The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Sierra National Forest. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Sierra National Forest is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Sierra National Forest. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
"If you enter from the Tamarack trail head and go down Rock Creek Rd its easy to get to the overlook tower."
"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."
"About 200 feet further a little area that you can pull off. I’m driving a 170 wheelbase extended Sprinter and had a little difficulty to get in. Anything larger will be difficult. But great spot."
"Super convenient free camping between Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. A park ranger directed me here when all the campgrounds in the park were full."
"We were lucky there was enough room to pass plus in the dark you can see what’s coming as other reviews mention, the road in is narrow in parts and around 1 mile before you get to the camp ground."
"Everything else was a little bit of a drive away
You have to get up a steep incline, right road off of the main road and the road is narrow. It was not our favorite part."
"Nice big camp spot in the Sequoia National Forest, the road was really calm mid-April, we had no car during the night. The spot has firepits, a camping table and loads of bushes."
"Nice quiet spot right outside the park!"
"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"
"I’ve camped here for 14 days on two different occasions. It’s very private other than the manager for the Armenian Camp who comes up and down the road everyday, a few more campers on the weekend."
"After Marie Lakes we had a very short 300 foot climb up and over Selden Pass and then a long decent past Heart Lake, Sallie Keyes Lakes (where the traditional Indian wood flute was being played) and a"
"Campground Review: Marie Lake, John Muir Trail
Marie Lake is nestled 99 miles into the 220 mile John Muir Trail, JMT, if you're heading Southbound."
Guide4x4 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.
LegendRANGER 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.
GuideWas 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
GuideWhat 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!
LegendThere 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.
RangerYou 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!
ScoutGot 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!
ScoutWe 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.
ScoutMay 2023- We happened upon this place through "the dyrt" and what a hidden jewel! We camped right next to the stream and stayed one night and it was peaceful and far away from any highway. The road becomes dirt and while bumpy in places, our class B van with low clearance did fine going slow. The creek was 40 feet from our spot, running well (Spring of 2023 after record snowfall) and the dog loved playing it it. We arrived 1pm and there was just one other vehicle. By evening there were about 7 more vehicles but they dispersed. We camped at the first turn off where you'll see the Forest Service Sign. You can continue further on the bumpy road and there are other sites along the way, which I can't speak about as we did not go there. BE CAREFUL as there are two camps with same name. The one we stayed at is just west of Bishop. There is another "Mc Gee Creek Forest Service Campground" west of Lake Crowley which looks great, but I've not been there.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Sierra National Forest in California, where nature's tranquility awaits. With a variety of spots to choose from, you can enjoy the great outdoors without the crowds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best dispersed camping spots in Sierra National Forest?
Sierra National Forest offers excellent dispersed camping options with varying amenities and terrain. Forest Road 13S02 Dispersed Site provides plenty of shade, solar opportunities, and amazing views, with multiple car-accessible spots nearby. Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping features breathtaking 360-degree views with both tent sites and back-in spots, though a high-clearance or 4x4 vehicle is recommended due to the long dirt road with dips and rocks. Other notable areas include Forest Road 13s09 Dispersed Camp and the North Fork Confluence area. Remember that most dispersed sites in Sierra National Forest require you to pack out all trash, have a 14-day maximum stay, and often implement fire restrictions during summer months.
Can I go dispersed camping near Shaver Lake in Sierra National Forest?
Yes, dispersed camping is available near Shaver Lake in Sierra National Forest. Laurel Springs Campground is a dispersed option in the area, though not recommended for big rigs as it features narrow, grassy paths to campsites. Small vans and cars with some clearance can access the sites. Upper Deadman Creek offers another dispersed camping opportunity in the region. When camping near Shaver Lake, be aware that summer fire restrictions are common, stays are limited to 14 days maximum, and you must pack out all trash. Cell phone coverage is typically very limited or nonexistent. Always check current forest regulations and road conditions before heading out, especially during winter months when access may be restricted.
How close can I find dispersed camping in Sierra National Forest to Yosemite?
Yosemite "Boondock National" Dispersed Camping is located right on the edge of Yosemite, making it an excellent option for those wanting to camp close to the national park. This area features tree-covered sites that provide privacy despite sometimes being busy. The roads around the camping area are bumpy but manageable in a camper van, and even some big rigs have been spotted there. Another option is Goat Meadow - Dispersed Camp Site, which is also situated near the Yosemite boundary. When camping near Yosemite, be prepared for potentially crowded conditions during peak season, and arrive early to secure a spot. These areas typically don't have facilities, so come prepared with all necessary supplies and follow leave-no-trace principles.
Is there a map available for dispersed camping in Sierra National Forest?
Yes, maps are available for dispersed camping in Sierra National Forest. While specific to a neighboring forest, the practices are similar to what you'll find in Inyo National Forest Dispersed Camping, where maps can be found at information boards at the beginning of dirt roads. The Forest Service offers an app that shows all roads in the area, with color-coding to indicate which roads are suitable for different vehicle types. For Sierra National Forest specifically, you can obtain Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs) from ranger stations or download them from the official USFS website. These maps show roads where dispersed camping is permitted. The visitor centers in towns like Shaver Lake and Prather also typically provide maps and current information about dispersed camping areas.
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