2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Tent camping opportunities in the Sierra National Forest near Wishon, California include several established campgrounds with varying levels of amenities. Little Yosemite Valley Campground provides hike-in tent sites with vault toilets but no drinking water, while Recreation Point Group Campground offers tent sites with access to drinking water, toilets, and trash services.
Most tent sites in this area are accessible via drive-in access, though several require boat-in or hike-in approaches. Sample Meadow Campground, located along Kaiser Creek, features well-spaced primitive tent sites with picnic tables and fire pits but requires visitors to filter water from the creek. Sites may lack grading and often have forest duff surfaces. Many campgrounds in higher elevations close seasonally, with typical operating seasons from May through October. Fire restrictions are common during summer months, particularly in drought years. Most campgrounds provide vault toilets, though facilities at primitive sites are limited.
In early summer, tent campers find abundant wildflowers and vibrant greenery throughout the area. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, "the campsites are far enough apart to feel like you are all alone in the woods," making this region ideal for those seeking seclusion. Many sites provide creek access, which offers cooling relief during summer months but requires proper water filtration for drinking. Tent sites in the area frequently include bear boxes for food storage, an essential feature given the local wildlife. Campers seeking more rustic experiences can find walk-in tent sites at Little Yosemite Valley and Recreation Point campgrounds. Higher elevation tent sites provide cooler temperatures during summer but may experience cold nights even in peak season, requiring appropriate sleeping gear.
"We hiked the waterfall trail, which is breathtaking, but full of a lot of people! Once you get passed the 2nd huge waterfall, the crowds start to die down and its just you and the mountains."
"One of the nicest backpacking campgrounds. Nice bathrooms and right next to a clean blue river perfect for swimming in! Surrounded by granite rocks in one of the most wonderful place Yosemite"
"These are group sites, but they are the best sites on the whole lake in my opinion. My family has been camping here for 78 years and it’s part of all my family memories."
"2 miles from all the Tahoe action in the city and the lake is right across the street."
Available this weekend
from $131 - $397 / night
"There are usually a lot of 4x4 folks camping in the area, so if you don’t want to be harassed you’ll need to find space away from the main trails (which isn’t hard to do)."
"Not too much tree cover so you get a fair amount of sun during the day (which is nice when temps are low). They have vault toilets, which totally did the job. Bring your own water."
"The water creates a great sound dampening - perfect for midnight snore charades around the campfire."
from $20 / night
"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"
"It is a beautiful campground located off Kaiser Pass Road. Even in June there was so many wildflowers and vibrate green. There was bathrooms and each site had a picnic table, fire pit, and bear box."
"There is no water unless you use the creek. Please report any trash or other issues to the Prather Ranger Station."
GuideThere is so many spots back here! We stayed a bit closer to 395 and it was easy to navigate with a 26’ RV. We had initially looked for a spot on the Mammoth side of the highway but found this dirt roads more level and open for the RV. Lovely minus some sort of small critter kept waking me up in the night.
TravelerThe 0.5 mile gravel road has washboards and potholes but it’s short and offers at least a handful of pullouts for flat parking/camping. There’s nothing around except high desert views of the mountains and nearby hot springs. The signs indicate a 14-day camping limit.
GuideBeautiful spot on the side of Bass Lake. Goat Mtn trail can be accessed right from the campground. Friendly camp host. There are definitely bears, raccoons and lots of ticks - we saw all of them. We expect that when camping in the woods but some might not. Food can’t be left out at all.
GuideThe campground is very accessible and therefore can feel busy at times (visited in October). It has flushable toilets and the general store is less than 10 min away by car. The campsites are rather close to each other, so don’t expect a lot of privacy. Our site (88C) was right in front of the restrooms, which have floodlights on all night and would not recommend. Overall, it’s a pretty good campground!
TravelerThe campground is going to be starting to do their cleanup of the over growth to make campsites better. But it is a gorgeous place to camp. Veterans free, seniors get discounts and regular camping is very reasonable. Fishing in the river. Day use side and campground side. Camp host is awesome. I've been several times and we love it. Great telephone reception, potable water spigots and restrooms (either portable outhouse or regular flush bathroom). 👍
GuideLoads of space! Not many people here in October. Park lot had two trailers and the trail to the right is wide open with numerous pullouts. Lots of great trails around for the dogs.
GuideThis is actually a really nice free dispersed camping site. Once you get to the Goat Meadows sign if you go left you will find a large parking lot with bathrooms. There were probably ten rigs or so jst camping up on the parking lot. If you go right down the hill you will find multiple dispersed camping sites. They are a little obscure, but some have nice fire rings that let you know it’s a site. They are very well spaced so even when you have neighbors you will hardly see or hear them. At the top of the hill where you go left or right was a camp host looking site but not sure if it is actually, but there was a camper there with a bumper pull trailer who uses a very loud shop type cheap generator that you can literally hear all over the area. Luckily, he turned it off about 10pm but started it up around 8am. If it weren’t for him probably would have given this site five stars. Also, T-Mobile and ATT both had zero cell service our phones were both on SOS but that really wasn’t a problem for us.
RangerNot even sure i found the exact place. Go through a little neighborhood an come to a gravel road. Found a little turn around an spent the night. Didnt see anyone. Cell coverage enough to get texts.
TravelerBeautiful. Would definitely come back.
Tent camping sites near Wishon, California sit within Sierra National Forest's rugged terrain, typically at elevations between 4,000-7,000 feet. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing, with summer daytime averages in the 70s-80s°F. Most campgrounds require visitors to travel on narrow mountain roads with limited cell service, and many maintain bear-resistant food storage requirements.
Wilderness hiking access: Kaiser Wilderness trails connect directly from Sample Meadow Campground, offering hikers multiple route options. "The roads nearby can take you to Kaiser Wilderness and Kaiser Peak," notes reviewer Darlene M., who adds that "by car it's only assessable between June and October."
Swimming in natural pools: Summer visitors can cool off in creek-fed swimming holes. At Little Yosemite Valley Campground, campers enjoy "a clean blue river perfect for swimming," according to reviewer Wutang P. The nearby waterfalls below Greys Mountain provide another option, where Adam L. describes "tons of fun sliding on the rocks and jumping into the pools."
Mountain biking routes: Several unused forest roads and trails provide cycling opportunities. Collin recommends "the road that continues through the campground over a bridge. It is closed to vehicles but climbs to views and remnants of historic tungsten mining."
Creek-side camping spots: Many campers seek sites adjacent to moving water. At Texas Flat Group Campground, Adam L. notes "there are plenty of solid camping spots along the creek between Grey's Mountain and Texas Flats" and mentions the creek "does flow year round."
Stargazing opportunities: Minimal light pollution creates exceptional night sky viewing. Darlene M. reports from Sample Meadow that "the stars are beautiful and the site is free too," making it worth the challenging road access.
Privacy between sites: Campers appreciate the well-spaced sites. At San Joaquin River Gorge, Manny R. notes "the view is amazing if you like looking up at mountains" with two separate campground areas available.
Road conditions: Access roads to many campgrounds require careful driving. When visiting Sierra National Forest Summit Camp Campground, Conrad G. notes you "need a 4x4 to get to the campground and it took us about 45min up the mountain to find the place."
Water availability: Most sites require visitors bring water or filter from natural sources. Aliza N. reports that at Ya-gub-weh-tuh Campground, "water was available when we were here in November" but this isn't typical for all sites year-round.
Temperature fluctuations: Mountain elevations create significant day-to-night temperature drops. Darlene M. warns "it also gets extremely cold at night so make sure to bring warm clothes and have a good tent and sleeping bag."
Water play areas: Creeks provide natural entertainment for children. Regina P. says at Sample Meadow Campground, "The Kaiser Creek provides hours of fun for the kids and you are close enough to trail heads for the adventure seekers in your group."
Insect protection: Mosquitoes can be problematic in wet areas. "I would also suggest bug spray of some type because the mosquitoes are pretty relentless there," advises Darlene M. about Sample Meadow.
Bear awareness: Fresno Dome Campground and other sites require proper food storage. Kelly M. explains sites are "first come first served" and "they have vault toilets, which totally did the job," but reminds visitors to follow forest protocols for bear safety.
Parking limitations: Most tent camping areas have limited RV accommodation. At Recreation Point Group Campground, Amy E. notes "these are group sites, but they are the best sites on the whole lake in my opinion" while recommending "bring all the EZ ups you can" due to limited shade.
Scout ahead: Forest roads often present unexpected challenges for larger vehicles. Matt K. warns about fallen trees: "Would have had a really hard time getting turned around with teardrop trailer. Don't bother trying this spot. It will take many many months for the road to be cleared."
Seasonal access: Higher elevation sites close completely during winter months. Robert S. mentions that even during open months, expect "cold night and cool days in the summer" at Huntington Lake areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Wishon, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Wishon, CA is Little Yosemite Valley Campground with a 5-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Wishon, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 77 tent camping locations near Wishon, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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