Free camping in California

947 free and low-cost camps on public land in California, grouped by the unit that manages them — that is who sets the stay limit and the fire rules. See them on the map →

Bureau of Land Management76 camps

• Afton Canyon1,780 ft
• Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark661 ft
• Argus Range Wilderness3,843 ft
• Barstow4,127 ft
• Beauty Mountain Wilderness5,222 ft
• Benmore Ridge Campground2,089 ft
• Bighorn Mountain Wilderness5,850 ft
• Bishop Field Office4,977 ft
• Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail4,261 ft
• Black Mountain Wilderness3,583 ft
• BLM Designated Campsite4,739 ft
• BLM Designated Campsite4,599 ft
• BLM Designated Campsite4,652 ft
• BLM dispersed camp #10 — Inyo County, CA4,728 ft
• BLM dispersed camp #11 — Inyo County, CA4,710 ft
• BLM dispersed camp #12 — Inyo County, CA4,887 ft
• BLM dispersed camp #13 — Inyo County, CA4,829 ft
• BLM dispersed camp #14 — Inyo County, CA4,801 ft
• BLM dispersed camp #2 — Inyo County, CA4,743 ft
• BLM dispersed camp #3 — Inyo County, CA4,769 ft
• BLM dispersed camp #4 — Inyo County, CA4,311 ft
• BLM dispersed camp #5 — Inyo County, CA4,813 ft
• BLM dispersed camp #6 — Inyo County, CA4,756 ft
• BLM dispersed camp #7 — Inyo County, CA4,558 ft
• BLM dispersed camp #8 — Inyo County, CA4,514 ft
• BLM dispersed camp #9 — Inyo County, CA4,560 ft
• BLM dispersed camp — CA4,495 ft
• BLM dispersed camp — CA #104,602 ft
• BLM dispersed camp — CA #114,564 ft
• BLM dispersed camp — CA #124,439 ft
• BLM dispersed camp — CA #134,446 ft
• BLM dispersed camp — CA #24,583 ft
• BLM dispersed camp — CA #34,596 ft
• BLM dispersed camp — CA #44,600 ft
• BLM dispersed camp — CA #54,602 ft
• BLM dispersed camp — CA #64,561 ft
• BLM dispersed camp — CA #74,623 ft
• BLM dispersed camp — CA #84,517 ft
• BLM dispersed camp — CA #94,606 ft
• BLM dispersed camp — Inyo County, CA4,797 ft
• BLM Dispersed Camping Area for JNP2,362 ft
• Blue Cloud Camping Area725 ft
• Blue Cloud Camping Area645 ft
• Bonanza Springs Watchable Wildlife Area1,887 ft
• Bradshaw Trail National Back Country Byway1,525 ft
• Bright Star Wilderness5,292 ft
• Browns Camp1,780 ft
• Cache Creek Natural Area896 ft
• Cache Creek Wilderness1,728 ft
• California National Historic Trail - Nobles Emigrant Segment4,557 ft
• Camp Clipper Divisional Camp -Patton1,804 ft
• Camp Ibis-Patton 1,757 ft
• Carrizo Gorge Wilderness2,713 ft
• Carrizo Plain National Monument2,035 ft
• Castle Rock Hiking Trail2,867 ft
• Cedar Roughs Wilderness2,276 ft
• Chambless Rock Collecting Area 819 ft
• Chimney Peak Recreation Area6,623 ft
• Chimney Peak Wilderness7,249 ft
• Chiriaco Summit BLM Campground1,718 ft
• Clark Mountain Camp6,149 ft
• Clipper Mountain Wilderness3,113 ft
• Coalinga Mineral Springs2,102 ft
• Condon Peak2,923 ft
• Coon Hollow656 ft
• Coso Range Wilderness6,510 ft
• Cow Mountain Recreation Management Area2,909 ft
• Coyote Mountains Wilderness784 ft
• Cupcake Mountain Hiking Trail1,162 ft
• Curry Mountain1,612 ft
• Darwin Falls Wilderness4,280 ft
• Dead Mountains Wilderness2,373 ft
• Domeland Wilderness6,262 ft
• Dove Springs Ohv Area3,542 ft
• Dumont Dunes Ohv Area749 ft
• El Mirage Ohv Area2,879 ft

San Bernardino National Forest48 camps

• Apple Canyon Yellow Post Sites4,384 ft
• Applewhite Campground3,304 ft
• Arrastre Trail Camp7,609 ft
• Barton Flats Campground6,354 ft
• Bench Camp, Pct Trail Camp6,068 ft
• Big Pine Flat Equestrian Group Campground6,823 ft
• Big Pine Flat Family Campground6,833 ft
• Black Mountain Group Campground7,367 ft
• Black Mountain Yellow Post #17,406 ft
• Black Mountain Yellow Post #37,531 ft
• Black Mountain Yellow Post #47,510 ft
• Black Mountain Yellow Post #67,718 ft
• Bluff Mesa Group Campground7,660 ft
• Cedar Springs Yellow Post Site5,478 ft
• Clark'S Ranch Trail Yellow Post Site6,841 ft
• Coldbrook Cg6,852 ft
• Commanche6,123 ft
• Coon Creek Yellow Post #17,035 ft
• Coon Creek Yellow Post #107,117 ft
• Coon Creek Yellow Post #157,372 ft
• Coon Creek Yellow Post #167,678 ft
• Coon Creek Yellow Post #177,742 ft
• Coon Creek Yellow Post #187,850 ft
• Coon Creek Yellow Post #197,907 ft
• Coon Creek Yellow Post #77,075 ft
• Coon Creek Yellow Post #97,096 ft
• Council Group Campground6,315 ft
• Dark Canyon Campground5,809 ft
• Dispersed camp #10 — San Bernardino County, CA7,568 ft
• Dispersed camp #11 — San Bernardino County, CA7,600 ft
• Dispersed camp #12 — San Bernardino County, CA7,463 ft
• Dispersed camp #2 — San Bernardino County, CA7,353 ft
• Dispersed camp #3 — San Bernardino County, CA7,349 ft
• Dispersed camp #4 — San Bernardino County, CA7,370 ft
• Dispersed camp #5 — San Bernardino County, CA7,482 ft
• Dispersed camp #6 — San Bernardino County, CA7,522 ft
• Dispersed camp #7 — San Bernardino County, CA7,448 ft
• Dispersed camp #8 — San Bernardino County, CA7,461 ft
• Dispersed camp #9 — San Bernardino County, CA7,549 ft
• Dispersed camp — San Bernardino County, CA7,422 ft
• Doble, Pct Trail Camp6,824 ft
• Dogwood Family Campground5,759 ft
• Dry Lake Lodgepole Camp9,083 ft
• Dry Lake Lodgepole Camp9,090 ft
• Green Canyon Group Cg7,222 ft
• Little Bear Spring, Pct Trail Camp6,594 ft
• Paiute Canyon Yellow Post Sites6,220 ft
• Pipes Canyon Trail Camp6,430 ft

Sierra National Forest40 camps

• Base Camp7,329 ft
• Bear Camp2,370 ft
• Bear Wallow1,334 ft
• Beasore/Chiquito6,827 ft
• Boggy Meadow 16,361 ft
• Bolsillo7,410 ft
• Bowler7,026 ft
• Bretz3,282 ft
• Brewer Lake8,756 ft
• Chicken Rock8,266 ft
• China Bar
• Clover Meadow7,011 ft
• Coyote Camp 19,003 ft
• Coyote Camp 29,108 ft
• Coyote Camp 39,012 ft
• D Spur8,331 ft
• Dusy Camp 38,196 ft
• Dusy Creek Camp 18,190 ft
• East Lake
• Edison Ferry Pickup7,664 ft
• Ershim Lake9,096 ft
• Granite Creek6,970 ft
• Gravel Flat1,815 ft
• Grizzly Creek7,736 ft
• Jerseydale3,667 ft
• Lake Camp9,796 ft
• Mallard Lake9,459 ft
• Middle Bridge3,645 ft
• Mirror Lake Camp8,645 ft
• Muggler Creek6,761 ft
• Nelder Grove5,305 ft
• Onion Springs Overflow5,603 ft
• Portal Dispersed Camp7,190 ft
• Radio Camp6,124 ft
• Spanish Lake8,989 ft
• Strawberry Lake8,778 ft
• Strawberry Lake Camp 28,995 ft
• Summit6,396 ft
• Summit Camp5,515 ft
• Swamp Lake9,118 ft

Tahoe National Forest36 camps

• Alder Creek6,220 ft
• Alpine Meadows (Martis Creek)5,869 ft
• Annie Mcloud5,776 ft
• Aspen Group Campground6,147 ft
• Bear Lake7,535 ft
• Bear Valley Ohv6,604 ft
• Beartrap7,149 ft
• Beyers Lakes
• Big Valley Bluff6,358 ft
• Brandy City3,619 ft
• Bridger Creek2,775 ft
• Brimstone Ohv Campground3,796 ft
• Bullpen Lake
• Burlington4,591 ft
• Butcher Ranch6,402 ft
• Canada Hill6,756 ft
• Canyon Creek5,974 ft
• Casa Loma
• Cascade Lake / Long Lake6,668 ft
• Castle Peak
• Catfish Cove1,823 ft
• Chapman6,610 ft
• Chapman Creek Campground5,846 ft
• Cherokee Creek4,233 ft
• Church Meadow6,831 ft
• Clyde Mountain5,651 ft
• Deadman Lake6,645 ft
• Doolittle Trail4,609 ft
• Duncan Creek5,017 ft
• Duncan Diverson
• East Meadow Campground6,094 ft
• Elliot Ranch
• Emigrant Campground6,025 ft
• Empire Creek
• Milton Reservoir5,704 ft
• Poker Flat Ohv Camp4,781 ft

Shasta-Trinity National Forest35 camps

• Algoma Campground3,813 ft
• Arbuckle Flat Cg-F1,022 ft
• Backbone Ridge2,542 ft
• Big Slide Campground1,225 ft
• Buckeye Camp2,420 ft
• Captain'S Point Cg-F2,343 ft
• Castle Lake Campground5,303 ft
• Chirpchatter Cg-F1,259 ft
• Clear Creek Cg-F3,411 ft
• Coffee Creek Rd2,487 ft
• Curl Ridge Jeep
• Deadlun Cg-F Frec Lic2,672 ft
• Deep Creek Cg-F2,132 ft
• Deer Lick Springs Campground3,056 ft
• Denny Cg-F1,399 ft
• East Fork2,371 ft
• Goldfield Cg-F2,980 ft
• Gooseneck Cove Cg-F1,022 ft
• Gray Rock6,711 ft
• Gumboot Lake Cg-F6,047 ft
• Harris Springs Cg-F4,837 ft
• Hobo Gulch Cg-F3,027 ft
• Hogback3,689 ft
• Horse Flat Cg-F3,372 ft
• Indian Valley Camp4,126 ft
• Jackass Spring Cg-F2,550 ft
• Lakehead5,486 ft
• Mariner'S Roost Cg-F2,390 ft
• North Fork Trinity1,362 ft
• Ridgeville Island Cg-F2,343 ft
• Scott Flat Cg2,399 ft
• Tomhead Saddle Cg-F5,628 ft
• Trinity Lake Shoreline2,383 ft
• Tunnel Rock Cg-F1,904 ft
• Wheeler Ranch1,605 ft

Sequoia National Forest21 camps

• Abbott Creek5,890 ft
• Big Meadow Campground7,537 ft
• Black Gulch South2,320 ft
• Breckenridge6,717 ft
• Breckenridge Campground6,655 ft
• Brush Creek3,784 ft
• Buck Rock Campground7,702 ft
• Calkins Flat Dispersed Campground3,505 ft
• Camp 41,084 ft
• Camp 4 1/21,010 ft
• Cedar Creek4,860 ft
• Chamise Flats Dispersed Camping Area3,468 ft
• Chicago Stump6,677 ft
• Converse Basin6,359 ft
• Convict Flat Campground3,132 ft
• Corral Creek3,094 ft
• Davis2,147 ft
• Dispersed camping area 55,254 ft
• Eastern Big Meadow Road7,624 ft
• Evans Flat6,082 ft
• Sampson Flat3,076 ft

Lassen National Forest18 camps

• Alder Creek Campground3,833 ft
• Almanor North Campground4,571 ft
• Almanor Overflow4,566 ft
• Almanor South Campground4,570 ft
• Battle Creek Campground4,829 ft
• Black Oak Grove3,110 ft
• Black Rock2,131 ft
• Butte Creek5,618 ft
• Cave Campground4,343 ft
• Cherry Hill Campground4,708 ft
• Cold Springs6,099 ft
• Echo Lake6,431 ft
• Elam Campground4,367 ft
• Gaither Camp1,823 ft
• Poison Springs6,590 ft
• Roxie Peconom4,941 ft
• South Antelope2,820 ft
• West Branch4,929 ft

Los Padres National Forest17 camps

• ABC Camp1,870 ft
• Abel Canyon Campground1,731 ft
• Alder Creek2,234 ft
• Baja
• Barrel Springs992 ft
• Beartrap Campsite5,112 ft
• Big Cone1,710 ft
• Buck Spring1,572 ft
• Caballo5,916 ft
• China Camp Campground4,312 ft
• Chula Vista Campground8,321 ft
• Cross Camp1,835 ft
• Dispersed camp #2 — Monterey County, CA4,436 ft
• Dispersed camp #3 — Monterey County, CA3,319 ft
• Dispersed camp — Monterey County, CA2,181 ft
• Dome Springs4,713 ft
• Escondido Campground2,161 ft

