Although our front desks are closed to the public, you may contact our ranger districts with your questions. Please do not call the Stanislaus Dispatch with recreation questions. Dispatch is for fire emergencies only.
Office Information
Forest Supervisor's office
209-459-9238
Groveland Ranger District
209-962-7825
Calaveras Ranger District
209-795-1381
Summit Ranger District
209-459-9236
Please avoid visiting national forests if you are sick and/or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Follow CDC guidance on personal hygiene and social distancing before and during your visit to the forest.
Please select any of the following topics to learn more about our COVID-19 response.
Forest Updates
Updated July 23, 2020: Are you looking for a Stanislaus National Forest map during our virtual services? Our partner, 3 Forests Interpretive Association, or 3FIA, offers National Forest Visitor Maps for sale online! Learn more about other online map tools.
Updated July 24, 2020: Forest Order STF-16-2020-17 extends the closure of several forest campgrounds and is effective through Aug. 30, 2020. Visitors are cautioned to expect a different camping experience than you may have had in previous years. Please be self-reliant by bringing your own soap, hand sanitizer, toilet tissue and drinking watker, as some services may not yet be available, and social distancing will be important. Equally important is that trash removal is still very limited, so be sure to pack out all your trash and waste. Please Leave No Trace and pack out all your trash and waste!
Updated July 27, 2020: Dispersed Camping
Many people enjoy the solitude and primitive experience of camping away from developed campgrounds and other campers. Dispersed camping is the term used for camping anywhere in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a designated campground. Dispersed camping means no services like trash removal, and few or no facilities such as tables and fire pits, are provided. Visitors are reminded that under Forest Order STF-16-2020-08 fire restrictions are in effect at all elevations of the forest. Campfires are not authorized at any dispersed camping and wilderness camping sites through Nov. 30, 2020. See the section below titled Fire Restrictions to read more about why campfires are allowed only in developed campgrounds.
Dispersed camping takes a lot more effort than camping in a developed campground, but for those with an adventurous spirit, it can be a lot of fun. Be a responsible visitor and practice Leave No Trace principles, including Plan Ahead & Prepare; Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces (No Overnight Camping at trailhead or along trail); Dispose of Waste Properly (Pack it In, Pack it Out) Leave What You Find; Minimize Campfire Impacts; Respect Wildlife and Be Considerate of Other Visitors. For additional tips and suggestions, visit https://lnt.org/why/7-principles.
2020 Fire Hire begins Aug. 1, 2020 The forest and Region 5 are seeking a committed, hardworking, highly skilled workforce to suppress wildfires and work in fuels management on 18 National Forests located in California. Vacancy announcements will be open for applications between Aug. 10, and Sept. 4, 2020. To be considered for these positions in the Fall Fire Hire event, you must apply to the vacancy announcements by the Sept. 4 closing date. Learn more about 2020 Fire Hire.
Fire Restrictions
May 29, 2020: Forest Supervisor Jason Kuiken signed Forest Order 16-2020-08, which prohibits campfires outside of open, developed forest recreation sites; limits areas where smoking is allowed; and limits the types of cookstoves—only liquid/gel stoves with an on/off switch are permitted. The fire restrictions are in effect for all elevations on the forest, including wilderness areas, and remain in effect through Nov. 30, 2020.
Human-caused ignitions are a significant fire management challenge for the forest and unintentional human-caused ignitions far outnumber intentional ones. When a forest fire ignites, the forest's proximity to large population centers and communities within the wildland-urban interface creates a situation where the risk of catastrophic property damage and loss of life is high. In California, over the past 10 years, escaped campfires ignited 25 percent of all wildfires. Reducing the number of these starts will best enable us to successfully suppress the fires that do occur while protecting the safety of our employees and the community.
Always remember—it's not just firefighters who are at risk during fire operations in this time of COVID-19—you shouldn't have to move to an evacuation center where your risk increases as the number of people increases. Don't forget—we depend on you to help minimize fire danger as much as you depend on us to fight fire!
Pinecrest Day Use and Campground
Jun 26, 2020: The Pinecrest day use area and campground is once again open to the public. The Forest Service has been working closely with Tuolumne County and state officials to ensure alignment with all state and county health regulations.
Pinecrest is a special and VERY popular recreation site, and we are glad we could open Pinecrest, but the operation is facing challenges due to social distancing and ensuring the health and safety of our employees and visitors.
We are asking visitors to socially distance themselves from other parties in compliance with state and county health guidelines..
Trash removal is limited - please pack and take all your trash and waste with you when you leave!
Many roads within the basin are closed to public access, and other roads will be closed by barricade to prevent illegal parking. Permit holders will be granted access to their permitted facilities for appropriate purposes, though they may need to enter cabin tracts from an alternate road than normally used.
Cabin permittees will be limited to two cars per cabin. Cabins on the south shore may park in their designated lot, as well as in parking spaces on Lakeshore past Rustic that have been closed to the public. Cabins on the north shore will be allowed to park on the south side of Pinecrest Avenue. All others should park at their cabins.
The boat ramp is open.
Campgrounds, resorts, and other businesses are allowed by state regulation to open, but they must adhere to any state or local restrictions. All permitted businesses are required to follow state and county health guidelines, and you may notice adaptations when you visit them.
There will be no recreation event permits, group permits, or interpretive programs issued or offered this season. At this time, several of the camps and the Movies at the Amphitheater will not be operating.
Restrooms will continue to be cleaned, following regional guidance for COVID-19 cleaning. Visitors will need to bring their own hand sanitizer and soap in the day use area.
There certainly will be adaptations to our current operations. We will do our best to provide enjoyable, safe recreation access to the Pinecrest Basin. This season will be very different and will go down in the history books for Pinecrest. If you make your way to Pinecrest Lake this summer, please respect the rules and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.
Open Campgrounds
Updated July 2, 2020. Please note: Only these campgrounds are open at this time. Other campgrounds are not yet open. We will update this list as other recreation areas open.
List of developed campgrounds by ranger district that are open:
Calaveras Ranger District
Campground
Status
Big Meadow Campground
$19.00 per night fee charged; first come, first served
Lake Alpine complex
Including Silver Tip, West Shore, Pine Marten, Silver Valley and Backpackers campgrounds
$30 per night fee charged,
Reservations only at www.recreation.gov
Bloomfield Campground
$12 per night fee charged; first come, first served
Hermit Valley Campground
No fee, first come, first served
Highland Lakes Campground
$12 per night fee charged; first come, first served
Mosquito Lakes Campground
$8 per night fee charged; no water service; first come, first served
Pacific Valley Campground
$10 per night fee charged; first come, first served
Sand Flat Campground
No fee, first come, first served
Spicer Campground
$30 per night fee charged; first come, first served
Stanislaus River Campground
$19 per night fee charged; first come, first served
Union East Campground
$16 per night fee charged; first come, first served
Union West Campground
$16 per night fee charged; first come, first served
Utica - Sandy Flat Campground
$16 per night fee charged, first come, first served
Utica - Rocky Point
$16 per night fee charged, first come, first served
Waka Lu Hep Yo
$20 per night fee charged; first come, first served
Groveland Ranger District
Campground
Status
Sweetwater Campground
$24.00 per night fee charged; reservations only at www.recreation.gov
Lost Claim Campground
$21.00 per night fee charged; reservations only at www.recreation.gov
Dimond O Campground
$26 per night single family site/$52 per night double family site fee charged; reservations only at www.recreation.gov
Cherry Valley Campground
$24 per night single family site/$48 per night double family site fee charged; reservations only at www.recreation.gov
Lumsden Campground
No fee charged; first come, first served
South Fork Campground
No fee charged; first come, first served
The Pines Campground
$21 per night single-family site fee charged; first come, first served
Mi-Wok/Summit Ranger Districts
Campground
Status
Pinecrest Campground
$32 per night fee charged; reservations only at www.recreation.gov
Baker Campground
$20 per night single site/ $40 per night double site fee charged; first come, first served
Brightman Flat Campground
$19 per night fee charged, first come, first served
Clark Fork Campground
$23 per night single site/ $46 per night double site fee charged; first come, first served
Dardanelle Campground
$22 per night single site/ $44 per night double site fee charged; first come, first served
Deadman Campground
$20 per night single site/ $40 per night double site fee charged; first come, first served
Eureka Valley Campground
$21 per night fee charged, first come, first served
Fraser Flat Campground
$22 per night single site/ $44 per night double site fee charged; first come, first served
Hull Creek Campground
$12 per night single site/$24 per night double site fee charged; first come, first served
Meadowview Campground
$23 per night fee, cash only, charged; first come, first served
Pigeon Flat Campground
$13 per night fee charged, first come, first served
River Ranch Campground
$28 per night fee charged, which includes two vehicles. River Ranch Campground is part private, part public. The private sites on River Ranch Campground are open; the public sites in Hacienda Campground remain closed.
Sand Flat Campground
$21 per night fee charged, first come, first served
Sandbar Flat Campground
$12 per night single site/$24 per night double site fee charged; first come, first served; drinking water not currently available in campground
June 11, 2020: FREE permits are required for overnight visits to the wilderness areas.
To reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Stanislaus National Forest has updated the process for obtaining overnight wilderness permits. NOTE: All visitors are responsible for knowing and abiding by all current regulations, including campfire prohibitions in place for the 2020 summer season. Read the current campfire restrictions and regulations in the Forest Order here. NO CAMPFIRES ARE PERMITTED in Wilderness. The Stanislaus National Forest does not have quotas for wilderness area access.
June 15, 2020: If you are seeking a fuelwood permit, please call 209-288-6241 and leave a voicemail message with your name and telephone number. A front desk representative will call you and issue you a fuelwood permit over the phone. Once it is digitally signed by our front desk clerk they will mail the permit and the accompanying fuelwood tags to you. All fuelwood permits are free of charge during the 2020 collection season, but you must have your permit and tags with you when you are gathering wood on the forest. Our front desk representatives will be able to answer your questions when they call. We appreciate your patience while we developed a new process for issuing fuelwood permits.
For other forest product permits, please call (209) 272-5455.
Forest Supervisor Jason Kuiken believes there is nothing more critical to maintaining good relationships than communication. Residents, communities and ranger districts share a dedication to keeping the forest healthy, but sometimes Forest Service procedures and actions may not be clearly understood by those outside the agency. Jason is committed to engaging the community by sharing information about some of the actions being undertaken on the forest. Jason will post a series of notes highlighting some of the vital activities that go into regaining a healthy forest. Read Jason's notes.
A Public Safety Power Shutoff may affect your next trip to the Stanislaus National Forest!
In May 2019, Pacific Gas & Electric Company announced its plan to shutoff, and later restore, power if necessary due to extreme weather and wildfire danger. Sometime during the fire season, your planned visit to the Stanislaus National Forest may be impacted if your visit coincides with a PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff. Learn more about preparing for your forest visit during a power shutoff.
Forest Updates
Fire Restrictions
Forest Supervisor Jason Kuiken believes there is nothing more critical to maintaining good relationships than communication. Residents, communities and ranger districts share a dedication to keeping the forest healthy, but sometimes Forest Service procedures and actions may not be clearly understood by those outside the agency. Jason is committed to engaging the community by sharing information about some of the actions being undertaken on the forest. Jason will post a series of notes highlighting some of the vital activities that go into regaining a healthy forest. 
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