Lost Claim
Lost Claim attracts families and friends with its convenient location, just 15 miles from the northwest Yosemite National Park boundary in northern California. Deemed as an ideal base camp, visitors can explore not only Yosemite, but also the fantastic wilderness areas of the Stanislaus National Forest. Pets are welcome, but must be compliant with Tuolumne County leash laws.
More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Tent-only | 7 |
| Standard, no hookups | 3 |
Site guide
10 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 02 | Tent only | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard | ||
| 03 | Tent only | Back-in | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard | |
| 04 | Tent only | 55 | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard | |
| 05 | Tent only | Back-in | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard | |
| 06 | Tent only | Back-in | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard | |
| 07 | Standard | Back-in | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard | |
| 08 | Standard | Back-in | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard | |
| 09 | Tent only | Back-in | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard | |
| 10 | Tent only | Back-in | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
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
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 15 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The 10 camping sites are all suited for tents. Sites 1, 7, and 8 would also accommodate tent trailers. The roads and spurs are native surface or gravel. Each site has a picnic table, food storage box and campfire ring. Drinking water and vault toilets are available.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | May to September |
| Forest | Stanislaus National Forest |
| Booking | For reservations, visit www.recreation.gov or call 1 (877) 444-6777; TDD: 1877-833-6777. |
| Fees | American Land & Leisure operates Lost Claim Campground and charges the following fees: $25.00 for a single-family site. American Land & Leisure operates this campground under a special use permit administered by the Forest Service. |
| Rules | Not recommended for trailers or RVs. Camp in designated sites only. The number of people allowed in a single campsite is 6. The maximum length of stay in any campground is 14 days. Campfire permits are not required in developed campgrounds. Do not burn plastic or metal. Please leave the area in as good (or better) condition than you found it. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Groveland, Take State Highway 120 east for 12 miles. The campground is just east of the Groveland Ranger District Office.
| Nearest town | Groveland, California |
| Coordinates | 37.8211° N, 120.0486° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireDome
29 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 ↗ | 8 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Mountain Shop & Mountaineering School ↗ | 26.7 mi |
| RV sales & service | Denis RV Center ↗ | 49.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Lost Claim Campground - Stanislaus National Forest, CA
Worth a stop
Take a scenic drive through Yosemite and explore its legendary waterfalls. Enjoy world class fishing on the Tuolumne River or at one of the many lakes in this western Sierra Nevada location. Go hiking on one of the many nearby trails.
- 1.9 miRainbow Pool Day Use Area ↗Day use
- 9.6 miBig Oak Flat Information Station ↗Visitor center
- 10.2 miCarlon Day Use Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 1.1 miJawbone Ridge OHV-ATV1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 1.1 miPilot Ridge0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.3 miTuolumne Canyon ↗5.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.8 miRailroad, South Fork Tuolumne1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2 miGolden Stairs1.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.1 miGolden Stairs to Cherry Oil Rd1.1 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 0.8 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 0.8 miStanislaus National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,090,354 acres
- 8.7 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 · 0.7 mi
- Groveland HotelBuilding · Groveland · 9.9 mi
- Hotel CharlotteBuilding · Groveland · 10 mi
Natural features
At 3,100 feet in elevation, the tranquil campground sits in a mixed conifer forest with ample shade at each campsite. Nearby is the Tuolumne River, which flows for 150 miles from the central Sierra Nevadas 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.
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 Lost Claim?
Sites at Lost Claim are reservable on Recreation.gov. For reservations, visit www.recreation.gov or call 1 (877) 444-6777; TDD: 1877-833-6777. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Lost Claim?
American Land & Leisure operates Lost Claim Campground and charges the following fees: $25.00 for a single-family site. American Land & Leisure operates this campground under a special use permit administered by the Forest Service.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Lost Claim?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Lost Claim open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May to September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Lost Claim have?
10 sites, including 7 tent-only sites and 3 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Lost Claim?
The longest site here provides 15 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 Lost Claim?
Yes, pets are allowed at Lost Claim. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Lost Claim?
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. Not recommended for trailers or RVs.
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Lost Claim?
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 Lost Claim?
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 Lost Claim?
Groveland, California. Take a scenic drive through Yosemite and explore its legendary waterfalls.
Source: Getting there
What if Lost Claim is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are South Fork Campground (1.3 mi, first-come), Lumsden Bridge Campground (2.1 mi, first-come), and Sweetwater (2.4 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby