Summerdale Campground, near Fish Camp, California, is a cozy spot just outside Yosemite National Park that offers a peaceful escape with a touch of nature's charm. The campground features spacious sites surrounded by lush greenery and trees, providing a sense of privacy that many visitors appreciate.

With amenities like drinking water and clean pit toilets, campers can enjoy the great outdoors without sacrificing comfort. The nearby creek is perfect for a refreshing dip or simply relaxing by the water, and fishing enthusiasts have reported some great catches, especially trout. As one happy camper noted, “The creek is lovely - good for swimming and wading.”

For those eager to explore, Summerdale serves as an excellent base for day trips into Yosemite, with a park tour bus stop just a mile away. While the sounds of Highway 41 can be heard during the day, the peaceful ambiance of the creek often drowns out the noise, especially at night. 

Pet-friendly and well-maintained, this campground is a favorite for families and those looking to enjoy the beauty of the [Sierra National Forest](https://thedyrt.com/camping/california/near/sierra-national-forest). Whether you're setting up a tent or parking your RV, Summerdale Campground offers a welcoming atmosphere for a memorable outdoor experience.

## Overview

 Summerdale Campground is located just 1.5 miles from Yosemite National Park, and sits in a scenic wildflower-filled meadow, surrounded by fir, cottonwood and cedar trees. The campground's proximity to Yosemite, the excellent fishing at Big Creek and the cooler summer temperatures make it a very popular destination.
## Recreation

 Anglers can fish for rainbow trout in Big Creek. A few miles from the campground are opportunities to ride off-road vehicles in the Miami Motorcycle Trails Area or hike the 3.7-mile Lewis Creek National Recreation Trail.
## Facilities

 Each campsite has a paved parking spur, picnic table, grill and campfire ring. Vault toilets are available, and water is provided. Camping supplies are available in the nearby community of Fish Camp.
## Natural Features

 The Sierra National Forest, located on the western slope of the central Sierra Nevada, is known for its spectacular mountain scenery and abundant natural resources. The terrain includes rolling, oak-covered foothills, heavily forested middle elevation slopes and the starkly beautiful alpine landscape of the High Sierra. Summerdale is located in the Highway 41 Corridor of the Bass Lake Ranger District, an area known for its giant sequoias. Big Creek, which runs by the campground, is active with the local beaver population. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Visitors enjoy making day trips into Yosemite National Park, or taking a ride on the logging train at Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad. Nelder Grove is also in the vicinity, offering the opportunity to walk among giant sequoias.
## Charges & Cancellations

 Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.

Summerdale Campground - Sierra National Forest

Are you in need of a campground near Fish Camp, CA? Fish Camp is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. Find the best campgrounds near Fish Camp, CA. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.

Fish Camp

The Best Camping Near Fish Camp, California

Although we would have loved to have stayed in the park itself- it was all booked up! So we opted to stay right outside- literally miles away! Nothing to write home about at the campsite- but it was quiet enough. The host was super friendly! And you really can't beat being so close to the entrance of Yosemite!

Great location 

Near the South entrance to Yosemite National Park, SUMMERDALE campground is a small, quiet, well maintained campground that requires advanced reservations. The sites are spread out in a little valley with a small stream called Big Creek flowing through it. Nice, clean pit toilets and drinking water available. A short drive from Yosemite Valley makes it a good place to base day trips into the park and great, quiet place to spend the night.

Summerdale

Neat spot just outside Yosemite NP. The campground host was very nice and the cold stream nearby was perfect to cool down after hiking in the park.

A park tour bus stop was a mile south of the campground and can take you all through the park or drop you off and pick you up on the way back at the end of the day.

The camp sites were roomy with plenty of green and trees between sites.

Pet friendly.

Great spot outside S. Yosemite 

Summerdale is a little gem right outside Yosemite. The sites are well spaced and private, unlike what you will find in the park. My family and I have visited Summerdale about 10 times so far, and it is one of our faves. 

Fishing: Can be GREAT! But at times, has been really bad. We've often caught our limit each day (trout) and snagged some crawfish to boot. But, we've also had a couple of experiences when we didn't get a single bite.

The Creek is lovely - good for swimming wading, and has several slow shallow spots where you can put your chair in and enjoy the afternoon. I have seen beavers in the creek south of the campground.

Facilities: Pit toilets, trash service and piped water. All good quality and well maintained. The campground is CLEAN. I've never seen a cleaner campground.

HWY 41 noise: Yes, its there fairly consistently from about 8am-6pm. Passenger cars are not terribly noticeable, but larger vehicles and noisy vehicles are more so. Nights are punctuated by an occasional Harley accelerating up the hill, and an occasional hot rod blowing by. But most times, the creek makes enough noise that it drowns out all but the loudest highway noise.

Yosemite without the crowds

I’m usually not a fan of maintained campgrounds, but with the wife and pup i knew things would go better with a few amenities. The location is good, about an hour to the Valley, the grounds though are great with lots of green and trees that separate the sites. 

Great spot feels secluded

Went by here on Thanksgiving day 2020
Closed ,gated 

North of Summerdale is goat meadow snow play area. Big parking lot that people boondock and car camp in. I car camped just of the 06 forest road. Its the road to the left before the parking lot. There are a handful of spots for dispersed camping. Road is decent and good Verizon signal.

You can also hike to Mariposa Grove from the goat meadow parking lot. Or you can drive about 3 miles from parking lot to a gate that is about a 1.5 mile walk to the Mariposa Grove hiking park.

Very good and scenic hike.


Photos of Summerdale Campground - Sierra National Forest

Real photos from real campers