welcome to camp sight usa

The campground offers 71 reservable sites, numbered 1–74 (sites 46–48 do not exist). Sites 1–11 cluster near the ranger station at the north entrance. Sites 12–32 run along the west side of the meadow close to Highway 4 — expect some daytime traffic noise, though evenings are generally quiet. The southern sites (34–59) are the most secluded, though they’re a longer walk from the showers, which are in the northern half of the campground. Sites 60–74 loop back around to the northeastern meadow edge and have restrooms and showers close by. Raised paths across the meadow and over Big Tree Creek let campers move between areas while protecting the fragile grassland below. 

Sites 15–18 are ADA-accessible. RV camping is available without hookups, primarily along the eastern edge. Most parking spaces are pull-in style, typically roomy enough for two vehicles and conveniently close to the sites.

Cell service is minimal throughout the park; Verizon has the best coverage. T-Mobile and some other satellite-based services support texting. Free Wi-Fi is available near the visitor’s center, and sites 1–11 may catch a weak signal from it.

Formal group camping is available on the south side of the campground, and several adjacent site pairs work well for informal group gatherings. Campsite 12 near the camp ground entrance also supports camping for smaller groups.  The Lower and Upper Group camps are accessed via a private road off Highway 4, though the road was closed during our visit so we have limited details on those.

In winter, only sites 1–11 are open, and they operate as dry camps — flush toilets, sinks, and showers are available nearby, but water spigots are shut off to prevent frozen pipes. There’s no camp host throughout the winter, though the visitor center is staffed during the day and the ranger station is close at hand.

The campground’s eastern edge sits near the Discovery Tree trailhead. The stump is all that remains of a massive sequoia killed by its 19th-century discoverers, who stripped its bark to take on tour back East — and then famously used the remaining stump as a bar and bowling alley.

Hiking options range from leisurely to strenuous. The North Grove sequoia loop is an easy 1.7-mile stroll. The South Grove trail is more moderate at 5.5 miles (note: it’s not car-accessible from early December through around May 1). At the challenging end, the River Canyon trail is an 8-mile round trip with over 1,000’ of elevation change, dropping down to the Stanislaus River.

The park sits just off Highway 4 (the Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway), about five minutes east of the mountain town of Arnold. Arnold is well-supplied for a small town: it has a grocery store (Big Trees Market), several good restaurants, The Bistro coffee and pastry shop, an ACE Hardware, a golf course, and White Pines Lake for summer swimming. The Sierra Nevada Adventure Company carries gear for all seasons — skis, snowshoes, kayaks, and canoes. Notably, the deli at the Highway 4/Dunbar Rd Chevron is locally well-regarded for sandwiches. A bit further east, the town of Dorrington has limited services, but Camp Connell has a gas station, convenience store, and the popular Lube Room Saloon for a casual meal.

Continuing up Highway 4, Bear Valley Ski Resort and the stunning Lake Alpine (elevation 7,300+’) await just before Ebbetts Pass. The highway closes just before Lake Alpine in winter, but snow machines are available to rent and the lake’s shores make for excellent winter camping. In summer, kayak and small boat rentals are available, or simply take in the scenery and watch eagles and osprey hunt over the water.

Reservations can be made at reservecalifornia, and more information can be found on the park website.