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

Pine Marten

Pine Marten Campground is located in the Calveras Ranger District, at the east end of Lake Alpine Recreation Area in a timbered setting near several trailheads. Campground may open earlier and close later on a first come first serve basis 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. It is possible to have snow, rain, mud, and overall cold/wet conditions any time of year.

Closed for the seasonReservable · Recreation.gov32 sites56 ft maxNo hookupsPets okFires ok

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Pine MartenVault toiletPine MartenAnother view of the campsite
Photos courtesy of Geminai Graphics, 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

Standard, no hookups31
Host/management1
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

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

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFires
1Back-in35GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
2Back-in38GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
4Back-in38GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
5Back-in46GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
6Back-in41GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
7Back-in42GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
8Back-in42GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
9Back-in39GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
10Back-in45GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2Yes
11Back-in40GravelPartialNo / 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 Pine Marten
Campground map 1 published by U.S. Forest Service on Recreation.gov, credited to Dennis Moore. Open the image for full size.
Campground map of Pine Marten
Campground map 2 published by U.S. Forest Service on Recreation.gov, credited to Dennis Moore. Open the image for full size.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length56 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

Campsites with room for up to 6 people, 2 tents, and 2 vehicles per campsite. Picnic tables, campfire rings, bathrooms 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 Resort.

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
BookingAll sites are reservable. Unreserved sites will be available on a walk-in, first-come, first-served basis.
Fees$31 per night

Stanislaus National Forest recreation page ↗

Getting there

Coordinates38.4808° N, 119.9886° 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 ↗3.2 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗31.6 mi
RV sales & serviceCustom Truck Accessories ↗46.9 mi

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

Explore

Video

Lake Alpine and Pine Marten Campground Review

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 there is Grover Hot Springs, Mercer Caverns, Mountain Adventure Seminars, and the wine country of Calaveras County.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.1 mi
    Highland Creek ↗
    17 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 0.2 mi
    Alpine Horse Trail Alt Route
    0.08 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.2 mi
    Lk Alpine Cg to Chickaree
    0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.2 mi
    Alpine Horse Trail Loop
    1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.4 mi
    Hwy 4 to 19e01
    0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.4 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 Mokelumne Wilderness, which overlaps 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

Pine Marten 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. Squirrels, chipmunks, deer, marmots, coyotes, bears, eagles, and many different birds make this area their home. The wildflowers are also beautiful!

Recreation

Lake Alpine provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities: fishing, hiking, biking, kayaking, paddle-boarding, boating, OHV trails, swimming, 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 Pine Marten?

Sites at Pine Marten are reservable on Recreation.gov. All sites are reservable. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Pine Marten?

$31 per night

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Pine Marten?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Pine Marten open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Pine Marten have?

32 sites, including 31 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Pine Marten?

The longest site here provides 56 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 there showers or a dump station at Pine Marten?

Hot showers and laundromat available at nearby Lake Alpine Resort.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Pine Marten?

Yes, pets are allowed at Pine Marten. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Pine Marten?

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.

Source: Fire nearby

What is there to do at Pine Marten?

Lake Alpine provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities: fishing, hiking, biking, kayaking, paddle-boarding, boating, OHV trails, swimming, and wildlife watching. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Pine Marten is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Silver Valley Campground (0.2 mi), Backpackers (0.8 mi), and West Shore (1.1 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby