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

Backpackers

Backpackers' Campground is located on the East end of Lake Alpine, CA. All sites are walk-in tent sites. Cars cannot be parked in camp, parking is available on the adjacent street. Backpackers' Campground is located in the Calveras Ranger District, in a timbered setting near several trailheads. Campground may open earlier and close later as weather (snow level) allows. This information will be posted on this page as soon as it becomes available. The current dates for reservations have historically allowed for comfortable camping, but please take into consideration the high alpine location when making a reservation.

Closed for the seasonReservable · Recreation.gov8 sitesPets okFires okTents only

More like this: reservable in California · tent only in California · pets allowed in California

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Parking on other side of road - no individual site parking spotsCampsite view #1Campsite view #1Campsite view #2
Photos courtesy of Dennis 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

Tent-only8
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

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

SiteShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFires
1PartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
2PartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
3PartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
4PartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
5PartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
6PartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
7PartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
8PartialNo / 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.

Campground map of Backpackers
Campground map published by U.S. Forest Service on Recreation.gov, credited to Dennis Moore. Open the image for full size.

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

Campsites with room for up to 6 people, 2 tents, and 2 vehicles per campsite. Picnic tables, campfire rings, vault 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.
ForestStanislaus National Forest
BookingMake reservations through Recreation.gov, 1-877-444-6777, International, 518-885-3639, or via their website, https://www.recreation.gov/.
Fees$31 per night
RulesRV's prohibited.

Stanislaus National Forest recreation page ↗

Getting there

Coordinates38.4783° N, 120.0030° 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 ↗2.4 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗31.2 mi
RV sales & serviceCustom Truck Accessories ↗47.3 mi

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

Explore

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 →
  • 0.2 mi
    Lk Alpine Cg to Chickaree
    0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.3 mi
    07n17 Snow Trail
    3.6 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski, snowcoach
  • 0.3 mi
    Silvertip Cg to Lake Alpine
    0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.3 mi
    Slick Rock Jeep Road ↗
    0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.5 mi
    Alpine Horse Trail Loop
    1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.5 mi
    Inspiration Point
    0.7 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

SIlver Valley Campground sits at an elevation of 7,400 feet on the east end of Lake Alpine within the Stanislaus National Forest. The forest lies between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite and boasts gorgeous views.

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

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

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

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Backpackers?

Sites at Backpackers are reservable on Recreation.gov. Make reservations through Recreation.gov, 1-877-444-6777, International, 518-885-3639, or via their website, https://www.recreation.gov/. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Backpackers?

$31 per night

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Backpackers?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Backpackers open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Backpackers have?

8 sites, including 8 tent-only sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Backpackers?

Backpackers is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Backpackers?

Hot showers and laundromat available at nearby Lake Alpine Resort.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Backpackers?

Yes, pets are allowed at Backpackers. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Backpackers?

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. RV's prohibited.

Source: Fire nearby

What is there to do at Backpackers?

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 Backpackers is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are West Shore (0.3 mi), Silver Tip Campground (0.8 mi), and Pine Marten (0.8 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby