Connectivity
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Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.
Campground
Lake Alpine — Lodgepole Campground
Stanislaus National Forest, California
About this campground
Lodgepole Group Campground is located just two miles west of Lake Alpine in northern California.
The forest lies between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite and boasts gorgeous views of snow-capped peaks and California's Great Central Valley.
Firewood, camping and fishing supplies, food, and apparel is available in the general store at Lake Alpine Lodge.
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 38.477308° N
- Longitude
- 120.024175° W
Know before you arrive
Access, sites & campground features
Official facility and campsite inventory, supplemented by clearly marked community reports when the official listing does not publish the detail.
Access
- Drive-in
Site types
- Tent sites
- RV / trailer sites
- Standard campsites
- Group sites
Features
For campers
- Toilets
- Showers
- Picnic table
- FiresUse only when the current order allows flame
- Pets allowedDogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
- Reservable
For vehicles
- Electric hookups
- Big rig friendlyPublished vehicle length up to 50 ft
- Back-in sitesCommunity report
- Sewer hookupsCommunity report
- Water hookupsCommunity report
Official campground guide
Plan with the full campground details
Facility information, site rules, booking windows, and published rates. Source snapshot checked Oct 18, 2026.
Overview
Lodgepole Group Campground is located just two miles west of Lake Alpine in northern California. The campground affords breathtaking views of the surrounding Stanislaus National Forest.
Campground may open earlier and close later on a first come first serve basis as weather (snow level) allows. This information will be posted on this page as soon as it becomes available.
The current dates for reservations have historically allowed for comfortable camping, but please take into consideration the high alpine location when making a reservation. It is possible to have snow, rain, mud, and overall cold/wet conditions any time of year.
Facilities
Campsites with room for up to 6 people, 3 tents, and 2 vehicles per campsite. Picnic tables, campfire rings, toilets are available. Hot showers and laundromat available at nearby Lake Alpine Lodge. No electricity or hook-ups. Pets are welcome. Firewood, camping and fishing supplies, food, and apparel is available in the general store at Lake Alpine Lodge.
Recreation
Lake Alpine provides a wide variety of recreation opportunities. Hike, bike, or ride a horse on Bear Valley, an accessible trail that winds along the lakeshore to the community of Bear Valley. It connects with the historic Emigrant Trail, the route pioneers once traveled via covered wagon to settle in California.
Interpretive programs are offered by Forest Service rangers during the summer months.
Natural Features
Lodgepole Campground is situated on a large, flat plain, not far from a creek. It sits at an elevation of 7,290 feet, within the Stanislaus National Forest in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains. The forest lies between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite and boasts gorgeous views of snow-capped peaks and California's Great Central Valley.
A wide variety of wildlife makes its home in the area, including marmots, squirrels, coyotes, deer and many birds.
Nearby Attractions
A restaurant, bar, general store, and boat rentals can be found at nearby Lake Alpine Lodge. The immediate area is suited for forest and wilderness recreation. A short car ride away is Big Trees State Park, Grover Hot Springs, Mercer Caverns, Mountain Adventure Seminars, and the wine country of Calaveras County.
Activities & amenities
What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.
Available activities
- Swimming Site
- Visitor Center
- Camping
- Boating
- Backpacking
- Day Use Area
- Disc Golf
- Climbing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Interpretive Programs
- Motor Boat
- Mountain Climbing
- Non-Motorized Boating
- Off Highway Vehicle Trails
- Off Road Vehicle Trails
- Paddle Boating
- Picnicking
- Rock Climbing
- Recreational Vehicles
- Scenic Drive
- Swimming
- Water Activities
- Wilderness
Amenities and facility features
- Toilets
- Showers
- Picnic tables
- Site fire ring or grillUse only when the current order allows flame
- Electric hookups
- Pets allowedFollow the exact facility restrictions
Recreation sites
Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.
Standard Non-Electric
17 sites- Equipment
- Boat, Car, Caravan/Camper Van, Fifth Wheel, Large Tent Over 9x12`, Pickup Camper, Pop Up, RV, Small Tent, Tent, Trailer, Vehicle
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 2
- Maximum vehicle length
- 50 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Group Standard Non-Electric
2 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Car, Caravan/Camper Van, Fifth Wheel, Large Tent Over 9x12`, Pickup Camper, Pop Up, RV, Small Tent, Tent, Trailer, Vehicle
- Maximum people
- 50
- Maximum vehicles
- 20
- Maximum vehicle length
- 30 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 1:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Management
1 site- Equipment
- Car, Caravan/Camper Van, Fifth Wheel, Pickup Camper, Pop Up, RV, Small Tent, Tent, Trailer, Vehicle
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 2
- Maximum vehicle length
- 28 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 1:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Site rules, inventory & rates
Facility rules, inventory procedures, and price seasons published by the official source.
Site rules
- Base site allowance
- Fees will NOT be waived for things like changes in weather, or naturally occurring wildlife in the area.
- Has Taxes
- 1
- Maximum stay
- 14 nights
- Max Stay
- 14 nights
- Max Transaction Reservations
- 2 reservations per transaction
- Reservation cutoff
- 2 days before arrival
- Maximum published vehicles
- 20 vehicles per site
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM
- Food storage
- Lake Alpine — Lodgepole Campground's official facility record checked 2026-10-16 does not publish a food-storage method; confirm the posted rule with Stanislaus National Forest.
- Fire and stove use
- Lake Alpine — Lodgepole Campground's official facility record states: Picnic tables, campfire rings, toilets are available.
- Pets
- Dogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
Inventory window
Recreation.gov publishes a rolling booking window. The dates below are the official snapshot captured for this catalog build.
- Currently bookable through
- Sep 27, 2026
- Next release
- Dec 26, 2026, 7:00 AM PST
- Next book-through date
- Jun 26, 2027
- Group sites bookable through
- Sep 27, 2027
Published seasons & rates
| Season | Site type | Nightly rate | Additional person | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2026 – Sep 27, 2026 | Group Standard Non-Electric | $120 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 22, 2026 – Sep 27, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $32 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonJun 26, 2027 – Sep 27, 2027 | Group Standard Non-Electric | $120 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonJun 26, 2027 – Sep 27, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $32 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonJun 26, 2028 – Sep 27, 2028 | Group Standard Non-Electric | $120 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonJun 26, 2028 – Sep 27, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $32 | — | — |
Important facility notices
Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.
- This high alpine campground is very old, and was not designed or built with modern RVs in mind. It contains narrow roads, tight turns, and many, many inconvenient boulders and trees. RVs are allowed in every site if they fit, but this campground is a far cry from an RV park. The only surefire way to know if you can comfortably fit your RV in a specific site is to take an exploratory trip to scout it out for yourself.
- Be bear aware; keep all food out of sight in approved containers or locked inside your vehicle and remove all food from the area after eating
- Campsites must be occupied during the dates of reservation. Guests who do not arrive by 2PM on the day following their scheduled date of arrival will be considered a No-Show and their reservation will automatically be cancelled.
- Dogs must remain on leash and under control at all times. Dogs may not be left in camp unattended, and all leads must be 6 feet or less in length. USFS guidelines allow a maximum of two dogs per campsite
- Generator use is limited to 2 hours per day, in between the hours of 8 am and 8 pm.
- One pump is available for water - please bring your own containers
- On-site payment is cash only. Checks are not accepted.
- No electric hookups at this facility
- Click here for more information on Stanislaus National Forest
- Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.
Getting there & contact
Official directions
From Angel Camp, drive 50 miles east on Highway 4.
Facility contact
209-753-6350