U.S. Forest Service · Sierra National Forest · El Portal, CA

Dry Gulch

Dry Gulch Campground sits on the north side of the Merced River. The small camp features walk-in tent sites on the river, shaded by a grove of pine and oak trees. Dry Gulch's remote location makes for a quiet and peaceful camping experience.

Closed for the seasonReservable · Recreation.gov5 sitesPets okFires okTents only

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Dry GulchDry GulchDry GulchDry Gulch
Photos via Recreation.gov
1fire
active
Dome · 14 mi away · 6,788 acres
Interagency incident data as of 2026-10-16
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Tent-only5
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

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

SiteEntrySurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFires
FT1-20Back-inPavedPartial6 / 1Yes
FT1-201
FT1-202
FT1-203
FT1-204

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 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

The camping sites at Dry Gulch do meet accessibility standards and offer picnic tables, grills and fire rings. Vault toilets are available.

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.
SeasonOpen all year
ForestSierra National Forest
BookingThrough the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS) @ 1-877-444-6777 or www.recreation.gov.
Fees$30.00 per night Additional vehicles = $10.00 per vehicle
RulesMaximum length of stay is 14 days Maximum group size is 6 people per site

Sierra National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Dry Gulch30°40°50°60°70°January: 6.86 inches of precipitationFebruary: 5.63 inches of precipitationMarch: 5.81 inches of precipitationApril: 3.68 inches of precipitationMay: 2.40 inches of precipitationJune: 0.76 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.29 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.05 inches of precipitationSeptember: 0.66 inches of precipitationOctober: 2.28 inches of precipitationNovember: 4.37 inches of precipitationDecember: 7.65 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 37.8°F averageFebruary: 36.2°F averageMarch: 38.3°F averageApril: 42.2°F averageMay: 50.2°F averageJune: 59.5°F averageJuly: 67.5°F averageAugust: 67.0°F averageSeptember: 62.2°F averageOctober: 53.0°F averageNovember: 43.2°F averageDecember: 37.4°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Yosemite Village 12 W, 6 miles from the campground at 6,620 feet, station USW00053150 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 40 inches a year.

Getting there

From Highway 140, turn on to Foresta Road. Landmarks include Red Bud Picnic Area and a National Park Service warehouse. After bridge, turn left onto the spur road. Immediately turn left onto Incline Road. Continue 1.3 miles to the facility.

Nearest townEl Portal, California
Coordinates37.6711° N, 119.8362° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Dome

    14 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 stationDump station ↗13.6 mi
Outdoor gearMountain Shop & Mountaineering School ↗15.2 mi
RV sales & serviceDenis RV Center ↗57.9 mi

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

Explore

Video

Dry Gulch campground Radium Hot Springs BC

Worth a stop

This campground is close to the west entrance to Yosemite National Park. Yosemite offers a variety of activities that include scenic driving, picnicking, hiking and fishing.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 1.5 mi
    Pinoch Ridge ↗
    5.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.2 mi
    Hite Cove
    3.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.2 mi
    Hites Cove
    3.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 2.7 mi
    Ned'S Gulch
    1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3.4 mi
    South Fork Merced ↗
    14.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 4.3 mi
    Savage/Lundy
    2.6 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

On Wilderness Atlas →

Yosemite Wilderness begins about 1.6 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

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.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

Dry Gulch Campground is located in the Bass Lake Ranger District at an elevation of 3,400 feet. The Lake is a very popular area known for its variety of fish, as well as the bald and golden eagles that make their home here. 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.

Recreation

During the spring and early summer, the Merced River is a popular location for white water rafting and kayaking. Several private companies offer guided rafting trips.

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 Dry Gulch?

Sites at Dry Gulch are reservable on Recreation.gov. 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 Dry Gulch?

$30.00 per night Additional vehicles = $10.00 per vehicle

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Dry Gulch?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Dry Gulch open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Open all year.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Dry Gulch have?

5 sites, including 5 tent-only sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Dry Gulch?

Dry Gulch is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Dry Gulch?

Yes, pets are allowed at Dry Gulch. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Dry Gulch?

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. Maximum length of stay is 14 days Maximum group size is 6 people per site

Source: Fire nearby

What is there to do at Dry Gulch?

During the spring and early summer, the Merced River is a popular location for white water rafting and kayaking. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Dry Gulch?

El Portal, California. This campground is close to the west entrance to Yosemite National Park.

Source: Getting there

What if Dry Gulch is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Dirt Flat (0.3 mi), Crane Flat Campground (6.4 mi), and Tamarack Flat Campground (7.8 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby