Stanislaus National Forest
 

Recreation
Canyon and Trees

Located between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite in the Sierra Nevada, the Stanislaus National Forest is a cherished and accessible overnight destination. The Forest offers a full range of year-round recreation opportunities. Three primary trans-Sierra routes—4, 108 and 120—traverse the forest, offering great views through a range of life zones (3,000' - 9,500+'). A network of forest roads and trails encourages discovery of nature and history. Visitors enjoy a year-round variety of activities including watching wildlife, hiking, fishing, camping, picnicking, and off-road vehicle use.

To use our web site to help you plan your visit to the Forest, navigate by choosing your planned recreational activity in the left menu. If you have a favorite area in mind, follow the "Find An Area" link in the right-hand column. The current status of the more popular campgrounds is listed in the table below the map with a link to more information.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

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Recreation Conditions Report

 Area Name Status Area Conditions
A) CRABTREE ROAD ( 4N26) Open to Visitor OPEN AS OF MAY 23rd 2:00 PM. Trailheads to Emigrant Wilderness Open.
B) HERRING CREEK ROAD (4N12) Open to Visitor OPEN! Herring Creek Campgrounds are still not open at this time.
Backpacker's Camp Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Open.
Baker Campground Open to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Open
Beardsley Dam Campground Open to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Open
Big Meadow Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - OPEN.
Big Meadow Group Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Open.
Bloomfield Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Open.
Boulder Flat Campground Open to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Open
Brightman Flat Campground Open to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Open
Cascade Creek Campground Closed to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Opening Friday, May 25th
Cherry Lake Open to Visitor Groveland Ranger District - Open. Gate across dam closed December 15 to April 15. Boat launch is open. Cherry Lake draw down cancelled for 2012 summer - lake will be at normal levels throughout summer.
Cherry Valley Campground Open to Visitor Groveland Ranger District - Open.
Chickaree Day Use Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Open.
China Flat Day Use Area Open to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Open
Clark Fork Campground Closed to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Opening Friday, May 25th
Clark Fork Horse Campground Closed to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Closed.
Cottonwood Day Use Area Open to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Open
Crandall OHV Area Open to Visitor Mi-Wok Ranger District - OPEN
Dardanelle Campground Open to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Open
Deadman Campground Open to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Open
Dimond O Campground Open to Visitor Groveland Ranger District - Open.
Donnell Vista Open to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Open
Eagle Meadow Road Closed to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Closed.
Eureka Valley Campground Open to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Open
Fence Creek Campground Closed to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Opening Friday, May 25th
Fraser Flat Campground Open to Visitor Mi-Wok Ranger District - Open.
Fraser Flat Day Use Area and Fishing Piers Open to Visitor Mi Wok Ranger District - Open.
Hermit Valley Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Open.
Herring Creek Campground Closed to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Opening Friday, May 25th
Herring Creek/Cow Creek OSV Trails Closed to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Closed.
Herring Reservoir Campground Closed to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Opening Friday, May 25th
Highland Lakes Closed to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Closed.
Hull Creek / Trout Creek OHV Area Open to Visitor Mi-Wok Ranger District - Opening May 4, 2012.
Hull Creek Campground Open to Visitor Mi-Wok Ranger District - Opening Friday, May 4, 2012.
Hunter Creek OHV Area Open to Visitor Mi-Wok Ranger District - Open. OHV, ATV, Motorcycle trails. Limited use. Restricted to N.F.T.S. roads.
Lake Alpine Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Open.
Lake Alpine Recreation Area Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Open..
Lodgepole Group Campground Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Opens May 25.
Lodgepole Overflow Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Opens May 25.
Lost Claim Campground Open to Visitor Groveland Ranger District - Open.
Lumsden Bridge Campground Open to Visitor Groveland Ranger District - Open. Northern portion of 1N10 (Lumsden Road) past Lumsden Bridge closed seasonally December 15 to April 15. Contact Groveland Ranger District for more information: (209) 962-7825.
Lumsden Campground Open to Visitor Groveland Ranger District - Open. Northern portion of 1N10 (Lumsden Road) past Lumsden Bridge closed seasonally December 15 to April 15. Contact Groveland Ranger District for more information: (209) 962-7825.
Marmot Day Use Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Open.
Meadowview Campground Open to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Open
Mill Creek Campground Closed to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Opening Friday, May 25th
Mosquito Lakes Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Open.
Niagara Creek Campground Closed to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Closed
Niagara OHV Campground Closed to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Closed.
North Fork Day Use Open to Visitor Mi-Wok Ranger District - Open.
Pacific Valley Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Open.
Pigeon Flat Campground Open to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Open
Pine Marten Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Open.
Pinecrest Campground Open to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Open
Pines Campground Open to Visitor Groveland Ranger District - Open.
Pioneer Trail Group Campground Open to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Open for group reservations.
River Ranch Campground Open to Visitor Mi-Wok Ranger District - OPEN. Contact Campground Manager for Reservations: (209) 928-3708.
Riverside Day Use Open to Visitor Mi-Wok Ranger District - Open.
Sand Bar Flat Campground Open to Visitor Mi-Wok Ranger District - OPEN. Road is not advisable for large RVs and trailers. Road  is steep, narrow and is not paved past Fraser Flat Campground. 
Sand Flat Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Open.
Sand Flat Campground Open to Visitor Summit Ranger District - Open.
Silver Valley Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Open.
Silvertip Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Open.
Sourgrass Day Use Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Opens May 25 .
South Fork Campground Open to Visitor Groveland Ranger District - Open. Northern portion of 1N10 (Lumsden Road) past Lumsden Bridge closed seasonally December 15 to April 15. Contact Groveland Ranger District for more information: (209) 962-7825.
Spicer Reservoir Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Open.
Spicer Reservoir and Spicer Group Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Open.
Stanislaus River Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Open.
Sweetwater Campground Open to Visitor Groveland Ranger District - Open.
Trumbull Peak Special Interest Area Closed to Visitor Groveland Ranger District - Temporarily closed for burn recovery (Forest Order: STF-2011-013). The Motor Fire burned the area in 2011, causing unstable roads and hazard trees. Once the burn area has stabilized and is safe for travel, the road is expected to be opened to the public. Thank you for your cooperation.
Tuolumne Wild & Scenic River Open to Visitor Groveland Ranger District - Open. Permits required to float river May 1 to October 15. Tree blocking 1N10 (Lumsden Road) north of Lumsden Bridge. Northern portion of 1N10 closed seasonally December 15 to April 15. Contact Groveland Ranger District for more information: (209) 962-7825.
Utica/Union Reservoirs Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Open.
Wa Ka Luu Hep Yoo (Wild River) Open to Visitor Calaveras Ranger District - Open.
Wilderness Areas Open to Visitor Call ahead for road and trail conditions to Wilderness Areas.

Spotlights

North Fork Stanislaus River

The North Fork Stanislaus River provides outstanding opportunities for experienced whitewater enthusiasts. Boaters may paddle a five-mile, Class IV stretch of the river between Sourgrass, near Dorrington, and Calaveras Big Trees State Park, just east of Arnold. The run offers an exciting adventure through a spectacularly beautiful, heavily timbered, isolated canyon, with abundant wildlife and numerous Native American and Gold Rush era artifacts. Rafting trips may be taken with one of three commercial outfitters currently licensed to run this river (highly recommended, due to the demanding and technical nature of the river) or, you may organize a private trip. Whichever way you go, please be sure to "Leave No Trace" of your visit to the North Fork, so that future users will find it as beautiful and pristine as you did.