Best Dispersed Camping near New Hogan Lake
Free dispersed camping areas surround New Hogan Lake in California's Sierra foothills, with several options on national forest land. Top of Arnold offers tent and small trailer sites along Forest Route 5N56, though the dirt access road contains numerous ruts and potholes. A visitor noted that "the dirt road up is full of ruts and potholes, but my Toyota Yaris made it up." This primitive site provides no facilities but offers cell coverage with "2 bars LTE of Verizon" reported by campers.
Additional dispersed options include Iron Mountain, an abandoned ski resort area with spectacular valley views and relatively flat terrain. The Mormon Emigrant Trail pull-off provides large open areas for camping, though recent visitors mention evidence of past fires affecting the surrounding landscape. Bear Valley dispersed camping features wooded sites with cooler temperatures and good cell reception. Most locations permit campfires with proper permits, though seasonal fire restrictions apply throughout the region. These free sites typically observe the standard 14-day camping duration limits for public land camping.
