It stretches across 4 counties, has 78 lakes, 800 miles of rivers and streams, instagram-worthy swimming holes and waterfalls, lava tubes, caves, granite walls, and of course the amazing mountainscape. Nestled amongst the wooded conifer forest west of Lake Alpine, this campground is your easy access point to a good time. The grounds are surrounded by gorgeous conifer trees and each site has access to a fire pit and a grill (your panini maker will thank you). Groveland District 24545 Highway 120 Groveland, CA 95321 . Piute Lake State Park, Park, ist in Utah und hat eine Höhe von 5974 Fuß. All Hipcampers should review and adhere to these standards for safety, trip preparation, and respect in order to uphold Hipcamp’s most important value: “leave it better.”. Trailhead was a bit confusing about upper or lower loop towards Gem or Wood Lake, but ended up starting on the lower loop. You can also snag some brook trout and a gaggle of other fish. When you feel like the traffic in your brain is worse than the traffic on your commute, it’s about time you #findyourselfoutside. We integrate with the National Weather Service to provide valuable fire advisories to Hosts and Hipcampers. Then you’ve come to the right place! Stay Connected. Open to both tent and RV campers, there are no hook-ups or refuse stations, but it’s got everything you need to make a traditional or fancypants meal, including drinking water to wash it all down. You can chill on the shoreline with some beautiful cabins to your back, as long as you are respectful of the private property. Mosquitoes were no problem. This trail is great for a three or four day trip. This campground is situated in an alpine meadow and forest, next to the Mokelumne River, and near Mosquito Lakes. You must know about Stanislaus. The view at Buck lake was incredible. There is a small stream on the grounds, and the main roads and parking pads are dirt-surfaced. I highly recommend taking the Northern route first and camping at Piute Lake along the Southern side. Catch some pretty rainbow trout, like this guy. Tally-ho, it’s Dimond O Campground, the closest digs to Yosemite National Park and Hetch Hetchy Reservoir (Big Oak entrance). Noted for a stand of beautiful aspen trees, Mill Creek Campground is located in a mixed conifer forest. We extended it out past Deer Lake and cut south at Buck Lake to catch the southern trail, making our trip about 25ish miles. Look no further than Bloomfield Campground. Located on the Clark Fork of the Stanislaus River, these campsites will help campers revel in the river life. Would probably save this for a fall hike in the future. We hiked counterclockwise, camped at Groundhog Meadow first night, and Piute Lake second night. Pine Marten is one of the many campgrounds in the area, but this one has some of the best views and spots close to the lake. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, nature trips, and backpacking and is best used from April until October. This area of the Sierra National Forest is also primed for off-roading fun. With campsites a’plenty—some even have views of the rushing Stanislaus River—Baker is a reliable spot to camp even in the hustle and bustle of the summer months. Visitors to Stanislaus River Campground along the Spicer Reservoir Road are close to many outdoor activities and adventures.. Take advantage of great OHV routes at places such as Rattlesnake Creek and Black Springs. With lake views that would trump your apartment view any day, Spicer Reservoir keeps it glassy. Note - I can see how this trail is especially buggy earlier in the year as there are so many lakes and seemed to be a ton of water crossings. 16:36. The park is not well known and is a great place for a quiet getaway. We did pass by a handful of groups on pack trips with horses and pack-mules, making the trail a bit dusty for the time being, but might as well make the insides match the dusty, grime covered outsides! Camped just before Wood Lake with a gorgeous view of sunset and sunrise. Dustin Long 497 views. With grills, fireplaces, and tables on site, what more could your heart desire? During our trip, we made Piute Lake our base camp while we trekked over Piute Pass and into the Humphreys Basin to fish lakes like Summit Lake and Lower Golden Trout Lake. If fishing has been on your mind all week, then this spot is the one for you. Cherry Lake Camp Ground.Drove around outer sites with camera 5/19/2010 I was here at Gem Lake. pack trail was a little blown down, but trail was not hard to find. With virtually the same appeal as the nearby Yosemite minus the crowds, Stanislaus is perched up in the high Sierra landscape. A primitive campground is available and it offers vault toilets. August temps meant perfect swimming weather even in the early mornings and late evenings and caught some gorgeous sunrises. There are no showers here, but there luckily is a river nearby. Two is always better than one! Need to dip out of the city for a weekend? I would probably do counterclockwise if there were a next time. None complained that our dogs were off leash. . We know it’s total newbie advice, but just keep all parts of your body inside your vehicle to keep your limbs safe. Camping with Kids! Piute Creek was almost completely dry where it crossed near Groundhog Meadow. But all in all a great trip! Trail can get pretty exposed, so definitely keep water on you, but the shaded areas are beautiful, and the views from elevation can’t be beat. Situated at 8,600 feet, the Highland Lakes Campground can sometimes be under snow until mid-June. Our dogs did great! I knew this was going to be the case but it is a steep grade. Would recommend Gem over Piute-- seemed like a nicer swimming lake with better scenery. Quite a scenic hike with varied landscapes like lakes, meadows, forest, granite. Would’ve loved an extra day or two to hike out to Buck and Huckleberry Lakes, but the five or so lakes you’ll encounter on this trail will make the grade. Good to share the trail I guess, but they kicked up lots of dust, especially near Crabtree Trailhead. Restrooms are but a short skip away, so you don’t have to worry about taxing your bladder when you rehydrate after your latest failed sa Read more... A small site along the banks of the Stanislaus River, Pigeon Flat Campground is the perfect camp for exploring the geological wonder that is the Columns of the Giants. Tie on a few bikes, or dust off those Razor Scooters sitting in your garage, and make trips to and from the lake a little more time friendly (and enjoyable). we did a counter-clockwise version of this loop, and added an extra ~4 miles to see Wood Lake, Deer Lake, and Jewelry Lake. We parked at the junction of Crabtree Trailhead and Overflow parking lot. Contact Us : Stanislaus River Campground. Hiked back on Sunday, and the trail was extremely dusty and dry--take plenty of water from Gem lake, because there isn't much available at this time of year (August) until Grouse lake. only saw a few people. Weather was perfect (other than smoke from the wildfires rolling in and out periodically as we got higher in altitude), although some stretches of the trail (particularly the hike back down from Gem) were completely naked of trees—the trail got hot so it stripped but we couldn’t. and where else would you want to be? All Hosts should review and adhere to these standards around providing a positive Hipcamp experience, being a thoughtful neighbor, and serving as a responsible citizen. Setup your tent close to the banks of the creek and bliss out to the sounds of Mother Nature at this remote campground. The hike to Piute campground was a climb! Gorgeous, but be warned the map does deviate from the actual trail in a couple places. This is a moderate loop trail to Gem Lake in Stanislaus National Forest. Sand Bar Flat Campground is a forested site on the middle fork of the Stanislaus River. Catch some pretty rainbow trout, like this guy. The trail is relatively flat until you get to the start of the peak and then the elevation gain picks up dramatically. For the thrill seekers, bring your dirt bikes and/or ATVs. Located on scenic Pinecrest Lake, this is known as the Beverley Hills of the Sierras. Camped at Piute and Grouse lake. Went with some first timers and veterans and they all enjoyed it and were challenged. Lake Valley 5.2 Piute Meadow 6.4 Burst Rock Trail 7.0 Piute Lake 8.0 Whiteside Meadow 8.1 Toejam Lake Trail 9.1 Gem Lake 9.5 Salt Lick Meadow 9.7 Toejam Lake 10.1 Jewelry Lake 10.5 Deer Lake 11.3 Long Lake … Very hot and dusty though, with not a lot of shade, especially on the way back if looping clockwise. Situated in the Pinecrest Basin, Pioneer Trail Group Camp is great for camping with up to 100 of your nearest and dearest. Stanislaus is busting with lakes and ponds, which means it’s fishing galore. In the mood for something wild and scenic? Ahh—that’s what we call camping. Trip up to the picturesque Highlands Lake Campground in the Stanislaus National Forest Maybe we should have just made the push and camped at Gem lake. (Seriously, look at it.) (Seriously, look at it.) Gem lake was beautiful and great to swim in. Piute Lake Rosasco Lake Wood Lake Yellowhammer Lake Gianelli's Trail Head ... but no spawning areas. Open Campgrounds. The trail was only spotty between Lower Buck and Wood Lake. The parking lot was definitely full, but people parked along the side of the road going pretty far back. This trail goes by Camp Lake, Lily Lake, Piute Lake Campground, Piute Lake, Gem Lake, No Camping, Jewelry Lake, Grouse Lake, Crabtree Camp, and Crabtree Trailhead. Carson-Iceberg Backpacking Loop: Golden Canyon, Elder Creek, Disaster Creek, Gianelli Trail to Chewing Gum Lake, Leopold Lake, Deer Lake and Gem Lake. Between taking a swim or fishing in the lake, an Read more... Six miles from the junction of Clark Fork Road and Highway 108 is Sand Flat Campground. Head on over to the popular South Fork Campground. A fair amount of parking along the road before the trailhead, and didn’t see any signs forbidding it. about a mile past the y for disaster Creek the trail gets a little washed out and stomped down by cows, but it was not too hard to find. It contains 78 lakes, and 811 miles (1,305.2 km) of rivers and streams. Past by about 10 groups of horse/donkey trains. Find information about Piute Lake State Park, an Utah State Park There is a small s Read more... Get wild at Boulder Flat Campground. Take either the north or south rim trails to check out boulders of granite rock perched on top of younger volcanic rocks. Day three of three!! It’s a great place to catch some whitewater, take a dip in the river, and glamp out by the campfire. Stay Connected. They probably didn’t appreciate our excited dogs, but the riders were friendly. Although the grounds are large, spots fill up fast come the weekend. There is a stream crossing to reach the lakes and in the spring it may be difficult to negotiate. We camped in the granite above the west side of the lake (go right when you get to the lake if you're going in the clockwise direction). You can really make this trail any length with so many options to keep extending it if you want to! Second to last mile leg is a trek up and out which was a slow and rough end. Sweetwater Campground is recovering from the Rim Fire, so use caution when dealing with trees and wildlife weakened from the natural destruction. Groveland District 24545 Highway 120 Groveland, CA 95321 . Don’t believe us? Feeling like you’ve already explored most of the epic-ness that is Stanislaus National Forest? Gem is pretty small. Once you get here, the question you won’t be asking is ‘what on ea Read more... Just East of Lake Alpine, this campground is close to a lot of recreational fun. area contains multiple trails along the river, as well as some secluded camping sites that can be reserved. RV Parks Near Me Top Searched States with RV Parks Arizona California Colorado Florida Georgia New Mexico Oregon Texas Utah Washington; RV PARKS VIEW ALL Best RV Parks – 2019 Campers Choice Awards Golf Courses with RV Camping. A stay at Spicer Reservoir Campground won’t have you missin’ it, and that’s a promise! Completed this trail on Aug 8 - 9th weekend. Ha. You can also snag some brook trout and a gaggle of other fish. You can chill on the shoreline with some beautiful cabins to your back, as long as you are respectful of the private property. What are the perks of being close to a Highway? Saw three different rangers. Did we mention the sinks and Read more... Lumsden Bridge Campground offers picturesque camping beside the Tuolomne River. Grouse lake was also really nice! Stanislaus is busting with lakes and ponds, which means it’s fishing galore. Contact Us : Pinecrest Campground. Also remember that many national forest campgrounds are remote, which is what makes them so great, but GPS apps and mapping sites may not be accurate. Set up camp between the trees and check out the breathtaking views of the Stanislaus River Canyon. We certainly are. You can chill on the shoreline with some beautiful cabins to your back, as long as you are respectful of the private property. Zero mosquitos on Oct 10, perfect weather (clear skies, 50's most of the day), light to no smoke from the fires, and saw less than 20 people on the trail all day. The best part of waking up is the sweet smell of conifers in the morning. There are no garbage services, so please pack out and leave the area better than you found it. Ranger Districts. If that’s your thing, stay at Niagara OHV Campground. Overall a BEAUTIFUL trail. But don’t worry, there’s on-site potable water for your campfire coffee, too. Stopped at Wood Lake next day and did a loop of Huckleberry Lake- highly recommend! This trail was a lot of decline and flat but the trail is badly torn up from horses and mules so it felt like I backpacked most of 13 miles back on a beach which wasn’t fun either, definitely feeling it in my calves. This rec. (Seriously, look at it.) With secluded campsites nestled in between groves of cedars and pines, Brightman Flat Campground is truly a piece of good old fashioned Sierra solitude. The Sierra Nevada do not disappoint. Found a great campsite right next to the Creek (a little buggy) at the top of Hyrum's medow. Contact Information. The campsites are cozy, offer fantastic views, and are a great place to rest your head under the moonshine. At couple of points it is easy to go off trail. Try heading to Gem lake to camp if possible. One asked if we had permit, but all asked where we planned to camp. Second day went out to Jewelry Lake and then came back and cut over at Gem to return. Yeah, you should probably pack your bags. 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