Looking for the best campgrounds near Portola, CA? Portola is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Portola, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
"Two sections of campground, if first lot is full drive 1/4 mile back towards the mountains and there will be more sites. Vault pit toilets at both areas."
"Pristine bathroom, great fire pits and grills at the sites, definitely a hidden gem and far enough off the highway to have zero noise. Totally recommend."
"Was fine in my 2wd van but have high clearance and was dry. Might be worse if muddy or low clearance vehicle. Also, coordinates lead to historic sheep camp site."
"I went to stay at a paid campground nearby but they said my dogs would have to be leashed, so he suggested this place for us. It has a few roads with a couple campsites. Pure dispersed camping."
"If you are looking to be near the water and no service, this is perfect. The rough road in I believe must keep some folks out but the lake is amazing."
"Found a perfect spot with easy access to water right outside of our tent. Very friendly area for our dog - zero ticks the whole weekend!"
"We backpacked up to the high loch levens lake where we found many available campsites."
"We took Salmon lake trailhead which is shorter trail."
"The weather isn't cold, but the snow plows have pushed all the snow off the road so that it's impossible to get to any pullouts or open dispersed camping areas."
RangerIt's sad where we have this public land to camp on and people just dump tons and tons of trash and abandoned cars and demolished cars on the property would not recommend going. There's some more BLM land about 15 to 20 minutes north on Red Rock road.
GuideI live 10 minutes away, so I checked it out. It's sketchy driving in with a lot of trailers and cars along the road closer to the main road. There may or may nor have been people in them. We didn't see people walking around except one guy who was walking his dog on the dirt road and another guy nearby with a table next to his car. Maybe he was flying a drone. The dirt road was very rutted in a few areas. No big deal, but I was in my Jeep Trailhawk 4x4. I didn't have my trailer with me. The view of the city is great, but that's it. The area to pull off is not that big, so I think it would be crowded with more than 2 other trailers. It wasn't windy at all when we were there, but I'm sure it could be because it can be very windy in this area. I wouldn't stay here unless I absolutely had to for the night. I did hear gunshots in the distance. We only stayed a few minutes to take a few pictures. No amenities like fire rings or tables.
GuideI live nearby, so my family and I went for the day. We left just before sunset. It's gorgeous here. The dirt road is pretty good and not difficult for my Jeep Trailhawk 4x4. There were about 3 other groups. We were there on a Thursday. We walked around the whole area where the rocks were. The campsite overlooks a valley where there is an airport. We saw a couple of paragliders. On the way in from Reno, it's very easy to find. I would love to stay here in my travel trailer. There were some huge rigs out there. All of those people had dune buggies, but nobody was driving around on the rocks when we were there. There are no amenities at all. There is just a big clearing for campers. We took our dog. She had fun.
TravelerTucked off, dirt road with enough seclusion and privacy to feel comfortable at night. Be forewarned that the road is super rough and you will definitely need a car with more clearance to get up it. There is a little pull out before you get to where the directions take you that is perfectly cool to camp. I wouldn’t go all the way up that little stretch of road past the water tanks unless you have a 4x4. The pullout also has a portajohn and sink if needed.
One thing to note! There are many joggers and bikers that go up this road pretty much as soon as the sun goes over the hill (about 6 in July) so just be aware of that when camping here. I wasn’t bothered by anyone and I had about 4 people pass by my car this morning.
TravelerIf you are looking to be near the water and no service, this is perfect. The rough road in I believe must keep some folks out but the lake is amazing.
TravelerWe only found one good area and it already had 2 people at it. It had level sites and nice tall trees. It also tucked in out of the wind. We some for other sites but they were windy, rough road to reach them, and not level so we moved on
RangerWe backpacked up to the high loch levens lake where we found many available campsites. But also a lot of the nice view spots were occupied since we didn’t start our hike up early, we started at 5:30pm. The middle lake is very large and had many beautiful spots to camp. But we headed to the upper lake since a lot of day hikers go to the middle lake and don’t always pack out what they pack in. All the sites are very dispersed and you have so much privacy. We saw some people even camping on the boulders! It was very serene and quiet with very respectful campers. The trail up is a bit confusing if you don’t pay absolute attention to where you are going. You can find some orange markings or stacked rocks that help you stay on the path. Reaching our destination was amazing. We swam in the lake and napped in our hammocks. I will say that there was a lot of mosquitos. Even with bug spray I left with 7 bites. But, it’s the outdoors what do you expect? Overall very beautiful area to camp!
LegendThis is literally right off the highway, it might be hard to spot unless someone else is there.
The roads to the spots are a little rutted, no low profile vehicles, but it’s easy to access.
There is no name to this place, and the bulletin board has zero information.
Possibly 5-6 spaces. The most people that was here any given night were just stopping for a place to rest for the night.
No bathrooms, trash or water. One of the locals said there is a junk yard you can walk to from here but we never found it.
Traffic noise dies down around 10/11PM. Unless the occasional driver is honking at absolutely nothing, it’s pretty quiet.
We heard gunshots around 9PM that lasted for about an hour. Seems the people around here hunt at night.
Definitely just a place to rest or gather yourself for a couple of days. I’m not sure about the amount of time you can stay here. But hey, it’s free!
GuideNot a bad place to spend a night or two primitive camping
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Portola, California, where nature lovers can find serene spots away from the crowds. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, you can enjoy the great outdoors while embracing the freedom of camping without the constraints of traditional campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the regulations for dispersed camping in the Portola area?
Dispersed camping in the Portola area typically follows standard Forest Service and BLM regulations. At sites like BLM - Water Tank Road Dispersed, camping is generally limited to 14 consecutive days. Practice Leave No Trace principles by packing out all trash—improper disposal is a serious issue at some locations like Peavine Road Dispersed Camping. Campfires require permits during fire season (typically May-November), and some areas may have complete fire bans during high-risk periods. Camp at least 200 feet from water sources and use existing fire rings when available. Always check with Plumas National Forest or local BLM offices for current restrictions before your trip.
Where can I find dispersed camping near Portola, CA?
Several dispersed camping options exist near Portola. Fort Sage Off Highway Vehicle Area offers two camping sections with vault toilets, cement picnic tables, and fire pits surrounded by sage and juniper. For a more secluded experience, Kyburz Flats provides primitive camping accessible via a rough road (high clearance recommended). Other options include Merrill Valley Dispersed Camp, Three Cornered Meadow, and Dog Valley. Most sites are located on BLM or Forest Service land within a 30-minute drive of Portola, with varying levels of accessibility and amenities.
What seasons are best for dispersed camping near Portola, California?
Late spring through early fall (May-October) offers the best conditions for dispersed camping near Portola. Summer provides excellent access to higher elevation sites like Bowman Lake Dispersed, where you can enjoy lakeside camping with complete solitude. Moon Rocks Camp is particularly beautiful during summer evenings with spectacular sunsets. Winter brings heavy snowfall that makes many forest roads impassable without specialized vehicles. Fall offers colorful foliage and fewer crowds, while spring brings wildflowers but potentially muddy conditions that can make rough access roads challenging. Always check road conditions before heading out, as weather can significantly impact accessibility, especially at higher elevations.
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