Pines Group Stanislaus
Pines Group Campground attracts large families and groups friends with its convenient location, just 15 miles from the Yosemite National Park boundary in northern California. It is an ideal base camp for visitors to explore not only Yosemite, but also the fantastic wilderness areas within Stanislaus National Forest, including Carson-Iceberg, Emigrant and Mokelumne Wildernesses. Pets are welcome, but must be compliant with Tuolumne County leash laws.
This is the group site. Looking for the main campground? Pines Stanislaus, 12 sites, is next door.
More like this: reservable in California · tent only in California · group sites in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group tent areas | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Surface | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|
| PGS | Gravel | 50 / 10 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
The tent-only group site is open year-round and can accommodate up to 50 people. In winter, camping is free but water and toilet paper are not provided.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | April to September |
| Forest | Stanislaus National Forest |
| Fees | $125/night. |
| Rules | Site is limited to 50 people |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Groveland, drive 9 miles east on State Highway 120, just past the Groveland Ranger Station on Smith Park Road. Look for signs to the campground.
| Nearest town | Groveland, California |
| Coordinates | 37.8183° N, 120.0957° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireDome
31 mi from the campground · 6,788 acres · 95% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 5.5 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Mountain Shop & Mountaineering School ↗ | 29.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | Denis RV Center ↗ | 47.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
Take a scenic drive through Yosemite National Park to view its legendary waterfalls and scenery.
- 4.5 miRainbow Pool Day Use Area ↗Day use
- 12.1 miBig Oak Flat Information Station ↗Visitor center
- 12.8 miCarlon Day Use Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miL.g.c.f ( Spur)0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miL.g.c.f. Falls Interperative T0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miL.g.c.f Falls ( Spur )0.05 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miGolden Forest Interp. Trail1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.4 miJawbone Ridge OHV 4x40.05 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 2.3 miTuolumne Canyon ↗5.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
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
Stanislaus National Forest begins about 1.3 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 1.3 miStanislaus National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,090,354 acres
- 11.3 miYosemite Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 704,624 acres
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.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Big Gap FlumeSite · Groveland · 1.9 mi
- Groveland HotelBuilding · Groveland · 7.4 mi
- Watts & Tannahill Company StoreBuilding · Groveland · 7.4 mi
Natural features
The tranquil campground sits at an elevation of 3,200 feet, in a mixed conifer forest. The Tuolumne River is nearby, which flows for 150 mies from the central Sierra Nevada to the San Joaquin River.
Recreation
Hike the Little Golden Forest Trail, a half-mile interpretive loop with the option for a longer two-mile loop. A short drive takes visitors to the Tuolumne River for wading and fishing. Winter sports are very popular in the area as well. Dodge Ridge, Bear Valley and Badger Pass Ski Areas offer a variety of winter activities.
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 Pines Group Stanislaus?
Sites at Pines Group Stanislaus are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Pines Group Stanislaus?
$125/night.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Pines Group Stanislaus?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Pines Group Stanislaus open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season April to September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Pines Group Stanislaus have?
1 site, including 1 group tent area.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Pines Group Stanislaus?
Pines Group Stanislaus is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Pines Group Stanislaus?
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 Pines Group Stanislaus?
Hike the Little Golden Forest Trail, a half-mile interpretive loop with the option for a longer two-mile loop. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Pines Group Stanislaus?
Groveland, California. Take a scenic drive through Yosemite National Park to view its legendary waterfalls and scenery.
Source: Getting there
What if Pines Group Stanislaus is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Pines Stanislaus (0.1 mi), Lost Claim (2.6 mi), and South Fork Campground (3.1 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby