U.S. Forest Service · Stanislaus National Forest · California

West Shore

West Shore Campground sits directly off the north shore of Lake Alpine. It is walking distance to the boat launch, rentals, and Lake Alpine Lodge.

Closed for the seasonReservable · Recreation.gov25 sites55 ft maxNo hookupsPets okFires ok

More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
West ShoreWest Shore41 FOOT DRIVEWAY, 2 DEGREE INCLINECAMPING AREA WITH BEAR BOX
Photos courtesy of Geminai Graphics, D MOORE · Recreation.gov
1fire
active
Tmu Rx Support (prescribed burn) · 31 mi away
Interagency incident data as of 2026-10-16
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Standard, no hookups24
Host/management1
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

24 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
1Back-in26GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
2Back-in55GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
3Back-in48GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2YesYes
4Back-in38GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
6Back-in30GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
7Back-in41GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
8Back-in33GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
9Back-in48GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
10Back-in46GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
11Back-in32GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 01:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length55 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySite 3 is listed accessible

Campsites with room for up to 6 people, 3 tents, and 2 vehicles per campsite. Picnic tables, campfire rings, toilets are available. Hot showers and laundromat available at nearby Lake Alpine Resort. No electricity or hook-ups. Pets are welcome. Firewood, camping and fishing supplies, food, and apparel is available in the general store at Lake Alpine Lodge.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonLate June or early July
ForestStanislaus National Forest
BookingAll sites are reservable. Unreserved sites will be available on a walk-in, first-come, first-served basis.
Fees$31 per night

Stanislaus National Forest recreation page ↗

Getting there

Coordinates38.4773° N, 120.0080° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Tmu Rx Support

    31 mi from the campground

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearBear Valley Adventure Company ↗2.1 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗31.1 mi
RV sales & serviceCustom Truck Accessories ↗47.4 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Lake Alpine West Shore Campground, CA

Worth a stop

A restaurant, bar, general store, and boat rentals can be found at nearby Lake Alpine Lodge. The immediate area is suited for forest and wilderness recreation. A short car ride away is Big Trees State Park, Grover Hot Springs, Mercer Caverns, Mountain Adventure Seminars, and the wine country of Calaveras County.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.1 mi
    07n17 Snow Trail
    3.6 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski, snowcoach
  • 0.1 mi
    Silvertip Cg to Lake Alpine
    0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.1 mi
    Lk Alpine Cg to Chickaree
    0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.1 mi
    Slick Rock Jeep Road ↗
    0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.3 mi
    Sp01g Snow Trail
    0.4 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski, snowcoach
  • 0.4 mi
    Slick Rock Jeep Road Bypass A
    0.05 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Stanislaus National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

Natural features

West Shore Campground sits at an elevation of 7,400 feet on the north end of Lake Alpine within the Stanislaus National Forest. The forest lies between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite and boasts gorgeous views. Squirrels, chipmunks, deer, marmots, coyotes, bears, eagles, and many different birds make this area their home.

Recreation

Lake Alpine provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities: fishing, hiking, biking, kayaking, paddle-boarding, boating, OHV trails, swimming, rock climbing, and wildlife watching. Interpretive programs are offered by Forest Service rangers during the summer months.

Guidebooks for California

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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at West Shore?

Sites at West Shore are reservable on Recreation.gov. All sites are reservable. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at West Shore?

$31 per night

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at West Shore?

Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 01:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is West Shore open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Late June or early July.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does West Shore have?

25 sites, including 24 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at West Shore?

The longest site here provides 55 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are there showers or a dump station at West Shore?

Hot showers and laundromat available at nearby Lake Alpine Resort.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at West Shore?

Yes, pets are allowed at West Shore. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at West Shore?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

Are there accessible sites at West Shore?

Site 3 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at West Shore?

Lake Alpine provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities: fishing, hiking, biking, kayaking, paddle-boarding, boating, OHV trails, swimming, rock climbing, and wildlife watching. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if West Shore is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Backpackers (0.3 mi), Silver Tip Campground (0.6 mi), and Lodgepole Campground (0.9 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby