful but 0 amenities so come prepared. Currently there is an abandoned red semi truck cab so it’s easy to find not sure if that will ever be moved in the future though!
DJ M.GuideForest Route 4N39 Dispersed
On the mountain
Drive to the back area for tree shade and level grounds. Side of road camping. Camping on Ridgeline
Michael S.GuideTop of Arnold - FR 5N56 Dispersed
Peaceful spot
Great spot for a tent or small trailer. The dirt road up is full of ruts and potholes, but my Toyota Yaris made it up. Some noise from chainsaws in the distance one day, and some target practice, but neither lasted long. 2 bars LTE of Verizon.
- mmirandaScout
Hardin Flat Road
Great Yosemite option
Lots of available spots along Hardin Flat Road, most with good shade. Passed 10-15 pull out spots for car campers, and at least 10 more easily accessible spots for tents. We were there peak season but mid-week and spots were easy to find. Just a 10 minute drive from the entrance to Yosemite! The spots along the creek were very buggy. 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.
CarrieTravelerHardin Flat Road
Spacious and semi secluded spots
I liked this spot! It was about 10 mins from the gate into Yosemite. We had a lot of space, good amount of tree cover when I rained. There’s a bunch of different spots to choose from, the one by the creek would have been nice.
- NNathan G.Scout
Hardin Flat Road
Perfect for car campers
Was ideal for the one night and a ten minute drive from the park entrance. Quite and tranquil setting
- MMartin A.Traveler
Hardin Flat Road
Visited in April
Went on 4/5/24 - 4/7/24. I stayed to car camp and had an overall nice time. There was a good amount of ice but with 4x4 not problem. The ice was melting so if you go anytime after the snow should be a lot less.
There’s enough space for you to distance yourself from others.
No bear boxes or bathrooms but very safe and easy to access.
Guide to Long Barn
Dispersed camping near Long Barn, California, offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. With stunning landscapes and a variety of sites, outdoor enthusiasts can find the perfect spot to unwind.
Tips for free and dispersed camping near Long Barn, California
- Many dispersed camping areas, like Hardin Flat Road, allow campfires, making it easy to enjoy evenings under the stars.
- It's essential to pack in and pack out your trash, as sites such as Top of Arnold - FR 5N56 Dispersed do not provide trash disposal services.
- Arriving early can help you secure a good spot, especially at popular locations like Bear Valley Dispersed Camping, where sites can fill up quickly.
Scenic views and outdoor activities for dispersed campers
- For breathtaking views and hiking opportunities, consider Dewey Point Backcountry Site — Yosemite National Park, which offers stunning vistas of El Capitan and the valley.
- If you're into fishing and hiking, Obsidian Creek on Little Walker Road is a great choice, with access to nearby streams and trails.
- The Leavitt Lake area features a beautiful lake and several basic camping spots, perfect for a relaxing getaway.
Dispersed campers should check out Iron MT. Dispersed
- This area is known for its gorgeous views and open spaces, making it a favorite among those seeking solitude and natural beauty, as highlighted in reviews of Iron MT. Dispersed.
- The site is accessible by vehicle, but a high-clearance vehicle is recommended due to rough terrain, ensuring a more adventurous experience.
- Campers can enjoy the peaceful surroundings while still being close to hiking trails and other outdoor activities, making it an ideal spot for nature lovers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Long Barn, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Long Barn, CA is Hardin Flat Road with a 4.6-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Long Barn, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 25 dispersed camping locations near Long Barn, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring