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Camping

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Established Camping

Wa Ka Luu Hep Yoo Campground

7 Reviews

Wa Ka Luu Hep Yoo Campground, near Stanislaus National Forest, is a charming retreat that offers a mix of tent and RV sites, perfect for those looking to unwind in nature. The campground is known for its proximity to the Stanislaus River, where you can enjoy fishing and swimming in beautiful, scenic spots.

Visitors appreciate the well-maintained facilities, including clean vault toilets and a shower house, which make it easy to freshen up after a day of outdoor activities. One camper noted, “This is one of the most beautiful, secluded little places we've been,” highlighting the serene atmosphere that many find appealing.

The layout of the campground features tent-only sites at the front and a loop with RV and tent spots further back, providing a bit of separation for a more peaceful experience. While it can get busy, especially on weekends, the natural beauty and family-friendly vibe keep campers coming back year after year. Whether you're here for a weekend or a longer stay, Wa Ka Luu Hep Yoo is a great choice for those looking to connect with nature.

Description

US Forest Service

Stanislaus National Forest

Campground open, water and services provided. Primitive camping allowed - Pack it in, Pack it out. __For over 2000 years the Miwuk people lived seasonally in this canyon, gathering food, and fishing the river. The Miwuk word WaKaLuu means river and Hep Yoo describes an untamed or wild force of nature. This beautiful campground is set in mature conifer and oak forest on the North Fork Stanislaus River.

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Location

Wa Ka Luu Hep Yoo Campground is located in California

Directions

Highway 4 to Dorrington,\_\_northeast on Boards Crossing Road.

Coordinates

38.322063 N
120.218558 W

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Good
Verizon
Good
AT&T
Fair
T-Mobile
Unknown

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group

Features

For Campers

Trash
Firewood Available
Phone Service
Drinking Water
Toilets
Alcohol

For Vehicles

Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Visit Website

Drive Time

1 hr 28 min from Stockton
1 hr 40 min from Modesto
1 hr 54 min from Sacramento
1 hr 57 min from Carson City

Barbara F.

Scout

Reviewed Jun. 22, 2025

Pretty spot, but loud drunks with generators

Seemed ok until people showed up at 11pm drunk. Ran their generator right next to our tent. No camp host on site. . No sleep. Learned too late the place has a reputation. Too bad. It’s a beautiful spot.

Month of VisitJune

Pat T.

Scout

Reviewed Mar. 10, 2025

Amazing location

This campsite is near the Stanisaus river! You can hear it at night and this place is a great spot to disconnect for society! Cell service is spotty to nothing, which is perfect!

Sitesite 4

Month of VisitSeptember

Newt B.

Scout

Reviewed Sep. 2, 2022

Nice Spot

Spent a few nights here, and had a good time. The sites are a little close together and there are no bear boxes which surprised me. The toilets are mostly vault with the exception of the ones in the shower house.

Site5

Month of VisitAugust

Ken M.

Scout

Reviewed Nov. 12, 2021

Hard to say, easy to stay

This is one of the most beautiful, secluded little places we've been. Showers and bathroom facility kept clean. A short walk down to the edge of the Stanislaus River and you won't want to leave. Very family friendly.

Site11

Month of VisitAugust

Carter B.

Guide

Reviewed May. 9, 2021

Nice spots next to the river

Once my go to spot years ago, this place can get a bit crazy now! This hidden gem has a great lay out with tent only sites up front and spots for RVs and tents around the loop in the back - all sites have tables and fire rings are fairly close to several pit toilets and water spigots. There are flush toilets and showers located at the front of the campground near the camp host spot and payment/info area.

Site34

Month of VisitMay

(4) View All

Carter B.

Guide

Reviewed Nov. 22, 2019

Popular summer spot

Some great variety in this campground which includes walk in tent only sites! It’s a well laid out campground, tent only spots up front ( near the camp host and showers) and a loop around the back with some well separated sites just above the river.
Years ago this spot was a nice little secret but now it’s often packed and can get quite noisy, especially on the weekends.

(4) View All

Joel P.

Scout

Reviewed May. 15, 2019

We call this place our church

My wife and daughter and I have come here for the past ten years. We love it. The river is beautiful and loud and the fishing is great. Some nice swimming holes too.

There’s men’s and women’s showers toward the entrance which was the only way I could sell the place to my wife.

It’s run by members of the local Miwuk tribe. Charlie kept the place immaculate and is a really nice guy. BUT...Last time I went, (2017?) he was replaced by a guy who looked and acted pretty sketch and looked like he did a lot of meth. Not surprisingly, the showers were filthy.

That aside, the area is stunning, the swimming is fun and I’ve taken a few trout out of the river.