Pine Flat Lake is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. Pine Flat Lake is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Pine Flat Lake. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
$40 - $150 / night
"Just 25 minute drive to the entrance of National Park. But did enjoy staying in campground with nice walking trails around the property and peaceful pond to canoe. "
"He is super attentive and friendly without being in your face, he strikes the perfect balance between helpful and respectful of your privacy. Great place!"
$10 / night
"Great little spot close to a lot of nice trail heads and close to all of the amenities of Yosemite. Was recommended this spot by a friend who works for the park and was so glad!"
"Good supply of wood clean restrooms clean creek water , definitely going back"
$39 - $69 / night
$50 / night
"Camp ground was very easy to find, very spacious, picnic table, pit fire, restrooms are not too far & not too close to any site, flushing toilets and showers are not too far away located next to the"
"Great camp sites. we got in at 10pm and were still able to find a free site. it is so close to the General Grant so we didn’t have to get in the car, we just made it a long hike."
"It's a nice place real nice open large camp area pretty cool nice trail to a bridge overlooking the San Joaquin River gorge I really enjoyed it it's much more fun if you have horses to ride"
GuideWe stayed at campsite 12 out of 25. They have group campsites and single campsites which is great and it Is also free and you can stay for up to 14 days. Each came with a picnic table (two if a group) and a fire ring. There are vault toilets that weren’t the worst one I’ve been too. You can see the Kings River and hear it really well. It is a beautiful canyon not far from Pine Flat Lake. It is family friendly and the ground is pretty comfortable to have a tent on. Amazing views of the stars at night, really beautiful weather during the day and night. It might get pretty hot though during the summer months because it’s only at around 1000ft in elevation. Its close to so many creeks too. If you like going up dirt roads and seeing bears or amazing views I definitely would recommend coming here. At night along with seeing the stars and hearing the river, you can also hear frogs, and there is not very many mosquitoes.
LegendThousand Island Lake is a backcountry camping area located at 9,839 feet elevation in Ansel Adams Wilderness within the Inyo National Forest, California.
If you desire 360 degree mountain beauty, a cool lake to fish, float, swim or reflect by, epic sunrises and sunsets, star-filled night skies...or just desire the unearthly quiet of being unplugged and being a speck in rugged vastness...this is for you!
This incredible dispersed backcountry camping area must:
There are a few methods of getting to Thousand Island Lake...all involve backpacks and hiking. First, if you are hiking the Pacific Crest Trail NOBO or SOBO, you will at some point of your journey reach Thousand Island Lake. Second, if you are hiking the John Muir Trail NOBO or SOBO, you will reach Thousand Island Lake during your journey. Third, you can choose a beautifully scenic 14.3 mile out and back from Mammoth, CA...the shortest of the three options. Fourth, there are horseback/mule train options.
We happened to reach Thousand Island Lake as part of our August 2018 SOBO John Muir Trail attempt.
Choosing to hike in by any of the options takes planning and preparation. This is beautiful country, but it is also rough and unforgiving. The trails are wonderfully cared for, but not groomed and flat...know this and adequately prepare.
Every hiking/camping group must possess a permit, which for a short hike directly into Thousand Island Lake is secured through the Inyo National Forest office. PCT and JMT permits are primarily lottery based (although several walk-in permits are granted each day on site...but that's a gamble).Inyo National Forest website page states: "Groups cannot be larger than 15 people (includes day use). Quota of 30 people permitted to start overnight trips each day from May 1 to November 1."
This is active black bear country, so you must use approved bear canisters for food and odoriferous items (toothpaste, soap, lip balm, insect repellent, etc). Stiff fines by rangers (and they do backcountry patrols) await if you foolishly ignore this law...worse yet, you might receive a catastrophic visit from Yogi or Boo-Boo. We did not see any bear or evidence of their presence but I’m sure they saw us.
Leave No Trace...pack it in...pack it out. Yes, that means everything. Know the rules and abide by them. Nothing more distasteful and damaging to pristine wilderness are those that believe they are the exception to this rule and leave trash...worse, waste and TP dotting the landscape. Unfortunately, I found myself burying selfish stranger's waste. So bring a small shovel (www.tentlab) and a Ziploc freezer baggie to pack out your TP.
There is signage at Thousand Island Lake advising where to camp, which is far away from the main JMT trail. Again, abide by the rules and camp at least 40 feet away from the trail and 100 feet from the lake. Read and obey the list of rules on the website.
We camped on the northwest area of the Lake. Numerous hikers were there, some groups that hiked in for a day or two, others were thru-hikers. I enjoy the "community" of backcountry backpacker's. Day hikers can bring "Fido."
It is unnecessary to pack in hordes of water, as there seems to be streams and lakes aplenty. I'd recommend a reliable water filter or boiling the water to ensure a parasite free thirst quencher. We used a simple Sawyer Squeeze, which was both lightweight and effective.
Once camp is set, hike around the trails of this pristine wilderness and soak it all in...or just pull out your sleeping pad and relax.
I have read and been admonished to use 100% DEET for the mosquitoes on the JMT...particularly June-July, and though prepared, we experienced none in mid-August, nor at this elevation. The elevation should not be bothersome healthwise, as it is not above 10,000 ft. As Floridian Flatlanders, we had no adverse altitude maladies...other than being out of breath while climbing passes. June and early July hikers may experience snow at this elevation depending on the winter accumulations.
Several notable peaks shadow Thousand Island Lake, Banner Peak being one of them.
For those securing a day hike permit, search out several websites/blogs for the best starting locations (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/thousand-island-lake-pct).
If you are looking for the best bang for your buck in backcountry short trips, file this one away as a "must do!" There are others in the eastern Sierra Nevadas...but that's for another post.
TravelerGreat location, centrally located for exploring both Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks.
Nicely shaded spots and the higher elevation is nice for cooler nights during the hot summer months.
Great views of the sunset from the back of the campground.
Grant Grove Village is very close by with market and restaurant.
We stayed in site 32 which was probably the worst spot in the campground. Very hilly spot with one flat spot for a tent right next to neighbors picnic table and fire pit. Both 32 & 34 are tent only spots and right on top of each other. The other sites nearby were much more flat and looked much nicer.
TravelerWe camped at site 13 between 2/12 and 2/14. There were restrooms and a large sink that is useful to dump bear attracting water located pretty close.
The campsite itself is fairly large. I would say it lends itself more to tent camping than car or RTT camping. The site is located on a significant slope, this includes the paved parking area and the grass. There are a fire pit, bear box and picnic table located at the site. Be wary, when we went there were numerous large holes that were definitely a trip hazard.
While there were rangers and employees of the park driving around, there were no actual rangers at the kiosk. Additionally, there wasn't a reservation list posted.
ScoutThis was a beautiful campground. The only thing negative I could say about this campground is that a lot of the campsites are very close to each other. But if you choose wisely, as my friend and I did, then I have no complaints. Surrounded by trees and wildlife, we were visited by deer and entertained by a family of quails as we sat around our fire. Our campsite had a fire ring with a grill, two picnic tables and a bear box. The restrooms, which had flush toilets, were clean and well maintained. There was potable water near our campsite and an additional bear box was nearby if needed. There were also trash bins, including separate waste bins for recycling glass and plastics nearby. There was no cell reception in the campground but there was a pay phone next to the ranger station where you check into camp. Though I do not know if it was in working condition so I would not rely on it. If you were planning on hiking to some of the less traveled spots in the park, this campground was nice because there were several trails that you could access from within the campground.
LegendThis is a really cool little campground near the entrance of Sequoia National Park. The sites are tent only, so no hookups or anything like that. Pretty nice sites though, a lot of space. I think there can be fire restrictions in the summer since it can get so dry, so just be aware of that. As far as places go, it wasn't too pricey. I think we paid about $20 a night. There are bathrooms with running water, and the sites have picnic tables and fire rings. Each site also has storage lockers for your food, so be sure to lock it up in order to keep the bears from getting into it.
As for stuff to do around here, you obviously have to check out the trees. Go look at General Sherman and all the other Sequoia trees. They're so amazing and honestly it humbles you a little. Also check out Moro Rock Trail. The view from the top is amazing. You'll also probably see a fair amount of wildlife while you're hiking around, so be careful of the bears. Out of all my trips to California, I've seen the most bears here in Sequoia. They are super cool creatures, just keep a respectful distance and of course don't feed them.
RangerWhile I did not camp here, I did drive through and checked out the sites.
I was looking to get a bit further on my driving or I would have happily set up camp.
I even picked out the site I would have set up camp. 26, huge stump of a tree, bear boxes, fire rings, picnic tables, water on site, flush toilets. Nice sites for sure.
Some sites are right on top of each other and others are a bit more spread apart. Drive around and check them all out.
In Mid Sept there were only a handful of campers and the majority were in campers just a few tent campers.
GuideGreat place to relax and enjoy the water. Pretty cold in the off season, and pretty swift for littles. Hot and isolated, bring water or a filter. No cell service, so check in on your needs around Pine Flat lake.
TravelerWe drove in after a long day of hiking in Yosemite. This campground is right off of Hwy 120 and makes for a super convenient stop the night before or after visiting Yosemite.
At the time we visited (early Nov 2020) there were no water or trash removal services, but the infrastructure is there. Bathrooms were in poor shape, though I'm not sure if this is due it being the winter season.
Campsites were $16 and included a picnic table, campfire ring, and a bear box. There were plenty of spots within our campsite for three 2-person tents.
Tent camping near Pine Flat Lake in California offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, making it an ideal getaway for nature enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Pine Flat Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Pine Flat Lake is Dunlap canyon retreat with a 5-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Pine Flat Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 56 tent camping locations near Pine Flat Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
