About

The Sierra National Forest covers 1.3 million acres and is part of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range located in central/eastern California. It contains some of the most sought after areas for adventurers including 14,000 foot mountain peaks, old-growth Sequoia forests, famous hot springs, and the Ansel Adams Wilderness, making it ideal for backpacking and car camping trips. This National Forest is critical habitat for endemic species like the golden trout (only found here in the Sierra Nevadas), is home to some of the oldest (and last remaining) Sequoia groves in the world, and helps store and supply critical fresh water in it’s snowy peaks and alpine lakes.

This forest is divided into the High Sierra Ranger District, and the Bass Lake Ranger District. This is important because depending on where you wish to camp, the ranger district may have different rules and processes.

Curious about National Forests in general? Read about How To Camp in National Forests.

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Details for Visiting

How To Get There

Depending on where you’re going, access to the Sierra National Forest can vary by several hours up to a half-day . Below are some of the most common entry points to the Sierra National Forest:

Bishop, CA (access to the eastern side of the forest):

About 4.5 hours from Los Angeles, the town of Bishop, CA is a charming agricultural town and major gateway to the Sierra Nevada mountains. Nestled in Owens Valley between two mountain ranges, this town has classic diners and saloons, bait and tackle shops, camping stores, and all the re-supply you’d need for a camping trip. Google Maps to Bishop, CA.

Mammoth Lakes, CA (access to the eastern side of the forest):

About 5 hours from Los Angeles, the town of Mammoth Lakes, CA is home to the famous Mammoth Ski Resort, a popular place for world-class skiing, as well as famous hot springs. Not far from Yosemite National Park, this town is a bit more populous with residential areas, hotels and lodging, and a ski village with a few (slightly more) elevated dining options, shops, and activities. Google Maps to Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Oakhurst, CA (access to the western side of the forest):

Just 1 hour from Fresno, CA, the town of Oakhurst is a small, cozy town that serves as a gateway to the western side of the Sierra National Forest. Situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, this area has plenty of major grocery stores, shops, restaurants, and smaller lodging options to set you up for a trip to the mountains. Google Maps to Oakhurst, CA.

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When To Visit

Spring is beautiful in the Sierra National Forest, but will only be accessible at lower elevations due to the snow pack which remains until late spring. As with other areas subject to snow, most roads and campgrounds will still be closed until late spring until they are cleared of snow, but backcountry is allowed year-round (usually with a permit), provided you can get out there. With the spring run-off you are also more likely to encounter rock slides and mud slides on both the trails and roads, so take extra precaution during this time.

Summer is the best time for camping in the Sierra National Forest, and most areas will bring you some much needed cooler temperatures in the higher elevations. This is the most popular time of year for camping and recreation, so you are likely to encounter other outdoor enthusiasts. Thankfully, the Sierra National Forest has such expansive trail systems and wilderness access that you should have no trouble finding solitude or a wonderful place to camp.

Fall is also an exceptional time to visit the Sierra National Forest, with the aspens changing colors and even cooler temperatures. While roads and trails will still be accessible, these mountains are steep and it is not uncommon to see snowfall beginning in the middle or end of autumn. Campgrounds begin to close in the late fall as well, but overnight backcountry camping is still allowed year-round (usually with a permit).

Winter is the time to ski and snowshoe in the Eastern Sierras, with many backcountry ski routes and local ski resorts opening for the season. All campgrounds are closed in the winter, but backcountry camping is allowed year-round (usually with a permit), provided you can get out there. Winter camping takes a different skillset and approach, so please do not attempt this without experience or a guide.

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Points Of Interest

Pacific Crest Trail: The famous PCT goes directly through the Sierra National Forest, hugging the eastern side of the forest. Many of the hikers will use the nearby towns as a resupply and rest stop, like Bishop, CA.

Mono Hot Springs: There are quite a few hot springs in and around the Sierra National Forest, most notably the Mono Hot Springs. Right smack in the middle of the forest, these popular hot springs are accessible by mountain roads, with some small resort and camping options available.

Access to Lakes, Rivers, and Reservoirs: Known for its thousands (yes, literally) of crystal clear high alpine lakes, the Sierra National Forest is a haven for those seeking some water features on their camp trip. Here you’ll also find manmade reservoirs, and major rivers like the Kern River, San Joaquin River, home to the golden trout.

Access to Wilderness Areas: With the Sierra National Forest are five major wilderness areas, including the Ansel Adams Wilderness, John Muir Wilderness, Monarch Wilderness, Dinkey Lakes Wilderness, Kaiser Wilderness. These are roadless areas accessible only by foot, and offer some of the best chances for solitude and connecting with nature.

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Camping Etiquette

Regardless where you camp on our public lands, it’s important to learn, practice, and share proper camping etiquette. Some key things to know and practice include:

• Understand the Leave No Trace principles.
• Do not ever feed, approach, or disturb any wildlife.
• Be respectful to other campers (noise, lights, space).
• Unless you have access to trash facilities, please pack everything out.
• Leave the place better than you found it.

Please read our more detailed article on Camping Etiquette For Beginners.

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Types Of Camping Allowed

Car camping:

Driving up to a camping area and packing your gear in a car. This can be at a developed campground, primitive campground, or on your own as dispersed camping. Ultimately, anywhere you camp with your car is “car camping.” For a full guide on car camping, read our Car Camping Basics article.

Backpacking:

Where you travel only by foot and carry all your gear, food, and supplies in a backpack. You could backpack to a dispersed camping area, developed campground, or primitive campground. For a full guide on backpacking, read our Backpacking Basics article.

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Where You Can Camp In The Sierra National Forest

Developed Campgrounds:

A “developed campground” comes with basic amenities and facilities, usually including fire rings, vault toilets (no water or flushing), tent platforms, potable water spigots, firewood for sale, and picnic tables. Oftentimes a campground host will be present to answer questions and collect fees. 

Number of developed campgrounds:

• 54 developed campgrounds are available in the Sierra National Forest, with an additional 7 group campgrounds.
• For a full list of campgrounds and their current status from the USFS, check here, and filter for “camping area.”

General rules:

• Please adhere to the campgrounds’ established rules.
• Please be respectful of other campers and be mindful of your noise (especially music), the brightness of your lights, and the space you occupy.
• Please only bring or buy local firewood, which helps prevent tree-killing pests from damaging the local forests. Visit firewood.ca.gov for more info.
• Please leave the place better than you found it.

Fees:

• Most developed campgrounds charge a fee, which can vary.
• Fees are listed on the campground homepage or when making reservations online.

Group size:

• Most campgrounds have a limited number of people, tents, and vehicles that can occupy a single campsite.
• This information should be available when making a reservation (see below).

Reservations:

• Go to recreation.gov to make reservations for campgrounds in the Sierra National Forest.

Permits/passes:

• Most developed campgrounds in National Forests do not require permits or passes beyond your reservation.
• At times, a regional “Adventure Pass” or a national “America the Beautiful” pass may be required.

Campfires:

• Only allowed in designated fire rings established by the campground.
• Depending on the season and conditions, fire bans and restrictions may be in effect, which you can confirm on the alerts page for the forest service (see “Alerts” below).

Water:

• Potable water stations are usually available at developed campgrounds (though not guaranteed). This information should be available when making a reservation.
• However, water availability can change depending on the season, damage, or scheduled maintenance, so please confirm with the campground and bring enough water in separate containers for your trip.

Pets:

• Usually allowed in developed campgrounds given they are kept in your campsite and/or on a leash. Confirm with the campground directly.

Alerts:

• Before any trip, always check the current conditions and alerts for the area.

Additional resources:

• For accurate and up-to-date information, contact the Bass Lake Ranger District, or the High Sierra Ranger District, or visit the website for the Sierra National Forest.

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Primitive Campsites:

A “primitive campsite ” is a designated camping area with little to no amenities, are typically first-come first-served, and usually just provide place to set up your tent. You may get lucky with a fire ring, but these campgrounds are mainly to provide safe areas for people to camp in more remote places and to help protect the landscape and wildlife by preventing excessive dispersed camping.

Number of primitive campsites:

• 6 primitive campsites are available in the Sierra National Forest.
• Click here for a full list of campgrounds and their current status from the USFS, and filter for “camping area.”

General rules:

• Please adhere to the campgrounds’ established rules.
• Please be respectful of other campers and be mindful of your noise (especially music), the brightness of your lights, and the space you occupy.
• Please only bring or buy local firewood, which helps prevent tree-killing pests from damaging the local forests. Visit firewood.ca.gov for more info.
• Please leave the place better than you found it.

Fees:

• No fees are required at these sites.

Group size:

• Most campsites have a limited number of people, tents, and vehicles that can occupy a single site.
• This information should be available on the USFS site for the campsite listed (filter for “camping area”).

Reservations:

• First-come, first-served. No reservations available.

Permits/passes:

• Most primitive camping areas in National Forests do not require permits or passes.
• At times, a regional “Adventure Pass” or a national “America the Beautiful” pass may be required.

Campfires:

• This varies depending on the primitive campsite. Some may have fire rings, others will not.
• If local fire restrictions in place, then campfires will not be permitted (camp stoves are allowed). 
• A free California Campfire Permit is usually required and highly recommended to have.

Water:

• Potable water stations are typically not available at primitive campsites (though some do).
• This information should be available when making a reservation.
• Even if there are potable water stations, water availability can change depending on the season, damage, or scheduled maintenance, so please confirm with the local ranger district and bring enough water in separate containers for your trip.

Pets:

• Usually allowed in National Forests, provided they are kept in your campsite and/or on a leash.
• Please confirm with the local ranger district directly.
• Please note while some primitive campsite may allow pets, ceretain trails or recreation areas surrounding the campsites could have bans or restrictions for them.

Alerts:

• Before any trip, always check the current conditions and alerts for the area.

Additional resources:

• For accurate and up-to-date information, contact the Bass Lake Ranger District, or the High Sierra Ranger District, or visit the website for the Sierra National Forest.

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Dispersed Camping:

Dispersed camping (sometimes called “wild camping” or “backcountry camping”) is any camping on public lands outside of developed areas or campgrounds. This can include car camping, backpacking and solo camping, but it means no facilities, no campground host, and no fire rings. It’s just you and mother nature.

Where you can dispersed camp:

• Provided there is no signage or current bans stating otherwise, you can dispersed camping virtually anywhere in the Sierra National Forest.
• For dispersed camping via backpacking you can explore the trails in the Sierra National Forest.
• For dispersed camping via car camping, find an accessible forest service road from a Motor Vehicle Use map (more detailed links below in maps section).
• There are also opportunities for dispersed camping through mountain biking, kayaking and canoeing, or animal packing.

General rules:

• When dispersed camping, you must camp at least 200 feet away from trails, water sources, meadows, and other campers.
• Use existing camp spots instead of creating new ones.
• Please respect any signs prohibiting camping in specific areas. This is to protect sensitive areas and prevent overuse.
• Check here for the official USFS site.

Fees:

• In most cases dispersed camping is free.
• However, popular trails or sensitive areas may have a quota or limit which requires a permit that may cost a nominal fee.

Group size:

• Group size is typically capped at around 25-50 people, but this varies per area or National Forest.
• Usually any group over 50 people requires a special use permit from the National Forest.

Reservations:

• Typically, dispersed camping is first-come, first-served.
• However, popular trails or sensitive areas may have a quota or limit which will require a reservation.

Permits/passes:

• In most cases, dispersed camping does not require permits or passes.
• However, popular trails or sensitive areas may have a quota or limit which requires a permit from recreation.gov, or you may be required to have a regional “Adventure Pass” or national “America the Beautiful” pass.

Campfires:

• This varies depending on the camping area – please confirm.
• If there are fire restrictions in place then campfires will not be permitted (camp stoves are allowed).  
• A free California Campfire Permit is usually required and highly recommended to have.

Water:

• Potable water stations are not available when dispersed camping in National Forests.
• You must carry, filter, and treat all of your own water from available sources.

Pets:

• Usually allowed in National Forests, provided they are kept in your campsite and/or on a leash.
• Please confirm with the local ranger district directly.
• Please note while some primitive campsite may allow pets, ceretain trails or recreation areas surrounding the campsites could have bans or restrictions for them.

Cutting trails/switchbacks:

• Making shortcuts on trails is prohibited. Going off trail causes severe and lasting damage including erosion, habitat destruction, increased flood risks, increased safety risks for people, and costly maintenance.

Alerts:

• Before any trip, always check the current conditions and alerts for the area.

Additional resources:

• For accurate and up-to-date information, contact the Bass Lake Ranger District, or the High Sierra Ranger District, or visit the website for the Sierra National Forest.

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More Camping In The Sierra National Forest

The Sierra National Forest Manages 5 Wilderness Areas, and several other sub-designations that allow for camping and outdoor recreation. This includes:

• Ansel Adams Wilderness
• Kaiser Wilderness
• Dinkey Lakes Wilderness
• John Muir Wilderness
• Monarch Wilderness
• Whisky Snowmobile Area

For more information on how to camp in Wilderness Areas, read “How To Camp In Wilderness Areas.”

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Maps And Navigation

Physical Maps:

Always carry a physical/topographical map of the area issued from the managing agency or a reputable service, along with a compass. Here are some suggested physical maps for the Sierra National Forest:

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Digital Maps:

It’s recommended to use digital apps or tools include government-issued topographical layers such as from the USFS and USGS to ensure accurate information. Here are some suggested digital maps and tools for the Sierra National Forest:

• Gaia GPS – Sierra National Forest
• Interactive Map from the US Geological Survey
• USFS – Sierra National Forest Digital Map
• USFS – Sierra National Forest Digital Interactive Map (shown below)

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Motor Vehicle Use Maps:
These are available for digital download, or you can typically grab a physical copy at a local Ranger Station.

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Safety Tips For Navigation:

It is great to see apps encouraging outdoor exploration, but please be cautious (or avoid) using crowd-sourced hiking and camping apps. They often lead to trails and routes that do not exist, cut through sensitive habitat, or lead to off-limit and dangerous areas. This puts wildlife, ecosystems, hikers, and rescue teams at risk.

Instead, use maps and information that are sourced directly from the managing agency of the area. If you need help, just contact the local ranger district and they will be happy to provide resources.

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How To Plan A Trip Here (Quick Review)

1. Confirm your goals for the trip:
   • How many nights?
   • How many people?
   • How many miles?
   • What time of year?
   • Specific destination or activities (get to a lake? fishing? summit a peak?)
2. Use local maps and navigational resources:
   • See the “Maps and Navigation” section above to do your research.
3. Choose what type of camping:
   • Backpacking
   • Car camping
4. Choose where you’ll camp:
   • Developed campground
   • Primitive campsite
   • Dispersed camping
5. Depending on the type of camping and where, determine the following logistical details:
   • Getting there: Find out what roads you can take (main, or forest service roads), the trailhead location, and parking availability.
   • How you’ll secure your campsite: Do you need reservations, permits, or passes. See the above section, “Where you can camp,” for additional details.
   • Distance: What is the driving distance, or hiking distance (or both).
   • Trail/route details: What type of trail (out and back, loop, point-to-point), total elevation gain.
   • Terrain: Is the area forested, above tree line, are there water crossings, exposed areas, rough roads that require AWD.
   • Water sources: Are there reliable fresh water sources along your trail and near your chosen camping spot.
   • Backups: Consider having one or two backup routes or trails in mind.
6. Know the local rules:
   • See the above section, “Where you can camp,” for additional details on group size, fire restrictions, pets, and other local rules.
7. Contact the local Sierra Ranger Stations or visit the USFS site for current conditions and alerts for your chosen route:
   • Road conditions: Oftentimes roads can be closed due to damage, snow, and repairs. Confirm before you leave for your trip, and have alternative routes in mind.
   • Trail conditions: Trails may be closed for maintenance, wildfire or flood damage. This may affect your trip if you plan to go on day-hikes or adventures, or if you are backpacking.
   • Local weather: Mountain and wilderness weather is very local, changing dramatically within just a few miles. Always check weather for your exact dates, I recommend the National Weather Service.
   • Water sources: As stated earlier, you should confirm for water sources and their availability/reliability with a Ranger.
   • Wildfires: This should never be overlooked. Make sure you have a safe evacuation route, and are up-to-date on current fires and areas of risk. Use the “Active Wildfire Map” from American Forests.
   • Other: There’s a lot that can happen – bear encounters, flash floods, hail storms, avalanches, rock slides. When in doubt, just call the local ranger district for information.
8. Enjoy the trip – the rest is up to you!
   • Now that you’ve planned out your trip, the rest is up to you for packing, preparing supplies, and making it all come together.
   • Check out other camping resources to help you with your trip, including “Camping Gear For Beginners” and “An Intro To Public Lands.”

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The Natural World

Fauna

This forest is a critical habitat to wildlife in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Keep your distance from wildlife at all times, and never feed or disturb them under any circumstance.

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Flora

The Sierra National Forest is home to some of the most majestic flora in the state of California, from old-growth forests to vast meadows and hearty plants that survive in the harsh, high altitude environment.

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Geology

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Brief History

Original Inhabitants

Indigenous populations have occupied the Sierra Nevada mountains for well over 10,000 years, with the Sierra National Forest being home to the Mono, Miwok, Paiute, and Yokuts people. Extensive trail networks and transportation systems were developed to navigate the foothills and high altitude mountains, enabling them to socialize and exchange with other groups and access the abundant resources available in this incredible area. European contact ultimately devastated them through disease and forced/violent removal from their traditional lands. Today, descendants and tribal members of the Mono, Miwok, Paiute, and Yokuts people still exist and have communities in these areas, though they reflect only a fraction of what once existed after the disruption and loss they experienced.

Modern History

The Sierra National Forest was originally established in 1893 as the Sierra Forest Preserve by President Benjamin Harrison. It originally covered around 6 million acres, but over the decades certain parcels of land were either added or rearranged into other public lands, resulting in the Sierra National Forest that we see today.

For a more detailed history, read An Overview of Sierra National Forest History.

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How To Support The Sierra National Forest

1. Donate to USFS – Sierra National Forest
2. The National Forest Foundation

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A Note On Public Lands Today

Public lands in the United States exist because people chose long-term care over short-term gain. Lands that had been previously stewarded for generations by Indigenous nations. That protection is never guaranteed. It depends on laws, funding, leadership, and public attention.

Unfortunately, recent federal decisions have weakened protections and increased pressure from extractive use and private enterprises. This puts ecosystems, natural resources, wildlife, cultural sites, historical sites, gateway towns, local and national economy, and public access at major risk.

If you appreciate public lands and the benefits they provide to all of us, please help support them through action and conversation.

National Park Conservation Association
National Forest Foundation
Trust For Public Land
The Nature Conservancy
The Sierra Club Foundation
The National Audubon Society