Inyo National Forest13 camps

• Bald Mountain Springs Cg8,192 ft
• Big Springs Cg7,286 ft
• Boulder Campground7,410 ft
• Casa Diablo7,230 ft
• Cattleguard Cg7,266 ft
• Crooked Meadows Cg8,827 ft
• Deadman Creek8,742 ft
• Dispersed camp — Mono County, CA7,721 ft
• Glass Creek Cg7,519 ft
• Moraine Campground7,366 ft
• Nelson Group Cg7,302 ft
• Palisade/Glacier Group Cg7,529 ft
• Upper Deadman Cg7,782 ft

Angeles National Forest13 camps

• Apple Tree Campground6,189 ft
• Bear5,410 ft
• Bear Canyon3,466 ft
• Bear Canyon Trail Camp3,109 ft
• Big Buck Trail Camp5,523 ft
• Big Rock Campground5,431 ft
• Cienaga2,031 ft
• Coldwater Canyon Yellow Post Sites6,586 ft
• Cooper Canyon Trail Camp6,260 ft
• Cottonwood2,714 ft
• Coulter Group Campground5,322 ft
• Crystal Lake Recreation Area5,739 ft
• Devore Trail Camp2,871 ft

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest11 camps

• Bootleg Campground6,507 ft
• Centerville Flat Campground5,917 ft
• Centerville Flat Campground5,853 ft
• Chris Flat Campground6,549 ft
• Crags Campground7,086 ft
• Crystal Springs Campground5,981 ft
• Dog Valley Campground
• East Lower Virginia Creek8,933 ft
• Hunter Camp 2 Campground6,087 ft
• Mill Canyon7,264 ft
• West Virginia Creek9,440 ft

Modoc National Forest11 camps

• Ash Creek4,886 ft
• Big Sage Campground4,906 ft
• Blanche Lake Campground6,754 ft
• Blue Lake Campground6,141 ft
• Bullseye Lake Campground6,747 ft
• Cave Lake Campground6,749 ft
• Cedar Pass5,868 ft
• Cottonwood Flat4,733 ft
• Dan Ryan4,868 ft
• East Creek Campground7,156 ft
• Emerson Campground5,785 ft

Stanislaus National Forest9 camps

• Kennedy Flat7,145 ft
• Anderson Valley3,404 ft
• Bloomfield Ii
• Cherry Borrow Site4,388 ft
• Clark Fork6,149 ft
• Eagle Meadows7,482 ft
• Joe Walt Run3,719 ft
• Pacific Valley7,543 ft
• Pine Valley6,916 ft

Plumas National Forest9 camps

• American House Ohv Camp4,132 ft
• Black Rock (Cua)5,124 ft
• Boulder Creek Campground5,041 ft
• Bradys Camp (Family Cg)6,886 ft
• Chilcoot Campground5,113 ft
• Crocker Family Cg.6,414 ft
• Gold Lake Campground7,072 ft
• Grizzly Forebay (Family Cg)4,389 ft
• Rogers Cow Camp (Family Cg)4,174 ft

Cleveland National Forest9 camps

• Bobcat Meadow Campground3,761 ft
• Boulder Oaks Campground3,170 ft
• Burnt Rancheria Campground5,904 ft
• Cibbets Flat Campground4,138 ft
• Corral Canyon Campground3,443 ft
• Crestline Group Campground5,305 ft
• Dripping Springs Campground1,617 ft
• El Cariso Campground2,564 ft
• Falcon Group Campsite3,320 ft

Mendocino National Forest8 camps

• Atchison C.G.4,466 ft
• Atchison Campground4,306 ft
• Bear Creek2,229 ft
• Cedar Camp Campground4,290 ft
• Dixie Glade Campground3,013 ft
• Dry Oak4,108 ft
• Grizzly Flat5,630 ft
• Lakeview3,213 ft

U.S. Forest Service7 camps

• Aiken'S Creek Campground364 ft
• Bogard5,370 ft
• Camp Discovery Group Campground264 ft
• Cherry Flat4,405 ft
• Rocky Point4,502 ft
• Sheep Camp1,813 ft
• Watson Lake Campground3,713 ft

Eldorado National Forest6 camps

• Airport Flat Cg5,377 ft
• Azalea Cove Campground4,884 ft
• Camino Cove Cg4,876 ft
• Cole Creek Camping Area
• Dru Barner Campground3,190 ft
• Pleasant Cg6,430 ft

Six Rivers National Forest5 camps

• Beans Camp4,176 ft
• Cedar Rustic1,481 ft
• Coon Mtn. Shelter3,744 ft
• Eighteen Mile508 ft
• Ore Grande797 ft

Klamath National Forest5 camps

• Beaver Creek2,230 ft
• Bigflat4,978 ft
• East Fork Campground2,381 ft
• Eastfork2,381 ft
• Happy Camp1,305 ft

Elsewhere in California3 camps

• Barker
• Dispersed Camping2,028 ft
• Elliot Mine Area Dispersed Camping4,177 ft