The best camping near Columns of the Giants

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Columns of the Giants adventure.

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Top-rated campgrounds near Columns of the Giants

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Bridgeport Reservoir Campground

33 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents11 acres · CA

Bridgeport Reservoir is a lake at the lower end of Bridgeport Valley in Mono County, California. Its earth-filled dam was constructed in 1923 by the Walker River Irrigation District, along the East Walker River. The campground and marina was built I-don't-know-how-long ago, but it sure is nice! About Us: Welcome to Bridgeport Reservoir Marina and Campground. Join us for the classic camping and fishing experience with unique views of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Within the Toiyabe National Forest, Bridgeport Reservoir Marina and Campground is conveniently located near two distinct hot spring areas. A true angler's paradise, the Reservoir has excellent trout fishing from spring through fall and is close by to multiple rivers for incredible fly fishing. A short 30-minute drive to Tioga pass will bring you straight into the heart of Yosemite National Park. Off-road enthusiasts will have a heyday will the plethora of 4x4 trails in the area as well as the famous trail that brings you right to the Bodie Ghost Town. Climate & Ecosystem: At 6,400 feet (1,950 meters), this high desert climate has little to moderate tree coverage and gets hot during the days and cool at night. The conditions are much like Joshua Tree National Park or Alabama Hills camping area. During your visit, you will notice many flying insects that resemble mosquitos. These Chironomid are harmless and do not bite. On the contrary, the mosquito presence is very minimal. Swimming in the lake is possible usually between April to July.

97%

(512)

Diamond Gulch

23 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents824 acres · Groveland, CA

CLOSE TO YOSEMITE! Explore the mines and hang out on our Groveland, California ranch! We are 35 minutes to the main gate of Yosemite National Park. A great place to stay just outside of the park. We have 824 acres on a beautiful cattle ranch with two small ponds. On our property, you'll find frogs, turtles, oak trees, pine trees and stunning views of Yosemite. We have several campsites to choose from including RV camping, tent camping, and a glamping tent. Pets are welcome. Campfires are permitted as long as there is no fire ban. Potable water and toilet are available onsite. There's a golf course less than a mile away. We are also very close to town. In just a few minutes, you can drive to our local grocery store and pizza parlour. We are a 10-minute drive to Pine Mountain Lake. Beautiful Pine Mountain Lake offers golfing, dining, horseback riding, water sports and an airport. When you come to the ranch it feels like you are hundreds of miles away from civilization, but still close to everything you need. It is incredibly peaceful! This is a great place for someone who wants to escape city life and enjoy the tranquillity of nature. Much of the ranch is open wilderness for you to explore, and it's not uncommon to see deer, frogs, turtles, quail, turkeys, or other countless species of birds. Diamond Gulch Camp is the perfect place to relax if you’re a photographer, artist, family or a group of friends looking for a place to camp near Yosemite. A small portion of the property was used as a gold mine years ago, and you may find remnants of old home sites if you go exploring. We're not far from Wards Ferry Road, Groveland, Lake Don Pedro and other interesting places.

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(247)

Yosemite Westlake Camp

33 sites · RVs, Tents6 acres · Coulterville, CA

Located on the John Muir Historic route to Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Westlake Campground and RV Park is convenient to all things Yosemite. Between here and the park is Rainbow Pool, a well-known swimming hole that campers here often visit on their way back to the campground for a refreshing dip in the cool waters. Coulterville was started as a gold-rush town. You can visit the museum and visitor center even try your hand at panning for gold.

99%

(48)

River Ranch Campgrounds

28 sites · RVs, Tents50 acres · Twain Harte, CA

At River Ranch Campgrounds, Tuolumne, CA we offer a wide range of activities to make your stay enjoyable. Take a hike on one of the many trails winding through the Stanislaus National Forest at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains, or cast a line in the North Fork of the Tuolumne River or Basin Creek for some great native fishing. After a long day of exploration, come back to the campgrounds and relax by the firepit or enjoy a picnic in one of our many picnic areas. Activities in the campground include horseshoes and volleyball. We pride ourselves on blending nature and family camping in a safe, serene environment. We offer water hookups and centrally located restrooms with heated showers to make your stay comfortable and convenient.

98%

(676)

Yosemite's Colfax Spring

8 sites · RVs, Tents15 acres · Groveland, CA

Welcome to Yosemite's Colfax Spring! Home to a basecamp for river rafting trips during the summertime, we are located 15 minutes driving distance to the entrance to Yosemite National Park. If you are staying with us between May - September and want to come rafting, ask us about our river trips! Our camp sits on a ridge with views down into the Tuolumne River Canyon. The Tuolumne River begins at 13,000 feet of elevation in the High Country of Tuolumne Meadows and provides drinking water for over 2.7 million people in San Francisco. With cedar and pine trees, manzanita bushes, and wildflowers in the spring, enjoy the Sierras' flora and fauna. Our family has been operating our river rafting company for over 50 years, the last 11 of those years being here at Colfax Spring. Conveniently located off Highway 120, we are in close proximity to swimming holes, hikes, and more. Enjoy the privacy of our campsite and getting world-class views to yourself, with all of the amenities (flushing toilets, wi-fi, showers.) Make sure to check the Yosemite National Park website for information about reservations to visit the park!

