Best Dispersed Camping near North Fork, CA

Dispersed camping options near North Fork, California include several primitive sites within Sierra National Forest. Goat Meadow offers free camping with drive-in access for both tents and RVs. According to camper Brett H., "We were the only RV here and had it to ourselves an entire week. Can't beat the proximity to Yosemite south entrance." Yosemite "Boondock National" provides similar amenities with convenient access to Yosemite National Park. Momyer Creek Trail 1E06 has limited access, with recent visitors reporting "three closed gates that all look to be private properties."

Road conditions vary significantly throughout the area. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for many sites, particularly after weather events. Several forest roads become impassable during winter months or after heavy rainfall. No drinking water is available at these dispersed sites; visitors must bring all necessary water supplies. Cell service is limited or nonexistent at most locations. Campers note that Goat Meadow has "no service" but "plenty of firewood," making it suitable for those seeking a digital detox.

California Campfire Permits are required for any fire use, including camp stoves and lanterns. These permits can be obtained online through the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection website. Fire restrictions frequently change based on seasonal conditions and wildfire risk. The standard dispersed camping stay limit is 14 days within a 30-day period. All sites operate on a strict pack-in, pack-out basis with no trash services available. Visitors should check current forest orders before departure as road closures and fire restrictions can change rapidly during fire season.

Best Dispersed Sites Near North Fork, California (58)

    1. Goat Meadow - Dispersed Camp Site

    41 Reviews
    Fish Camp, CA
    19 miles
    Website

    "After accidentally driving to this location following the directions of another reviewer for the “Yosemite Boondocks” campground across 41 (which we never found) we were very happy with this location."

    "Great location, close to Yosemite Park which allows you to sleep for free. the spot was clean, impressive camper vans were present and they were parked on the tarmac. lots of pitches, vans can be placed"

    2. Yosemite “Boondock National” Dispersed Camping

    12 Reviews
    Fish Camp, CA
    19 miles

    "Nestled amongst trees right on the edge of Yosemite. Was quite busy when I was there but managed to find a quiet spot tucked away & private."

    "Here is the correct location. You can take a dirt road from this parking lot in order to camp in the woods.

    Dropped pin https://goo.gl/maps/2gskCbuY8XRMD82x5"

    3. Momyer Creek Trail 1E06

    4 Reviews
    Friant, CA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (909) 382-2882

    4. Bald Mountain Lookout

    1 Review
    Shaver Lake, CA
    19 miles

    "If you enter from the Tamarack trail head and go down Rock Creek Rd its easy to get to the overlook tower."

    5. JO Pass

    1 Review
    Lakeshore, CA
    22 miles
    Website

    "The landscape is rocky so you will need to be careful when setting up your tents and also be aware of any fire dangers or restrictions in the area."

    7. Hardin Flat Road

    15 Reviews
    Eastman Lake, CA
    45 miles

    "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."

    "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."

    8. Scenic Loop - Dispersed Camping

    10 Reviews
    Mammoth Lakes, CA
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 924-5500

    "Got here on Sunday - plenty of spots to park the camper van both Sunday and Monday. Multiple turn offs on the Scenic Loop road to camp at. No bathrooms, water, electricity, or fire rings."

    "As you drive along this road, every 10 seconds you will pass a dirt road. Each dirt road has multiple campsites!"

    10. Scenic Loop Dispersed Camping - Eastside

    9 Reviews
    Mammoth Lakes, CA
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 924-5500

    "Our Tacoma made it to the campsites toward the back of the grounds just fine, but there was access closer to the main road for vehicles without high clearance."

    "Multiple locations near by not listed. It gets a bit dusty and windy. Lots of off road vehicles.

    All the camper vans rolled in after dark and it filled up quick."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near North Fork, CA

177 Reviews of 58 North Fork Campgrounds


  • Thomas K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 9, 2020

    Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping

    Private hotspring with mountain views

    4x4 or high clearance coming in. Long dirt road with dips and rocks. Water only flowing in winter months. Lots of tent camping spots along with 8 back in spots. Really amazing views 360 degrees. No service with Verizon.

  • Dave V.
    Sep. 13, 2018

    Gladys Lake Backcountry, Ansel Adams Wilderness

    Breathtaking Beauty!

    RANGER REVIEW: Mountain House Spaghetti with Meat Sauce at Gladys Lake Backcountry Campsites, Ansel Adams Wilderness, CA

    CAMPGROUND REVIEW: Gladys Lake Backcountry Campsite, Ansel Adams Wilderness

    Backcountry camping often offers great hiking, epic scenery, serene solitude and otherwise missed sights. Depending on location, backcountry campsite locations can offer their own challenges, whether through the permitting process, preparation of gear and meals, logistics, or difficult terrain…but the trade offs can pay out big dividends.

    Leaving behind the din of packed campgrounds…getting unplugged from electronic encumbrances…relaxing beside an untouched alpine lake where the only sound you hear is the whir of dragonfly wings as they dart about.

    Only a set number of backcountry permits are issued daily, so crowds and impact remain minimal to nonexistent.

    Permits are necessary for all backcountry overnight stays in the Inyo National Forest. https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/inyo/passes-permits

    Whenever backcountry hiking/camping in California, do yourself a service and go online https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/inyo/passes-permits/?cid=stelprdb5139009 and take the California Campfire Permit test to acquire your certificate and possess it when in the backcountry.

    Several ways to get to Gladys Lake exist…

    1. John Muir Trail (JMT) thru-hike permits NOBO or SOBO

    2. John Muir Trail section hike permits

    3. Wilderness Permits Day hike permits

    You could enter from Reds Meadows and follow the JMT north to Gladys Lake…or better from Agnew Meadows and follow the Shadow Creek Trail (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=21272&actid=51 ) up and around Shadow Lake and then south on the JMT past Rosalie Lake to Gladys Lake. Each access trail has a daily quota…such as Shadow Creek, which has a daily quota of 30…18 secured through reservation and 12 walk-ups. So if you are choosing to walk-up, have some flexibility of starting days.

    We had a JMT SOBO permit acquired six months in advance through the NPS permit lottery. But next visit, I will likely enter through Agnew Meadows via day permit.

    Most hikers will stop and camp at Rosalie Lake, which is a wonderful option and a much larger lake. Some would suggest a more picturesque lake than Gladys Lake…but that is all in the eye of the beholder.

    August of 2018 saw little precipitation and the winter snowfall was below expectations, so lake water levels were lower and surrounding shoreline not marshy or soggy. Which made for dry and mosquito free conditions.

    The effects of local forest fires did cover surrounding mountain views during certain times of the day, and brought with it a bit of lung burning and eye stinging. Early morning and late evening hours brought clearer skies.

    Be forewarned that seemingly every backcountry campsite brings with it a steep uphill slog, but worth it. Gladys Lake is at 9600 ft elevation.

    I believe there was one other camper at Gladys Lake the night we stayed…but we neither heard nor saw them. It was a perfectly peaceful evening!

    Amenities? Well, no showers…no toilets…no water spigots…no electricity…no picnic tables…one lonely stone fire ring but open fires are not permitted. No cell service or WiFi…no general store or local grocery store. However, Gladys Lake water was refreshing both to wade and drink (filtered). You are surrounded by fragrant conifers that buffer sound. A perfectly peaceful location to relax and dream.

    PRODUCT REVIEW: Mountain House Spaghetti With Meat Sauce

    https://www.mountainhouse.com/

    As a frequent user of Mountain House freezes dried dinners, and being a creature of habit, I often settle into a couple favorite meals and don’t deviate to new offerings. Mundane and boring?…perhaps.

    But…after winning $100 worth of Mountain House meals through an early season TheDyrt.com contest… and with my daughter as my hiking buddy, I selected several different meals to avoid mutiny.

    One of these meal pouches was Mountain House’s Spaghetti with Meat Sauce.

    I admit, I was a little suspect as to how freeze-dried spaghetti with meat sauce would taste, but we were both very pleased with the sauce flavors, seasoning and the amount of meat in the sauce. The only thing I would add is a couple slices of toasted garlic bread.

    If the next rotation of Mountain House Spaghetti with Meat Sauce was easily located in our bear canisters, we would’ve likely had a second helping…but sadly, it was not.

    In pairing down weight before our backcountry hike, I removed the contents from Mountain House’s original packaging and utilized a commercial vacuum sealer to make smaller, lighter meal packs as 11 days of food needed to fit in a bear canister. It worked, but the distinct drawback was not being able to prepare the meal in the resealable pouch. A pot was necessary to allow the freeze-dried contents to soak in the boiling water. So clean up was more extensive than it would’ve been by using the Mountain House resealable pouch. It was a trade off and we made it work.

