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Southgate Summit-closed for winter

94%
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· Oakhurst, Madera, California
20 acres hosted by Cassidy A.
5 tent sites
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Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
Amazing views
Hipcampers say this spot has amazing views.
Near Yosemite National Park
Within a 30-minute drive from the South Entrance.
Hey Campers! We are temporarily closed for the winter.... but back open April 1st! See you then! This area was once inhabited by local native American Tribes. In the 1840's prospectors arrived in search of gold but none was found in the immediate area. Old Yosemite Base camp was along the route into Yosemite National Park prior to the construction of Highway 41. Horse and Carriage traveled along Old Yosemite Road from Mariposa and the entire golden state. Visitors from the world now pass through Oakhurst to Yosemite National Park along this route. Don't for to check out Bass Lake and its full service amenities. ALL CAMP SITES REQUIRE 4 WHEEL DRIVE or All-Wheel drive- NO Exceptions. Hipcampers, come pitch your tent at one of five Old Yosemite Base Camp drive in and walk in sites. OYBC offers over six acres of pine, oak, and bay trees, sprinkled around large granite features that remind you that Half Dome is not far away! Each unique site is equipped with a stone fire ring with cook top and a picnic table accommodating four person dining. Old Yosemite Base Camp is the perfect place to enjoy the sunset and stargaze next to a campfire after an adventurous day in the southern Yosemite region. Yosemite tent camping without all the crowds and tour buses is what you can expect. Backing up to the Sierra National Forest OYBC is conveniently located near HWY 41 just 14 miles from Yosemite’s south gate entrance. The region also offers a large amount of hiking trails where you can find swim holes, waterfalls giant sequoias, lakes, and rivers. Take 15-minute drive to Bass Lake and enjoy water sports and lake view dining. OYBC offers five camp sites and all wheel drive is required to get to the top of camp. OYBC sites 1, 2, 3, are drive up sites and 4 & 5 are walk in sites that have a separate parking area. All wheel drive is still needed to get to this lot. Have a large group? Old Yosemite Base Camp offers discounts for larger parties of up to 25 campers. Message OYBC to reserve the whole mountainside to yourselves!
Activities
Biking
Boating
Fishing
Hiking
Natural features
Forest
Lake
Mountainous
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94%
1141 ratings · 380 reviews
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Makenna R.recommends
October 21, 2023
Site 3 - Old Yosemite Base Camp (4x4 ONLY)
Great experience!
This was such a beautiful site and felt so secluded and safe. It was only about 20 minutes from the south entrance of Yosemite and I would highly recommend it to anyone!
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Tyler W.recommends
October 4, 2023
Site 2 - Old Yosemite Base Camp (4x4 ONLY)
This was the perfect place for me to camp just outside of Yosemite. The instructions from the host are great and made for a wonderful overnight stay.
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Jack D.recommends
October 1, 2023
Site 1 - Old Yosemite Base Camp (4x4 ONLY)
Great spot!
This was a great spot to stay outside of Yosemite. About an hour and 20 mins to Yosemite valley and a half hour to the south entrance. 10-15 mins away there’s the town of Oakhurst with any store you might need anything from. We stayed at site #1 which is at the top of the hill. 4x4 is definitely needed and there are narrow and right turns to get up there. We have a Toyota Tacoma and had no issues at all getting to our site. Our site had a large picnic table, 2 other wood tables, a fire pit, and an awning for shade. The view was spectacular from our site especially the sunset. Felt very safe camping here.
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Brad M.recommends
September 24, 2023
Site 2 - Old Yosemite Base Camp (4x4 ONLY)
Convenient. Needed a guaranteed place to sleep and didn't need to worry about contending with #vanlife overrun national forest sites.
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Paul F.recommends
September 5, 2023
Site 1 - Old Yosemite Base Camp (4x4 ONLY)
I had an issue with my booking and Cassidy was very accommodating. Site 1 was a nice spot to see the stars. I recommend bringing a canopy for this spot because there isn't much shade. Nice views and pretty surroundings.
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Mark K.recommends
September 3, 2023
Site 3 - Old Yosemite Base Camp (4x4 ONLY)
Site 3
We recently stayed at OYBC for Labor Day weekend for 2 nights. We booked Site 3 and were very pleased. The campground was easy to get to coming from Bay Area, very clean, and had lots of shade. The downside was we had some trouble finding a flat area to set up our tent and that our site was in the middle of the campground, so you have a little less privacy. Site 1, 2, and 4 were within view. Other than that, there was a bundle of wood waiting for us at the fire pit, two tables (1 with seats and 1 without), and only a 15 minute drive to Bass Lake and 1.5 hr drive to Yosemite valley floor. The bathrooms were clean but were a bit far (located at the front entrance) and you have to walk up and down the treacherous hill. Just bring a portable toilet with privacy tent and you should be good. Trash bin was also located at the front entrance. We didn’t really see wasps, but we did see mosquitoes, ants, and flies. There were not too many, but a screened canopy and traps definitely would help. No sightings of wildlife during our stay. They are not messing around when they say you absolutely need AWD or 4x4 to get in the campground. It’s a fairly steep climb, with lots of gravel, potholes, and uneven terrain. We only wish our site could fit more cars and people so we could bring our friends next time. Perfect camping getaway for singles, couples, or small families!
Location
Oakhurst, Madera, California, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Me-Wuk (Southern Sierra Miwok), Miwok, Yokuts, and Chukchansi First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Cassidy A.Joined in May 2016
Response rate: 60%Response time: Within 16 hours
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