Camping in the Sierra Nevada mountains is full of possibilities
From traditional campsites where RV and Tents are located in beautiful easy to access settings. To the Dispersed Camping options that dot the mountain hwys and forest service access roads in every direction.
Camping in the Sierra Nevada becomes a matter of preference when heading out for a family adventure. Do you want to have amenities such as bathrooms and paved parking areas? Are you looking to camp in one of our National Parks? If dispersed Camping is an option for you then what roads are open or closed seasonaly. And how many others will be in the area? do i need to worry about bears?
On this page you will find a guide to not only our favorite camping locations but links to the variety of Camping National Forest resources and well and Wilderness camping regulations and tips for leaving no trace for future campers.
Nine National Forest – Ten Wilderness Areas – Four National Parks
The Sierra Nevada are blessed with some of the riches camping/outdoor space for your family to enjoy. The abundance of space is broken into four distinct areas that each have various regulation differences. It is important to know when camping or exploring in the Sierra Nevada, which regulating body is in charge of rules and enforcement for your intended destination.
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National Forests – 9 National Forests areas to choose from in the Greater Sierra Nevada Region. Choose from hundreds of Pay to Stay forest Service regulated campgrounds, or choose from millions of acres of disperse camping options along National Forest service roads.
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Wilderness -9 Wilderness Regions in the Sierra Nevada make the Sierra Nevada one of the most sought after wilderness travel destinations in the world. Wilderness camping / backpacking requires a permit but there is nothing like the secluded feeling of capturing parts of the Sierra that most miss.
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Destinations and National Parks – With four national parks plus jewels such as Lake Tahoe, Bass lake and June Lake, and many more their are destinations in the Sierra, that cater to the tourist camping experience.
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BLM – Ready to truly rough it, on the Eastern Sierra front enjoy the wild of disperse camping in the wild west. BLM land management has a separate set of regulations and rules, but if you are into off road vehicle lifestyles BLM might just be the perfect camping area for you.
Wilderness Camping
Backpacking and Camping in our Sierra Wilderness Area is a permit based access. So many trails and access points for day hikes, but for many of our wilderness areas there are trail or location quotas in order to keep the wilderness experience as pure as possible. If you choose to stay and visit our wilderness regions please make yourself committed to following and knowing the Wilderness guidelines and rules.
Sierra Nevada Wilderness Options:
- Desolation Wilderness
- John Muir Wilderness
- Ansel Adams Wilderness
- Emigrant Wilderness
- Ishi Wilderness
- Mokelumne Wilderness
- Carson Iceberg Wilderness
- Granite Chief Wilderness
- Hoover wilderness
- Yosemite Wilderness
- Dinkey Lakes Wilderness
- Golden trout Wilderness
- Monarch wilderness
National Forest Camping
The most popular form of camping is choosing from the list of National forest land campsites or disperse camping on a National forest land access point.
With nine feature forest service management areas in the Sierra Nevada
Camping destinations in our National Forests typically have similar rules and regulations, how ever pricing of site vary and items such as fire restrictions and group size can vary based on location.
National forest Management segments:
- Eldorado National Forest
- Tahoe National Forest
- Plumas National Forest
- Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest
- Sierra National Forest
- Inyo National Forest
- Sequoia National Forest
- Stanislaus National Forest
- Lassen National Forest
- Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
National Park Camping
Camping in one of our National Parks in California and the Sierra Nevada is a great experience. However opportunities are limited and reservations are required in almost all cases.
Camping experiences in our national Parks will have a specific set of rules and regulations meant to help every enjoy the camping experience to the fullest, but yet safe for all future campers.
Sierra Nevada Regional National Parks and Monuments:
- Yosemite National Park
- Sequoia National Park
- Kings Canyon National Park
- Death Valley National Park
- Lassen Volcanic National Park
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Devils Post Pile National Monument
- Calaveras Big Tree State Park
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