    If you are new to Mountain House freeze dried meals, directions are printed plain and simple on the pouch.

    •Measure out the prescribed amount of water

    •boil water

    •open meal pouch and remove moisture packet

    •pour boiling water in pouch and stir contents thoroughly

    •seal pouch for prescribed time

    •open pouch and stir contents

    •serve and enjoy

    It doesn’t get any easier.

  • goose10091203 The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 9, 2025

    Forest Road 13S02 Dispersed Site

    Great spot near the road

    Was a great place to stay. Plenty of shade for you, plenty of sun for you solar panel. Load road, you camp near the side, but it's not heavily trafficked even on the weekends. They are many spots nearby. Some really pretty of you walk and camp. Most are car accessible and has amazing views! Totally recommend

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Yosemite “Boondock National” Dispersed Camping

    Amazing boondocking!!

    What a brilliant place! Nestled amongst trees right on the edge of Yosemite. Was quite busy when I was there but managed to find a quiet spot tucked away & private. Bumpy roads around the actual camping area but manageable in a camper van. Actually saw a few big rigs here too. Only negative was the biting bugs which were everywhere & hungry but didn’t spoil the evening, just wish I’d taken bug spray or a citronella candle!

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2022

    Owens River Road Dispersed

    Lots of Spots Along Owens River Rd

    There are a ton of spots to camp along Owens River Rd.  All the spots closest to 395 were taken when we went in late September, but we found this spot that I've marked here that was easily accessible in our 26ft Motorhome.  Owens River Rd itself is paved, but the offshoots are hit or miss so take it slowly and proceed at your vehicle's ability. 

    This particular spot was nice and big and is probably suitable for any size rig.  The pavement on the road heading in was partly washed out but we were easily able to drive around the pits.  See video - it's long but I recorded us leaving the spot and showed the pits in the road.

    Good cell reception, very quiet, very little traffic.  

    No amenities, no toilets, no trash service.  Area was clean! Hopefully it stays that way.

  • Mark L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2025

    Van Haven Dispersed Site Yosemite

    Rugged, Remote, Dusty

    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. Site offers scenic views, unobstructed night sky, and interesting exploration.

    Leave no trace!

  • Alex P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2020

    Inyo National Forest Dispersed Camping

    Beautiful dispersed camping

    You can get maps for this area at some of the information boards at the beginning of the dirt roads, they also have an app that will show you all the roads in the area. What’s nice is the map color codes the roads so that you know what your vehicle is capable of driving on. Some of the roads can get a bit rough, so make sure you know your vehicles limits. Once you get out there, enjoy! It’s so beautiful and quiet. Please make sure you pack in and pack out your trash, there are no services for that. Also, be aware of fire restrictions!

  • Megan S.
    Jul. 28, 2022

    Scenic Loop - Dispersed Camping

    Great free camping!

    Got here on Sunday - plenty of spots to park the camper van both Sunday and Monday. Multiple turn offs on the Scenic Loop road to camp at. No bathrooms, water, electricity, or fire rings. Pretty dispersed but close enough to downtown. Would go back!

  • T
    Oct. 3, 2019

    Inyo National Forest Dispersed Camping

    Boondockers welcome!

    We boondocked in Inyo National Forest just last weekend, September 27-29, and it felt like we had the place to ourselves. The location was incredible, there were fellow boondockers around, but not too close, and it felt like we had the place to ourselves. There is no water on site that we found, but we knew that going in. Our rig was 58' long and we had no issues getting in or out. We enjoyed Jeeping on the trails in Inyo National Forest, and we enjoyed the peace and quiet. We will be back.


Guide to North Fork

Dispersed camping areas in Sierra National Forest provide several no-cost overnight options near North Fork, California. Located at elevations between 5,000-7,000 feet, this region experiences warm summer days and cool nights, with daytime temperatures typically 10-15°F cooler than the Central Valley. Winter access becomes limited as many forest roads close after the first significant snowfall, usually by mid-November.

What to do

Nearby hiking opportunities: Visitors staying at Goat Meadow - Dispersed Camp Site can access trails through Sierra National Forest. "Beautiful scenery, clean, close to Yosemite, and easy to reach," notes camper Derrick H. The area connects to multiple day hiking options that showcase the region's mixed conifer forests.