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(861)

Paradise Shores Camp

46 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents2 acres · Bridgeport, CA

We're a family owned RV Park & Campground located on the shores of Bridgeport Reservoir. Together with our crew, we're excited to welcome you into our newly adopted home. We believe in campfires, starry nights, good laughs, exploration, a deep sleep and an early rise. The mountains are a place to get back to basics, a place to explore, to breathe. So turn off your phone and turn on your senses. It’s important to us that our guests don’t feel they are renting a tent/RV site or a camper as much as they’re immersing themselves into the outdoor experience. You may just want to sit outside and read for days, enjoy campfires and eat s'mores. For more adventurous, there's a full slate of self-guided recreational activities, such as hiking, kayaking, fishing, ATVing, rock climbing, biking, natural water slides, stand up paddle boards, bird watching, available in the area. We do have modern conveniences such as wifi internet; however, we encourage our guests to “unplug” and immerse in the slow paced life instead. At Paradise Shores, we believe in protecting people, animals and the planet. We make sure that the majority of products we use at our camp is recycled, composted, or re-used. We prefer to use products that are produced in a sustainable way and avoid those that aren't. We are continuously reducing the amount of waste we generate and actively promote recycling of aluminum, plastic, glass, and cardboard. We pack our own recycling and haul it to the nearest recycling facility which is an hour away. We co-opt the drive with other activities to reduce waste. We don’t use individually packaged toiletries or one-use products. We use plant and planet friendly detergent. We're based in a desert. We share our precious water with the entire planet. With only 326 million cubic miles of water on the earth, the decreasing amounts of access to quality fresh water is alarming to us. We monitor how we use water in our day-to-day activities and are constantly working on ways to reduce our consumption of fresh water resources. We hope you can help us maintain this greener camping! We hope Paradise Shores Camp becomes your home as it is ours. It’s located in one of the most spectacular areas in the world. We’re surrounded on three sides by the high Sierra Nevada Mountains. Yosemite National Park, Tuolumne Meadows, Mono Lake, June Lake, Virginia Lakes, and Twin Lakes, as well as the historic gold-mining town of Bodie, CA are all within a short drive from our place. We're proud to know this area intimately and are excited to share the secret spots with you. The excellent hiking/running trails including the Pacific Crest Trail, thousands of miles of ATV, dirt bike and mountain bike trails are accessible right from our camp or within a short drive from here. The surrounding terrain offers endless activities and unbelievable scenery in remote wilderness settings.

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The Painted Lake

17 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents20 acres · Copperopolis, CA

Kayaks, Eggs & firewood provided. Explore BLM and Reclamation land along the shores of New Melones reservoir near Angels Camp. Horses, goats, sheep , and chickens await you on every fence line you come to. Kayak on the waters below us as you camp on our vineyard fenced 20 acre private scenery. Our land is surrounded by 100’s of acres of lake front - public Federal lands surrounded by our private acreage .

Booked 13 times

Camping At Yosemite's Doorstep

1 site · Tent15 acres · Groveland, CA

Reserve your tent site on 15 exclusive, wooded-acres only 10 minutes from the entrance to Yosemite National Park. Once you've set up camp, you can explore the walking trails on the property and if you make it to the top, why not enjoy a lovely picnic with beautiful mountain views? Conveniently located across the highway from a gas station and a general store, you never have to worry about running out of ice or forgetting to bring the bug spray. Upon returning from a rigorous day of hiking around Yosemite valley, a hot shower awaits you, to wash off the trail dust. Complimentary firewood is also available to use in the metal fire pit, for a relaxing evening around the campfire. If our base package isn't enough, we can have a tent set up and ready for you when you arrive. Or go for the VIP treatment and sleep on a full-sized bed with fresh linens and a memory foam mattress. Whatever you're looking for, Yosemite's Doorstep is ready to provide the ideal camping experience to suit your needs.

