Sierra National Forest
Dispersed camping is generally allowed
On national forest and grassland, camping outside developed campgrounds is generally permitted unless an area is posted closed or a local order says otherwise. Stay on existing surfaces, camp away from water and trailheads, and check the forest's current orders before you go — fire restrictions change through the season.
Rules change with fire season and local order. Checked 2026-08-05. Confirm on the managing office’s official page
- Area
- 2,217 sq mi
- Managed by
- Forest Service
- Campgrounds
- 69
- Longest rig
- 71 ft
Where the land is, and what fits
The official Forest Service boundary with every campground we hold inside it. Tell it how long your rig is and the map keeps only what takes it — public land rarely matches the shape people picture, and neither does what you can actually get into.
Official unit boundary · USDA Forest Service · 69 campgrounds shown
- A Group Group CampgroundSeason not published
- Badger Flat CampgroundJune – September · First-come, first-served
- Badger Flat Group CampgroundJune – September · Reservations accepted
- Bear Wallow Camping AreaOpen all year · First-come, first-served
- Big Sandy CampgroundMay – September · First-come, first-served
- Billy Creek, Lower CampgroundJune – September · Reservations accepted
- Billy Creek, Upper CampgroundJune – September · Reservations accepted
- Bolsillo CampgroundJune · First-come, first-served
- Bowler Group CampgroundJune · First-come, first-served
- Bretz Mill CampgroundOpen all year · First-come, first-served
- Buck Meadow CampgroundMay – September · First-come, first-served
- Catavee Campgroundto 30 ft · 24 sites · Bear boxesJune – September · Reservations accepted
- College Campgroundto 39 ft · 10 sites · Bear boxesJune – September · Reservations accepted
- Crane Valley Group CampgroundYear round · Reservations accepted
- Deer Creek Campgroundto 40 ft · 28 sites · Bear boxesJune – September · Reservations accepted
- Dinkey Creek Campgroundto 50 ft · 123 sitesMay – October · Reservations accepted
- Dinkey Creek Group CampgroundMay – October · Reservations accepted
- Dorabelle Campground65 sites · Bear boxesMay – October · Reservations accepted
- Dry Gulch Campground5 sitesOpen all year · Reservations accepted
- Fence Meadow Camping AreaSeason not published
- Fish Creek CampgroundJune – September · Reservations accepted
- Forks CampgroundMay · Reservations accepted
- Fresno Dome CampgroundMay – September · First-come, first-served
- Gaggs Camp CampgroundJune – September · First-come, first-served
- Gigantea CampgroundMay – October · First-come, first-served
- Granite Creek CampgroundJune – September · First-come, first-served
- Gravel Flat Camping AreaYear round · First-come, first-served
- Greys Mountain CampgroundMay – September · First-come, first-served
- Jackass Meadow Campgroundto 46 ft · 40 sites · Bear boxesJune – September · First-come, first-served
- Jerseydale CampgroundMay · First-come, first-served
- Kelty Meadow Campgroundto 30 ft · 18 sitesJune – September · Reservations accepted
- Kinnikinnick Campgroundto 40 ft · 27 sites · Bear boxesJune – September · Reservations accepted
- Kirch Flat CampgroundYear round · First-come, first-served
- Kirch Flat Group Campground1 sitesAll Year
- Little Jackass CampgroundJune – December · First-come, first-served
- Lower Chiquito CampgroundJune · First-come, first-served
- Lupine Cedar Bluff CampgroundOpen all year · Reservations accepted
- Mammoth Pool Campgroundto 30 ft · 52 sitesJune · Reservations accepted
- Midge Creek Group CampgroundJune – September · First-come, first-served
- Mono Creek Campgroundto 40 ft · 13 sitesJune – September · Reservations accepted
- Mono Creek Overflow ParkingSeason not published
- Mono Hot Springs Campgroundto 40 ft · 23 sitesJune – September · Reservations accepted
- Nelder Grove CampgroundMay – Dec · First-come, first-served
- Oak Flat Camping AreaSeason not published
- Onion Springs Overflow Camping AreaSeason not published
- Placer CampgroundMay · First-come, first-served
- Portal Forebay CampgroundJune – September · First-come, first-served
- Rancheria Campgroundto 71 ft · 128 sites · Electric · Bear boxesJune – October · Reservations accepted
- Recreation Point Group CampgroundYear round · Reservations accepted
- Rock Creek CampgroundMay – September · Reservations accepted
- Ross Crossing Camping AreaSeason not published
- Sample Meadow CampgroundJune – December · First-come, first-served
- Sawmill Flat CampgroundJune – December · First-come, first-served
- Soda Springs CampgroundMay
- Soquel Campgroundto 30 ft · 24 sitesMay – September · Reservations accepted
- Spring Cove Campgroundto 42 ft · 62 sites · Pull-throughMay · Reservations accepted
- Summerdale Campgroundto 30 ft · 62 sitesJune – September · Reservations accepted
- Summit Camping AreaSeason not published
- Swanson CampgroundJune – September · First-come, first-served
- Sweetwater Campgroundto 20 ft · 12 sitesJune · Reservations accepted
- Texas Flat Group CampgroundMay – September · Reservations accepted
- Upper Chiquito CampgroundJuly · First-come, first-served
- Vermillion Campgroundto 50 ft · 31 sites · Bear boxesJune – September · Reservations accepted
- Voyager Rock Camping AreaJuly – November · First-come, first-served
- Ward Lake CampgroundJune – September · First-come, first-served
- West Kaiser CampgroundJune – December · First-come, first-served
- Whiskers CampgroundJune – September · First-come, first-served
- Whisky Falls CampgroundJune · First-come, first-served
- Wishon Point CampgroundMay – September · Reservations accepted
Sierra National Forest
Sierra National Forest is a U.S. national forest located on the western slope of the central Sierra Nevada in California, bounded on the northwest by Yosemite National Park and on the south by Kings Canyon National Park. The forest is known for its mountain scenery and beautiful lakes. Forest headquarters are located in Clovis, California. There are local ranger district offices in North Fork and Prather.
Extract from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA. Agency description not published.
No vehicles past these lines
Designated wilderness is closed to every wheeled vehicle, including bicycles. You can walk in and camp; you cannot drive or park a rig inside one.
- Ansel Adams Wilderness231,586 acres
- Monarch Wilderness44,223 acres
- Dinkey Lakes Wilderness30,863 acres
- Kaiser Wilderness21,986 acres
Byways through this country
Places worth pulling over
National parks close enough to pair
Drive to Sierra the long way
Byway plans the road in, not just the destination — real places along the way, weighted to what you like, with nothing invented.