Wildlife observation: The forests around these sites host diverse wildlife. At Goat Meadow, camper Alexander Mark C. reports: "Coyotes and bears are active in the area—coyotes raided a bag I had hanging from a tree and stole my food!" Bring proper food storage containers and maintain awareness of local wildlife.

Winter recreation: During snow season, the Scenic Loop Dispersed Camping - Eastside area transforms for winter activities. "We came up here to escape the heat from the valley. There was plenty of space and it was accessible with our campervan," shares Stephanie S. The nearby Goat Meadow Snow Play Area becomes a popular destination for sledding and snow play from December through March.

What campers like

Proximity to Yosemite: The Hardin Flat Road dispersed sites provide convenient access to Yosemite National Park. Chris P. confirms: "Spent 2 nights here and loved it. Enough T-Mobile service for messaging and lite web browsing. Spacious pull-out with a small rock fire pit. ~8min drive to Big Oak Entrance and ~40min drive to Yosemite Valley Welcome Center."

Space and privacy: Many free camping areas near North Fork offer generous spacing between sites. Kevin T. reports about his Goat Meadow experience: "Quite a large level area, though it was November and not peak season so there were loads of space. We pulled in and there were a couple of trailers with horses and a couple of other vehicles and we parked with loads of space between."

Seasonal flexibility: Scenic Loop provides options throughout different seasons. "We camped here in July of this year and it was perfect! Close enough to town but out of the way enough to be quiet. Plenty of spots too. The ones closest to the main road are taken over quick but if you have 4wd you can get back pretty far and away," notes PK930 K.

What you should know

Variable road conditions: Access to dispersed sites often requires navigating unpaved roads. Regarding Hardin Flat Road, Paige notes: "So close to the park! Right in the forest, I'm surprised it's free! The road getting there has tons of potholes and the road in the site is super super bumpy."

Seasonal crowding patterns: Holiday weekends see significant increases in camper numbers. Katelin M. shares about Yosemite "Boondock National" Dispersed Camping: "Stayed about a week which also crossed over Memorial Day weekend. Arrived the Tuesday before. This place gets CROWDED. At 5:30 it's like everyone got off work and headed home, it's nuts."

Navigation challenges: Finding the correct access roads can be difficult, especially for first-time visitors. Megan A. advises about Yosemite "Boondock National": "If you travel beyond the coordinates towards the South Park Entrance and pass the Springdale Campground on your left, you will see a sign shortly afterwards that says SnowPlay area 1/2 mile and that's where you will turn onto Mount Raymond Road, which takes you to the dispersed camping about 5 minutes from the park entrance."

Tips for camping with families

Wildlife awareness: Teach children about proper food storage and wildlife safety. Alexander Mark C. cautions from experience at Goat Meadow: "Coyotes and bears are active in the area—coyotes raided a bag I had hanging from a tree and stole my food!" Bring wildlife-resistant containers and discuss wildlife safety with children before arrival.

Bug preparation: Insect activity varies by season and location. At Hardin Flat Road, Leah H. warns: "Lots of ticks! be prepared. other than that, our camp was wonderful. there were many other groups camping in this area which provided a sense of comfort."

Timing arrival strategically: For families needing ideal spots, early arrival makes a difference. Jeremy P. suggests about Hardin Flat Road: "Overall solid, but the best spots will be taken early. I ended up down a paved road on the side, but one that was closed a mile further up."

Tips from RVers

Site selection for larger vehicles: RV campers should scout locations carefully. At Bald Mountain Lookout, SpentBrassOffroad B. advises: "If you enter from the Tamarack trail head and go down Rock Creek Rd it's easy to get to the overlook tower. If you enter from the Dinkey Creek entrance get ready for some good offroad ohv trail action. I was able to get my 13ft offroad camper up there but it was a struggle."

Cell service considerations: Working remotely requires strategic site selection. Crystal B. notes about Scenic Loop Dispersed Camping - Eastside: "My partner and I drove around the whole loop looking for internet and couldn't get anything better than a couple Mbps with both T-Mobile and Verizon, even with our MiFi."

Road accessibility awareness: Jeffrey F. advises about Scenic Loop: "Overall this was a pretty good place to camp for one night. There are lots of obvious spots to camp both to the east and west sides of the Scenic Loop. I've ventured in a little further and found a decent spot to camp with my teardrop trailer."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near North Fork, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near North Fork, CA is Goat Meadow - Dispersed Camp Site with a 4.5-star rating from 41 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near North Fork, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 58 dispersed camping locations near North Fork, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.