Booked 4 times

Indian Flat Campground

62 sites · Lodging8 acres · El Portal, CA

Welcome to Indian Flat RV and Campground, the closest campsite to Yosemite National Park, situated just 8 miles from the Arch Rock entrance. Here, you'll find your ultimate destination for experiencing the great outdoors! Exclusively on Hipcamp, we proudly offer our new Jupe Tents, featuring 12-foot high ceilings, a comfortable queen-size bed, air conditioning, solar panels for USB chargers, spacious windows and ventilation, electrical outlets, and dimmable LED lighting. Campground Amenities include: Washrooms Hot Showers Access to outdoor pool (located at neighboring Yosemite Cedar Lodge) Communal fire pits Wifi available (though we encourage guests to embrace the opportunity to disconnect digitally and fully immerse themselves in the beauty of our surroundings. If needed, WiFi is available for purchase upon check-in.) Pets welcome (additional $25 fee)

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(45)

Sonora Foothills Getaway

3 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Sonora, CA

We are located in the charming town of Sonora, CA! 🌲🏞️ Our property is the perfect place to camp, or park your RV or van for overnight stays. We have one RV site with full hookups (supports 50 amp & 30 amp), as well 1 campsite available. There is plenty of room for parking your camper van as well if you don't need any hook ups! Our price includes access to several shared amenities to make your stay comfortable and convenient, including potable water, electricity, toilet, and wifi. Also included is a firepit, plenty of outdoor seating, an outdoor play structure for kids (under the age of 7), ladder ball, horseshoe pits, bocci ball, and corn hole. A large gazebo provides plenty of shade on hot days, and has power and a mounted bluetooth speaker. ***For an additional fee, you can upgrade your experience with access to our outdoor grilling area, indoor shower (w/private entrance), and laundry amenities. If interested, ask host upon arrival.*** Our property is surrounded by nature, and is close to Yosemite, Columbia State Park, Old Town Sonora, Melones Lake, Pinecrest Lake, Dodge Ridge Ski Resort, and many other beautiful places to explore! Our property is not polluted by a bunch of light, giving you the chance to experience tranquil evenings under the stars. Sonora is a beautiful town that is a hub for outdoor enthusiasts, with plenty of hiking and biking trails nearby. It's also an ideal location for those looking to explore the historic Columbia Gold Rush Town. A lot of family friendly activities within a short drive! We take pride in providing a clean, safe, and welcoming space for travelers. We are on site and available for anything you may need, even if it's last minute. Book your stay with us today and experience the best that Sonora has to offer!

Camp Markley

20 sites · RVs, Tents35 acres · Markleeville, CA

Nestled in Alpine county, the ranch is located 30 min from South Lake Tahoe, 20 min from Kirkwood, and 15 min from the Carson River. The county is a haven for fishing, hunting, mountain biking, river rafting, hiking, and skiing. The 35-acre property offers ponds, creeks, natural springs, meadows, pines, aspens, trails, and abundant wildlife.

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Wondernut Farm

4 sites · Lodging37 acres · Big Oak Flat, CA

Wondernut Farm is an upstart, entirely off grid, working farm-stead being built from the ground up. We breed milking goats and sheep, heritage pigs, and are in the process of converting to a grade A dairy and creamery! We use organic practices, management intensive rotational grazing, and dryland pasture management. We sell our animals locally so that others can have their own milking and meat animals. Our 110 year old hay barn and the roof of the former lumber mill were all we had to work with in getting off the ground. Being first and foremost a functional farm, we can't help but offer a somewhat warts-and-all look into everything it takes to be working to our goals. Our hearts are, and always will be, educational and local community focused, and we work closely with farmers and friends alike in better understanding our innovative animal husbandry, power, pasture and water systems. Whenever we have time, we'll afford the same time and opportunities to interested hip-campers. Our location is stunning and historic, and the beauty of the wild, natural landscape is powerful, yet offers easy access to both Yosemite Valley and the San Francisco Bay area. The area features excellent road and mountain biking in the immediate vicinity, vast access to hiking and backpacking trails, a huge variety of rock climbing in the area, the best whitewater rafting in California on the Tuolumne River, with some tasty places to eat or drink coffee in the nearby town of Groveland, just 10 minutes away. Accommodations at the farm are certainly rustic, and private but not secluded, with occasionally heavily project-exploded shared kitchen and living space, showers, and airy flush toilets. Do be advised that animals are pooping, hammers are hammering, sometimes we need to look into a health or animal injury related issue. Sometimes there is blood in an animal birth or slaughter, and our working guardian dogs have been known to be noisy some nights. Water and electricity are both very limited (though we reuse all our water), waste must be carefully sorted into a number of different categories, and there is always evidence of ump-teen projects unfolding at once. The most difficult condition during much of the summer are nuisance flies, which are always gone at night. We have almost no mosquitoes or ticks. Depending on the exact situation and time of year, guests may have the opportunities to snuggle with baby animals and run our herd to or from pasture, and maybe even get their hands dirty picking veggies in the garden.

The best camping near Columns of the Giants guide

Overview

About

You may have heard of the Devil's Postpile in the eastern Sierras but a lesser known and equally stunning sight can be found in the Stanislaus National Forest. Formed by the cooling and contracting of lava the Columns of the Giants do truly appear to be giant columns holding up the towering cliffs above. Just a quarter-mile walk from the parking area this sight is very easily accessible to visitors. The perfect stop to break up a road trip through the beautiful surrounding forest, Columns of the Giants is guaranteed to astound and amaze even the most seasoned traveler.