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

Sweetwater

Sweetwater Campground remains closed due to the 2020 Creek Wildfire Sweetwater Campground is laid out in a single loop along Chiquito Creek, shaded by pine, oak and cedar trees. Most sites overlook the creek or a brook that also runs by the campground.

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
SWEETWATER
Photo via Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups12
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

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 20 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

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

SiteEntryFires
001
002
003
004
005
006
007
008
009
FS1-20Back-inYes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 0:00 AM, checkout 0:00 AM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length20 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

Each campsite contains a picnic table, grill and campfire ring. Vault toilets are provided. Campers must bring drinking water. Supplies are available nearby at Wagner's Mammoth Pool Resort. Parking spurs are dirt and paved, but tight turns and trees at the edge of interior roads make this camp most ideal for pop-up tent trailers, slide-ins and tent campers.

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.
SeasonJune
ForestSierra National Forest
BookingReservations through the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS) @ 1-877-444-6777 or www.recreation.gov.
Fees$23.62 ($26.22) per night, single site $43.24 ($48.00) per night, double site $7.00 per night, per additional vehicle (taxes included)
RulesReservations must be made at least three days in advance of arrival. There is a two night minimum stay on weekends and a three minimum night stay during holidays. Maximum stay = 14 days Maximum vehicle length = 20 foot Maximum group size = 6 per site

Sierra National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Sweetwater30°40°50°60°70°January: 8.47 inches of precipitationFebruary: 7.80 inches of precipitationMarch: 6.80 inches of precipitationApril: 4.02 inches of precipitationMay: 2.42 inches of precipitationJune: 0.71 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.66 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.10 inches of precipitationSeptember: 0.40 inches of precipitationOctober: 2.29 inches of precipitationNovember: 3.92 inches of precipitationDecember: 6.82 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 33.6°F averageFebruary: 33.8°F averageMarch: 36.1°F averageApril: 39.5°F averageMay: 46.0°F averageJune: 54.2°F averageJuly: 61.4°F averageAugust: 61.7°F averageSeptember: 55.9°F averageOctober: 47.4°F averageNovember: 39.9°F averageDecember: 34.7°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 in10 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Huntington Lake, 12 miles from the campground at 7,020 feet, station USC00044176 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 44 inches a year.

Getting there

From Fresno, California, take Highway 41 north. Turn northeast on Forest Road 200 and pass through North Fork. Take Minarets Road east and follow it 37 miles. Turn right on Mammoth Pool Road and follow it 2 miles to Sweetwater Campground.

Coordinates37.3650° N, 119.3522° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Dome

    20 mi from the campground · 6,788 acres · 95% contained

  • Prescribed
    Grant Grove Rx Spring

    47 mi from the campground · 15 acres

  • Prescribed
    Grant Grove Fall Rx

    47 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 gearSierra Nevada Trading Company ↗16.1 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗16.9 mi

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

Explore

Video

Sweetwater Campground Review - North of Atlanta - Army Corps of Engineers Campground

Worth a stop

A popular pastime in the area is taking a drive on the 83-mile Sierra Vista Scenic Byway.

  • 1.4 mi
    French ↗
    21.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.9 mi
    Fuller
    1 mi trail · motorcycle, e-bike
  • 2.3 mi
    Shuteye Pass
    2.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3.6 mi
    Mammoth Pool Dam
    1.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 4.3 mi
    Bunting
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 4.3 mi
    Shuteye Lookout
    3.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more

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 Sierra 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

The Sierra National Forest, located on the western slope of the central Sierra Nevada, is known for its spectacular mountain scenery and abundant natural resources. The terrain includes rolling, oak-covered foothills, heavily forested middle elevation slopes and the starkly beautiful alpine landscape of the High Sierra. Sweetwater Campground is located close to Mammoth Pool Reservoir near the Ansel Adams Wilderness. This area is known for its jagged peaks, including 13,157-foot Mt. Ritter, and numerous lakes and streams.

Recreation

The campground attracts visitors primarily for its fishing and swimming holes. Many recreational activities are available at Mammoth Pool, including boating, trout fishing, hiking and swimming.

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 Sweetwater?

Sites at Sweetwater are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations through the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS) @ 1-877-444-6777 or www.recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Sweetwater?

$23.62 ($26.22) per night, single site $43.24 ($48.00) per night, double site $7.00 per night, per additional vehicle (taxes included)

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Sweetwater?

Check-in 0:00 AM, checkout 0:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Sweetwater open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season June.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Sweetwater have?

12 sites, including 12 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Sweetwater?

The longest site here provides 20 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 pets allowed at Sweetwater?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Sweetwater?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 3 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Reservations must be made at least three days in advance of arrival.

Source: Fire nearby

Is there cell service at Sweetwater?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Sweetwater?

The campground attracts visitors primarily for its fishing and swimming holes. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Sweetwater is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Mammoth Pool (1.8 mi), Soda Springs Campground (2.3 mi, first-come), and Little Jackass Campground (2.6 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby