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The Alabama Hills are a formation of rounded rocks and eroded hills set between the jagged peaks of the Sierra Nevada and the geologically complex Inyo Mountains. Both geologic features were shaped by the same uplifting occurring 100 million years ago. Alabama Hills camping offers touring film sites, photography, rock climbing, exploring natural arches, and viewing the swaths of wildflowers that bloom every spring. Horseback riding and mountain biking are popular activities.
Dispersed camping is camping outside of a designated campground. It is allowed in many areas of the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument.
There are certain areas where dispersed camping is prohibited and these areas are posted.
Dispersed camping is free but you must have a CAMPFIRE PERMIT. These can be obtained fore free at Readyforwildfire.org. Be aware of fire restrictions, typically enforced by mid-summer, banning open fires outside of designated campgrounds. More on campfire rules here.
The maximum length of time you may camp in dispersed areas is 14 DAYS at a time and 30 DAYS in a year.
Each year the number of people taking advantage of dispersed recreation opportunities has increased, making it more essential that these areas be left clean and undamaged.
The following acts are PROHIBITED on the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument and are subject to a fine:
Driving off designated roads inside the Monument.
Leaving campfire unattended.
Leaving trash buried, stashed or left in campfire ring. Abandoning or leaving personal property. PACK IT IN-PACK IT OUT.
Cutting or otherwise damaging trees for use as a lean-to or a horse corral. Do not leave anything tied to trees.
Destruction of government property such as signs, posters, gates, etc.
Removing forest products without a permit.
Discharging any firearm within 150 yards of any building, occupied area, across forest development roads, or body of water
Tips and rules on dispersed camping: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sequoia/maps-pubs/?cid=fseprd883625
Dispersed camping is camping outside of a designated campground. It is allowed in many areas of the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument.
There are certain areas where dispersed camping is prohibited and these areas are posted.
Dispersed camping is free but you must have a CAMPFIRE PERMIT. These can be obtained fore free at Readyforwildfire.org. Be aware of fire restrictions, typically enforced by mid-summer, banning open fires outside of designated campgrounds. More on campfire rules here.
The maximum length of time you may camp in dispersed areas is 14 DAYS at a time and 30 DAYS in a year.
Each year the number of people taking advantage of dispersed recreation opportunities has increased, making it more essential that these areas be left clean and undamaged.
The following acts are PROHIBITED on the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument and are subject to a fine:
Driving off designated roads inside the Monument.
Leaving campfire unattended.
Leaving trash buried, stashed or left in campfire ring. Abandoning or leaving personal property. PACK IT IN-PACK IT OUT.
Cutting or otherwise damaging trees for use as a lean-to or a horse corral. Do not leave anything tied to trees.
Destruction of government property such as signs, posters, gates, etc.
Removing forest products without a permit.
Discharging any firearm within 150 yards of any building, occupied area, across forest development roads, or body of water
Here are some tips to appropriate dispersed camping: More information on dispersed camping here.
Protect standing trees from nails and scars from axes, knives and hatchets. Use only dead and down trees for firewood.
Bury human waste at least six inches deep and 200 feet from any waterway or trail. DO NOT bury toilet paper–PACK IT OUT
Wash at least 200 feet away from any water source using biodegradable soap.
Set up camp more than 200 feet from any waterway or trail.
Take a litterbag to carry out all refuse. Do not leave trash in fire rings. Do not bury trash.
A campfire permits is required to have a campfire, charcoal barbeque, or camp stove. Use existig fire grates or fire rings. Gather only dead and down firewood. Firewood may not be transported off of the Forest without a permit.
Avoid leveling or digging trenches around tents. Place tent on bare ground and not on vegetation.
Protect your food from the bears and other animals. Keep your food and anything with a scent stored in an airtight container in your car truck. If your vehicle has no truck, put everything on the floor, cover it well and close the windows. Always, Keep a clean campsite.
LEAVE YOUR CAMPSITE BETTER THAN WHEN YOU ARRIVED!
Dispersed camping is camping outside of a designated campground. It is allowed in many areas of the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument.
There are certain areas where dispersed camping is prohibited and these areas are posted.
Dispersed camping is free but you must have a CAMPFIRE PERMIT. These can be obtained fore free at Readyforwildfire.org. Be aware of fire restrictions, typically enforced by mid-summer, banning open fires outside of designated campgrounds.
Dispersed camping is camping outside of a designated campground. It is allowed in many areas of the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument.
There are certain areas where dispersed camping is prohibited and these areas are posted.
Dispersed camping is free but you must have a CAMPFIRE PERMIT. These can be obtained fore free at Readyforwildfire.org. Be aware of fire restrictions, typically enforced by mid-summer, banning open fires outside of designated campgrounds. More on campfire rules here.
The maximum length of time you may camp in dispersed areas is 14 DAYS at a time and 30 DAYS in a year.
Each year the number of people taking advantage of dispersed recreation opportunities has increased, making it more essential that these areas be left clean and undamaged.
The following acts are PROHIBITED on the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument and are subject to a fine:
Driving off designated roads inside the Monument.
Leaving campfire unattended.
Leaving trash buried, stashed or left in campfire ring. Abandoning or leaving personal property. PACK IT IN-PACK IT OUT.
Cutting or otherwise damaging trees for use as a lean-to or a horse corral. Do not leave anything tied to trees.
Destruction of government property such as signs, posters, gates, etc.
Removing forest products without a permit.
Discharging any firearm within 150 yards of any building, occupied area, across forest development roads, or body of water
Legend
We stopped here after we found that all the sites along the Kern were full. It is just North of Johnsondale and just South of the National Forest. Easy driving access to Trail of a Thousand Giants, Moro Rock, and views of the Needles.
We camped out under the stars just after sundown and got up right after Sunrise. No one else camp out near our spot. The road is littered with turn offs for easy and free dispersed camping.
Closest bathrooms are either on the Trail of a Hundred Giants (there is a campground there too but it is closed in Winter) or down in Johnsondale.
Guide
This place is a dream. Free dispersed camping anywhere you see, & pretty well maintained dirt roads throughout. The landscape is just beyond beautiful and the area is so big to explore. There may be other people, but it would be a challenge to run into them unless going on one of the more popular hikes.
There’s little to no cell service in many areas, so be prepared for that. It can also get very hot.
RangerEasily one of my favorite places! The views here are like nothing else, perfect place without reception, fresh mountain air away from everything and yet close to a cute little town for chili cheese nachos or tackle. Owned and operated by BLM land, so it’s free to the public (first come first serve) but be sure to go prepared with your permit to have a fire and have the proper tools to extinguish it completely. Preservation of this land is imperative with rangers patrolling consistently and fines are unforgiving, there are seasons fire is not allowed and will be posted at entry. There are no specified camping spots, no restrooms, no available water, and no sewer or trash dumping areas available. Just the wilderness at its finest.
TravelerThis is the go to free camping area that my friends and I go to when we don’t want a campground. Its dispersed camping in the Alabama hills. No toilets or amenities so thats a little bummer. Its might be worth it to pay $8 a night at a campground if you want easy access to toilets. Tuttle creek is up the road and is a good option.
LegendAlabama Hills is a popular area to see the beauty of natural rock formations. This is BLM land so there's no campground amenities. However you can camp here for free in many dispersed locations. Just look around and look for spots that you can park and camp at. There are plenty of sites back into the rocks. There's cell service where the main road starts but not much after that. This is a great place to view the Milky Way and watch the sunrise. This is a great place to go rock climbing.
GuideCame because we needed a place to camp overnight. Unfortunately I was not aware that the BLM changed their policy on dispersed camping at Alabama Hills. They have limited marked camping spots and encourage visitors to camp at other nearby campgrounds.
TravelerCan't beat the views in this BLM area! Not only can you off-road and explore all it has to offer you can hike or go into town with a quick drive. Love the dispersed camping and exploring you can do here. Nobody to bother you. This is our most favorite camping spot to date. The weather is fun to watch and the views of mt Whitney are incredible.
GuideBLM land, so you can camp anywhere. Have to pack-in and pack-out. No fees, but you do need a campfire permit.
Stunning views and wide open spaces. Great bouldering and day use as well.
GuideWe absolutely love Alabama Hills. BLM land so you can camp anywhere. So many beautiful views. You can see Mount Whitney in the distance. 4 wheel drive isn’t required but definitely recommend. No bathrooms or water around. A lot of old movies were filmed in the hills. We went off roading to a nearby mine, you can drive all the way in the mine which was rad.
TravelerGreat place for a wide range of activities including rock climbing, hiking around mt Whitney or exploring the mind blowing rock formations. Drive up and pitch a tent and you’re set! It’s very quiet and peaceful, also an amazing view of the stars! Beautiful sunrise and sunset as well. Will definitely go back! (BLM land so carry out what you take in, including waste!)
Scout
Easy to find if you turn on that road leading to Chicago stump. Keep driving down and you’ll see dispersed camping spots. Beautiful views, quiet, peaceful & there are some fire rings already built.
GuideLocation- ALABAMA HILLS, Lone Pine- Movie Rd. CA. Tent Dry Camping. BLM Land, for disperse camping. No reservations required, unless you choose to stay at a “campground”.
Absolutely breathtaking place, it feels like you’ve landed on another planet or as if you’ve been taken back into time, to the early dawn of mankind days. This was our first disperse/dry camping and I wouldn’t camp any other way, it was marvelous.
Directions- Once at Alabama Hills, Take Hwy 395 to Lone Pine. (it’s a proper town with restaurants/ grocery stores/ car workshops). Turn west at the stoplight onto Whitney Portal Road, drive 2.5 miles to Movie Road, turn right & the road turns into a “well groomed dirt path” from that point onwards “The world is your oyster! You can basically set up camp anywhere. As you drive down the groomed dirt path, there are multiple exits to various dirt paths leading inwards, where you can pick your spot to set up camp.
One very important thing is you MUST come here in a GOOD condition 4WD! There’s NO other way. You don’t want to get WHEELS stuck on the dirt path. We had rented a 4WD for the weekend.
We camped about 3miles in Movie Rd. Another good thing is if you run out of any supplies or have car trouble “Lone Pine” town is nearby you can drive over in minutes or call for any help. Phone service & wifi is available only on the groomed dirt path, also a bit unstable, however manageable for a call or text. So you’ll have to walk out of your campsite back to main rd.
It’s wonderful to go on hikes and explore during the day, that’s what we did. Evenings we’d sit around fire and cook dinner. Then at night time S’mores time! (we have a camp fire permit) you get it online.
Another important item to have around is a sturdy SHOVEL, as it’s very sandy here and the shovel is very multi-purpose, well at any camp for that matter. Bring Plenty of WATER, it’s very dry out here. As there are no water taps around, unless you head back to Lone Pine. Also you MUST clean up after, bring along a few trash bags or a bin, to clear up before you leave. LEAVE no Trace. Keep nature clean.
This is purely disperse camping. You’ll have to bring everything of your own. Our camp was a 3days/ 2nights. Arrived on Friday and left on Sunday morning. Waking up every morning to this spectacular view, is pure bliss! We’d definitely be coming back here a few more times! If you haven’t already then hop on a 4WD and head over to Alabama Hills!
Legend
Independence is on Hwy 395 about an hour south of Bishop and about half an hour north of Alabama Hills. Which is to say it's a great location with a lot of places to explore and hike.
This land is a good spot to stay for a few nights while exploring the area, or if you just need a free place to sleep. The spot we marked here is about 2 miles west of Independence, but there are a few other cleared out areas that you can camp on, just check Google satellite maps. We didn't see anyone else camping on the BLM land while we stayed here, but we saw a lot of people driving up and down Onion Valley Rd.
The area is clean and very quiet, zero shade and zero amenities. Please help keep it clean by packing out your trash.
Some of the dirt roads might need a high clearance vehicle but on the spot I've marked we made it fine in our 26ft motorhome.
GuidePlease note: This review is regarding the dispersed camping. There are (at least) two formal camp grounds right near the dispersed camping area.
We went up there with another family, both of us towing camping trailers with 4x4 trucks. A 4x4 is not needed, nor is a high clearance vehicle. All of the camping spots in the dispersed area are either off the the side of the main road, or down small roads branching from the main. A lot of the sites are not visible from the main road, you need to travel down the little road to see if anyone is there. Easy to do if you are in a car or truck. A little more challenging if you are towing something big. If it looks like there are a lot of people there and you are driving something that can not turn around easy, I would suggest dropping of your trailer at the beginning of the dispersed camping area and scouting out your spot. Every spot has an incredible view. The terrain is awesome. There are several short hiking loops in the area.
The only thing I would change is that we would park further off of the main road. Some people rip down the dirt roads in their cars and dirt bikes.
Also, there is an evening breeze that can come out of nowhere and relocate your chairs and adjust your awning so you might want to put them away before calling it a night.
Traveler
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. The view is nice on the forest or a mountain top. We were alone but the spot is big enough for 3 or 4 véhicules, the access is just before the U turn.
RangerNice open spaces with tree cover near Hume Lake off the 180. This is a dispersed camping and OHV staging area that is first come first served for camping. Great for those who are backpacking and need a free place to camp before heading off into the Sierras! Most Parks have “backpacker camps” which allow you to camp 1 night before or after a backpacking trip, but Sequoia does not. This dispersed camping area is perfect for staging your next big hike, or simply camping for free in one of the most popular National Parks.
RangerHigh desert meets Sierra Nevadas in a magical rock playground with views of My Whitney. This spot literally has it all. Right off the 395, you have access to civilization and amenities. It's dispersed camping, but heavily used sites are well established. The deeper into the park you venture, the more primitive and less crowded it becomes. Take a quick drive and you're at Whitney Portal. We lucked out and had 360 degrees of the best views ever! Loads to do here. Popular for rock climbing, hiking, spectacular night sky, wildflowers, photography. Even though it's right off the highway you feel like you're on another planet. No facilities. Pack it in, pack it out. Hands down, one of the best camp spots I've ever had!
GuideEverything about Alabama Hills is incredible. From the moment you drive down Whitney Portal Rd to Movie Rd, it has uniquely amazing views. Movie Rd has the best dispersed camp spots. All with amazing views. SUV would probably be best for navigating the roads or at least 4x4. They’re all pretty far apart so they’re private. It’s so quiet at night you could hear a pin drop. The stars and the Milky Way are insane! So many constellations and shooting stars and satellites. Sunset was amazing over Mt. Whitney. The moon rise was quite the experience. Then sunrise... it was all just so beautiful!! Highly highly recommended! Pack lots of water! Lone Pine is nearby for firewood. But I think fires are currently restricted! As always pack it in and pack it out. Leave no trace!
Traveler
My wife and I love this location and definitely will come back. There was only one other camper and they were 50 yards away. Relaxing creek runs through the campsite, allowing access to a fresh water source. On the other side of the creek there is a gorgeous clearing that opens up to a blue sky with wispy clouds. You will be at 7000ft elevation so dress warm. Only issue we ran into was in order to get to the camp spots you have to squeeze your vehicle through two trees because a large fallen tree has blocked the original entrance path. Hopefully the forestry is able to remove it. No worries tho, my full size truck was able to get through it so you shouldn't have any problems. A wonderful spot for small and large camping groups. Also there is a hot springs store on the way up there. Recommend stopping there for any last minute supplies. They have everything you need for disperse camping.
TravelerAmazing camping. Very quiet and no light contamination. Beautiful night sky’s and dispersed camping
GuideGreat dispersed camping among the rock formations in the Alabama Hills. No facilities but no fee - a great area to visit!
GuideSuper 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. There are sites all along the road, but the first at the junction is great and big enough for a small RV. Also a quick walk to the Chicago Stump which is a must see.
GuideThis place is amazing. Beautiful views, great dispersed camping. Very chilly at night in early March. Incredible star gazing too. Cell service (Verizon) in spots, mainly at high elevations.
GuideI dispersed camped here in late September and it was absolutely beautiful. Views of Mt. Whitney, perfect camping weather and sleeping temperatures, otherworldly landscapes, what else do you need?
Traveler
Dispersed camping at a Yellow Post campsite was great. About 4 mi. of washboard dirt road past Heart Bar Campground to Yellow post site #6. No amenities other than a picnic table and a fire ring. That means, bring plenty of water and a port-a-potty. There is no fee, however, you need to go on line to get a fire permit, which is necessary even for a propane stove. Actually, the fire permit is for anything that has a flame. This trip was over Labor Day weekend of 2022 and the use of the fire pit was forbidden at that time due to high fire hazard conditions. The campsites are quite far apart so you feel a sense of privacy. However, you will see vehicles and or horses go by on the road next to the campsite. Some of the vehicles drive fast on the dirt road which can kick up dust clouds. This is only a problem if you are downwind. The temperature was about 83 for a high and 55 for a low and the wind was light and comfortable. We were glad we had our canopy. The canopy has bug screens on 4 sides but the bugs were not too bad. We used lemon grass bug spray repellent and were comfortable. This campground is away from light sources making it great for stargazing. We enjoyed the campsite so much that we just hung out and relaxed there all weekend ...no hikes or trips away from the campsite. We hung a couple of hammocks with tarps for shade but backed our teardrop under a naturally shaded area of the campsite. We will probably camp there again. If you are not into dispersed camping, there are several campgrounds nearby. Heart Bar campground is huge with amenities and South Fork Family Campground is nice with more shade and a small stream running through. The parking for rv's at South Fork is a bit short at some of the campsites. Best to check the length for a match with your gear. This area is great for camping but make sure you have everything you need as there is no grocery store at the corner. Happy camping..!
RangerDirections didn’t lead me to any dispersed camping but I did find just an ok spot along the road. Don’t know if where I camped was allowed but I did anyway
LegendPretty dusty from offroaders sometimes but its pretty quiet at night with everything being spaced out a LOT. It's all dispersed camping so no bathrooms, trash, water, etc. Find a nice dirt patch and it's yours. Lots of great hidden spots.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Three Rivers, California, where nature's tranquility meets adventure. With a variety of spots to choose from, you can enjoy the great outdoors without the crowds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Three Rivers, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Three Rivers, CA is Alabama Hills Recreation Area with a 4.8-star rating from 84 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Three Rivers, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 56 dispersed camping locations near Three Rivers, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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