Go if
You want a summer base camp for lake access, wildflowers, and high-country trails in Stanislaus National Forest.
Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest)
4.3130 reviewsSTANISLAUS
Featured in:Boating Camping California
Quick Facts
6,400 ftPrice
$19 - $100/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
65 campsites
Season
Open season is June ...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Elevation by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.
Quick Facts
6,400 ftPrice
$19 - $100/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
65 campsites
Season
Open season is June ...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Elevation by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.
Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest)
$19.00 - $100.00 / night
Campsite Fees
GROUP TENT ONLY AREA NONELECTRIC: $100.00; STANDARD NONELECTRIC: $30.00; TENT ONLY NONELECTRIC: $19.00. Plus Recreation.gov reservation transaction...
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Group Site Fee$75.00
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STANISLAUS
Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest)
STANISLAUS
Nearby places
Arnold (21 miles
approximately 25 minutes by car).
Weather at Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest)
About Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest)
Not sure what to pack?Our complete camping packing checklist
Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest)
$19.00 - $100.00 / night
Campsite Fees
GROUP TENT ONLY AREA NONELECTRIC: $100.00; STANDARD NONELECTRIC: $30.00; TENT ONLY NONELECTRIC: $19.00. Plus Recreation.gov reservation transaction...
Show more
Group Site Fee$75.00
Get Notified When Available
We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.
Free to start · Premium adds 2-min scans
263,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account
Learn more about alerts →Share this campground
Recreation Dot Gov
Provider209-795-1381
Skip if
You need a quiet site away from highway noise or guaranteed enforcement of campground rules.
From the U.S. Forest Service
Reference information about Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest) sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
Overview
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text" /><link rel="stylesheet" type="text" /><script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.8.3/jquery.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5317644.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5368835.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5368836.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">$(window).load(function() { $('#slider').nivoSlider( { effect: 'fade', startSlide: 0, animSpeed: 750, pauseTime: 8000 });});</script><div> </div><div id="slider"><img alt="Big Meadow Campground Entrance" src="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd476852.jpg" title="Big Meadow Campground Entrance" /> <img alt="Big Meadow Campground" src="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd476845.jpg" title="Big Meadow Campground" /> <img alt="Big Meadow Campground Information Board" src="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd476851.jpg" title="Big Meadow Campground Information Board" /><img alt="Big Meadow Campground Pond" src="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fseprd476849.jpg" title="Big Meadow Campground Pond" /></div><!-- /SLIDER --><p> </p><p><br />Located on the Calaveras Ranger District, this scenic campground is within a conifer forest of red fir, white fir, and lodgepole pine with scattered quaking aspen. Sites are large, private and shady. Natural granitic rock outcrops are scattered throughout.</p>
About the campground
The elevation is 5,300 ft. The campground has two loops through a dense stand of mixed Red and White firs, as well as Jeffery and Lodgepole pines. Some camp sites have views of surrounding mountains. Huge boulders are scattered throughout campground. The boulders and shrubs give the campground character. Originally "Big Meadow" was acattle camp, the last stop on the cattle drive to Bear Valley's summer range. The campground is centrally located for many possible daytrips to Lake Alpine, Calaveras Big Tree State Park, and Spicer Reservior. The active interpretive program offered at the Alpine Lake Recreation Area provides a variety of activities. Check the information board at campground for details. This is bear country; practice safe food storage technique. Stanislaus National Forest 367
Seasons & access
Open May 19 through September 4 - weather dependent
RV information
The parking aprons are either dirt or paved aprons. An RV waste station with potable water, is available for a fee at Calaveras Big Tree State Park, 1.6 mile east of Arnold, CA on State Route 4.
Directions
From Arnold, CA take State Route 4 east 18.9 miles to campground sign. Turn right at sign into campground.
- National Forest
- Stanislaus National Forest
- Ranger District
- Calaveras
- Elevation
- 5,300
- Rate
- $19 per day
- Maximum Stay
- 14
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