Highland Lakes Campground

13 mi east of Bear Valley, CA · No signal at camp

Federal campgroundtype

First comebooking

Jul–Sepbest months

About Highland Lakes Campground

Highland Lakes Campground is set in conifer forest adjacent to a meadow at the north end of the second (lower) lake. There are two separate camping areas, a large one along Highland Lakes Road and a smaller one on a hill above the lake. See the [Highland Lakes page](https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/stanislaus/recreation/recarea/?recid=83059&actid=29) for more information on the lakes and activities there.

Fees: The Forest Service operates the Highland Lakes Campground and charges the following fees: New campsite fee prices, 2024 & 2025 $25 per…
Managed by: USFS - Stanislaus National Forest
Where: 13 mi east of Bear Valley, CA · 38.4898, -119.8066
Winter: the road at camp is closed to cars in winter; plan to ride, ski or snowshoe in.

Official page for this camp (fees, closures, booking)

Weather by month

39°

21°Jan

39°

20°Feb

43°

22°Mar

47°

25°Apr

54°

32°May

63°

40°Jun

71°

47°Jul

71°

46°Aug

65°

41°Sep

55°

33°Oct

45°

26°Nov

38°

20°Dec

Typical daily highs and lows (°F), 1991–2020 NOAA normals. Best months: Jul–Sep (comfortable days, mild nights, little rain). Nights below freezing: Nov–May.

See Highland Lakes Campground from above

Fly over it in 3D, check today's weather and fire news, plan the drive and print a trip plan.

Fly over in 3D Directions

Trails near camp

Trail	Open to	From camp	Length
Highland Creek	Horse	0.4 mi	16.9 mi
FR 8N01C	ATV road	0.7 mi	0.1 mi
Wolf Creek	Horse	0.7 mi	1.7 mi
Disaster Creek	Horse	1.1 mi	7.0 mi
Milk Ranch Mdw.	Horse	1.2 mi	7.0 mi
Arnot Creek	Horse	1.3 mi	7.1 mi

Straight-line distance from camp, from Forest Service, BLM, state and OpenStreetMap trail data.

Good to know

Cell signal

No signal at camp

From the carriers' FCC coverage maps, which tend to be generous.

Night sky: Truly dark

The Milky Way shows rich detail, horizon to horizon.

Class 2 of 9, from NASA/NOAA night-light data.

Stargazing nearby: Jack C. Davis Observatory (University observatory), 47 mi.

RV essentials

Dump station: 17 mi
Water fill-up: 22.7 mi

Nearest of each within 25 miles, straight-line.

Camps nearby

Bloomfield Campground 3.5 mi
Campsite · 15 mi S of Markleeville 3.5 mi
Sherrold Lake 4.2 mi
Campsite · 10 mi S of Markleeville 5.5 mi
Pacific Valley Campground 5.6 mi
Sand Flat Campground 6 mi