Lake and Pond Fishing Areas

• Highway 108 Corridor

  The Scenic Highway 108 Sonora Pass route begins at an elevation of about 3,000 feet, and rises to an elevation of 9,628 feet above sea level.  The pass connects the communities of Sonora to the west and Bridgeport to the east.  Like Most high elevation passes across the Sierra Nevada, the highway is closed in the winter, generally between November and May, due to large quantities of snow.

  The highway over the pass is extremely steep, narrow and winding between Kennedy Meadows on the west side to Leavitt Meadows on the east.  The route is not recommended for vehicles or vehicle combinations that are unusually wide, heavy or long.  Adjacent to the summit of the pass is a picnic/parking area to nearby Sonora Peak, Wolf Creek Lake, and other spots north or south along the Pacific Crest Trail.

  

• Campgrounds - Highway 108 Corridor

  Campgrounds along highway 108

  Click here for a map and table of campgrounds along the Highway 108 Corridor.

• Summit Ranger District Campgrounds

  Welcome to the Summit Ranger District, which encompasses the upper Highway 108 corridor on the Stanislaus National Forest. Large motor homes and trailers cannot be accommodated in some campgrounds. Electric and sewer hookups are not available. Fee RV dump stations are available at Clark Fork Campground, Dardanelle Resort and near Pinecrest on Highway 108 (closed on Sunday), one-half mile west of Summit Ranger District office. For the most current information please call the Summit Ranger District at (209) 965-3434, or stop by the office on Highway 108 at the turn-off to Pinecrest Recreation Area.

• Beardsley Dam Campground
• Meadowview Campground
• Pinecrest Campground
• Carson-Iceberg Wilderness - Highway 108 Access
• Pinecrest Lake Day Use
• Emigrant Wilderness - Highway 108 Access
• Lakes - Highway 108 Corridor

  Whether you are swimming or in a boat, be sure to exercise care and follow water safety rules at all times. Wear an approved life jacket or vest while boating. Never swim alone and don't overestimate your ability. Avoid swimming in streams and rivers during periods of swift flowing spring snowmelt or summer thunderstorms.

• Beardsley Reservoir
• Donnell Reservoir
• Pinecrest Lake
• Highway 120 Corridor

  Highway 120 provides year-round access to Central Sierra Nevada Mountains. The highway traverses the southern portion of the Stanislaus National Forest, between the elevations of 2,800 and 4,700 feet. The highway continues through Yosemite National Park, eventually reaching an elevation of 9,943 feet at Tioga Pass, which is subject to annual winter closure.

  The Groveland Ranger District encompasses the Highway 120 corridor on the Stanislaus National Forest. For the most current information please call the Groveland Ranger District at (209) 962-7825, or stop by our office on Highway 120.

• Campgrounds - Highway 120 Corridor

  Situated in the Central Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Groveland Ranger District offers many beautiful sites for camping in a variety of settings. The Groveland Ranger District manages eight campgrounds within the Highway 120 Corridor between the historic town of Groveland and Yosemite National Park.

  All campgrounds offer vault toilets, tables, grills and fire rings. Large motor homes and trailers cannot be accommodated in some campgrounds, and electric and sewer hookups are not available.

• Cherry Valley Campground
• Lakes and Rivers - Highway 120 Corridor

  Lakes and Rivers along the Highway 120 Corridor

  California Campfire Permit is required to have fire in a dispersed campsite. Campfire permits can be obtained for free at any Forest Service office or online at https://www.readyforwildfire.org/permits/

• Cherry Lake
  

  Fish and boat on the largest lake on the Forest. Open all year, road access subject to winter closure. Cherry Lake visitors enjoy camping, boating, swimming, fishing and hiking. Recreation facilities include a boat launch and vault restrooms. There are no cell, fuel, grocery, or water services at Cherry Lake. Visitors are advised to plan accordingly. 

  Check current fire restrictions when planning your trip at Stanislaus National Forest - Fire Management (usda.gov)

  California Campfire Permit is required to have fire in a dispersed campsite. Campfire permits can be obtained for free at any Forest Service office or online at https://www.readyforwildfire.org/permits/.

   

   

• Cherry Lake Boat Launch
• Highway 4 Corridor

  Welcome to the Calaveras Ranger District, which encompasses the Highway 4 corridor in the northwest portion of the Stanislaus National Forest. For more information please call the Calaveras Ranger District at 209-795-1381.

