Lake Alpine Recreation Area

The Lake Alpine Recreation Area features a small, scenic reservoir within a granite basin surrounded by red fir and lodgepole pine forest; it is located just east of the community of Bear Valley on State Highway 4.

General Information

Lake Alpine is the central attraction of the Calaveras Ranger District. It lies in a timbered setting at an elevation of 7,300 feet and covers 180 acres. Summer visitors enjoy swimming, boating, hiking, camping, fishing, picnicking, biking, and interpretive programs. In winter, the lake becomes part of the Lake Alpine SNO-PARK. Visitors can enjoy snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. See the Lake Alpine SNO-PARK page for more information.

Day use only: open sunrise to sunset

America the Beautiful Senior and Access passes and Golden Age and Golden Access passes accepted, reduces camping fee to half-price per night.

Camping is permitted only in signed campgrounds.

Day Use:
$5 per vehicle per day
Boat Launch Fee: $10 per vehicle; $40 season pass
Overnight Use:
Single Site: $30 per night

Campsites are $31 per night. Recreation facility day use fee is $5 per group. Boat launch fee is $10 or $40 season pass.

Getting There

Latitude / Longitude

Latitude: 38.477408

Longitude: -120.003521

Directions

The Lake Alpine Recreation Area is located on Highway 4, fifty miles east of Angel's Camp and two miles east of the community of Bear Valley. From the Calaveras Ranger Station in Hathaway Pines, California travel 33 miles northeast on Highway 4.