Camping › California › Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest)
Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest)
5 mi southwest of Bear Valley, CA · Verizon 4G · AT&T 5G · T-Mobile 5G
About Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest)
Big Meadow Campground lies at about 6,400 feet elevation on the Stanislaus National Forest. It is located 21 miles east of Arnold, California. Breathtaking views abound, and wildlife viewing opportunities include marmots, squirrels, and deer. Picnicking, birding and hiking are popular pastimes at Big Meadow. Lake Alpine and Spicer Meadow Reservoir, both just a 15 minute drive away, offer fishing and other water activities. Big Meadow has 65 individual camping sites. Big Meadow Group camp is easily accessible from Highway 4 and can accommodate a maximum of 50 guests and 20 vehicles. Big Meadow Campground is situated in Stanislaus National Forest. It is known for exceptional stargazing, remote location, spread out campsites, and large granite boulders. For facility specific information, please call (209) 753-6350.
- Fees: The Forest Service operates the Big Meadow Campground and charges the following fees: New campsite fee prices, 2024 & 2025 $25 per night…
- Managed by: Stanislaus National Forest, FS
- Where: 5 mi southwest of Bear Valley, CA · 38.41639, -120.105
- Winter: the road at camp is closed to cars in winter; plan to ride, ski or snowshoe in.
Things to do:
Official page for this camp (fees, closures, booking)
Weather by month
Typical daily highs and lows (°F), 1991–2020 NOAA normals. Best months: Jun–Sep (comfortable days, mild nights, little rain). Nights below freezing: Dec–Mar.
Fly over it in 3D, check today's weather and fire news, plan the drive and print a trip plan.
Trails near camp
| Trail | Open to | From camp | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR 7N11 | ATV road | 0.7 mi | 6.3 mi |
| FR 7N17X | ATV road | 1.1 mi | |
| 17EV494 | ATV / OHV, Dirt bike | 1.3 mi | 0.1 mi |
| Calaveras Dome OHV-ATV Rt7B | ATV / OHV, Dirt bike | 1.3 mi | 0.7 mi |
| Highland Creek/Wolfborro | Horse | 1.4 mi | 2.4 mi |
| Spicer/Sand Flat | Horse | 1.5 mi | 5.3 mi |
Straight-line distance from camp, from Forest Service, BLM, state and OpenStreetMap trail data.
Good to know
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From the carriers' FCC coverage maps, which tend to be generous.The Milky Way is bright, with a little glow low on the horizon.
Class 3 of 9, from NASA/NOAA night-light data.Stargazing nearby: Jack C. Davis Observatory (University observatory), 55 mi.
Water fill-up: 15.9 mi
Propane: 17.8 mi
Camps nearby
- Big Meadow Group Campground 0.4 mi
- Hells Kitchen Campground 1.3 mi
- Camp Wolfeboro 1.6 mi
- Horse Gulch Campground 2.9 mi
- Stanislaus River Campground 3.3 mi
- Snyder Camp 3.9 mi