  

• Carson-Iceberg Wilderness - Highway 4 Access

  

   

   

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   The 161,000 acre Carson-Iceberg Wilderness straddles the crest of the Sierra Nevada range, divided almost evenly between the Stanislaus and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests. Here you'll find spectacular high country, with several peaks rising above 10,000 feet, broad river valleys, perennial creeks with small waterfalls, granite-strewn slopes, and meadow-filled valleys. Here are the headwaters of the East Fork of the Carson River, the Clark Fork of the Stanislaus, and the Mokelumne River. 

  The Carson River, named for Kit Carson, and a distinctive granite formation called the Iceberg on the southern boundary give this area its name. You'll hike often in a thick forest of pines (Jeffrey, sugar, lodgepole, western white) and firs (red and white). Lakes, fairly common on the eastern side, are few and far between on the western side. Conversely, precipitation averaging 50 inches per year on the western slopes drops to about 15 inches per year on the eastern slopes, with about 80 percent falling as snow. Snowpacks usually linger into June, but the remainder of the summer is generally dry and mild with periodic afternoon thunderstorms and nighttime temperatures that could drop below freezing any day of the year.

  Congress designated the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness in 1984. Most of the area still includes cattle grazing allotments, and you will likely encounter cows or their signs from July to September. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail runs for over 26 miles within the Carson-Iceberg. About 200 total miles of foot and horse trails give access to this outstanding wilderness, where human use is moderate, especially on the eastern side.

  Please take a moment to learn our wilderness regulations and review Leave No Trace methods before visiting this outstanding national resource.

   

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  MAPS:

  Purchase maps at any Stanislaus National Forest Ranger Station or the Forest Service online store .

  View a  map of the wilderness.

  View a  map of trail distances in the wilderness.

• Highland Lakes
  

   

   

  This page is for the Highland Lakes area; visit the Highland Lakes Campground page to view campground status.

  The lakes are set in a spectacular high alpine valley, close to the top of Ebbetts Pass at an elevation of 8,600 feet. These two lakes are unique in that they are headwaters for two different watersheds: the eastern lake flows into the Mokelumne River drainage, while the western lake flows into the Stanislaus River drainage. Maximum boat speed on both lakes is 5 mph, and gas powered motors are discouraged. Highland Lakes visitors enjoy camping, hiking and horseback riding.

• 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.

• Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail (MCCT)
• Mokelumne Wilderness

   

  

   

   

  Designated in 1964, the 105,165 acre Mokelumne Wilderness straddles the crest of the central Sierra Nevada, within the Stanislaus, Eldorado, and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests. This area is bordered by State Highway 4 on the south and State Highway 88 on the north. Watersheds drain to the Mokelumne River on the west slope and the Carson River on the east slope. 

  The Mokelumne Wilderness is a rugged landscape of great scenic beauty. Much of the area is dominated by volcanic ridges and peaks. The rugged Mokelumne River canyon is a prominent feature. There are many smaller streams flowing through deep granitic canyons but only a few lakes concentrated in the northern portion of this spectacular area. Elevations range from about 3900 feet near Salt Springs Reservoir to 10,380 feet at Round Top. Precipitation averages 50 inches annually on the west slope and as little as 15 inches on the east slope, 80 percent of it in the form of snow. Snowpacks typically linger into June in the Round Top region to the north and on the Mokelumne plateau to the south, while the Mokelumne River canyon above Salt Springs Reservoir can be free of snow as early as March. Summers are generally dry and mild, but afternoon thundershowers occur periodically and nighttime temperatures may dip below freezing any time.

  Please take a moment to learn our wilderness regulations and review Leave No Trace methods before visiting this outstanding national resource.

  Special regulations apply in the Carson Pass Management Area. Visit the  Mokelumne Wilderness page on the Eldorado National Forest website for more information.

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  MAPS:

  Purchase maps at any Stanislaus National Forest Ranger Station or the Forest Service online store .

  View a map of the wilderness.

• Mosquito Lakes
• Mosquito Lakes Campground
• Spicer Reservoir
  

  This page is for the Spicer Reservoir area; visit the Spicer Reservoir Campground page  to view campground status.

  Spicer Reservoir has a surface area of 2,000 acres when full. Visitors enjoy camping, fishing, hiking, and horseback riding.

• Utica/Union Reservoirs
  

  This page is for the Utica/Union Reservoirs area; visit the Utica Reservoirs Campgrounds, Union East Campground, and Union West Campground Pages to view campground statuses.

  These scenic small, twin reservoirs are located off the Spicer Reservoir Road. The setting is more rustic than either Spicer Reservoir or Lake Alpine. The area is popular for fishing, camping, and boating.

• Union East Campground
  

   

  Union Reservoir is set in a granite basin with expansive mountain views. The reservoir has lots of small islands and is kept mostly full. The campground is adjacent to the reservoir, nestled in red fir and lodgepole pine forest.

• Union West Campground