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

Brightman Flat Campground

Brightman Campground is situated in a mixed conifer forest along the banks of the Stanislaus River. It is located 21 east of the Summit Ranger Station on Highway 108. There are two entrances to the campground and a total of 33 sites. The main road and parking pads are dirt. Restrooms are vault toilets. Each site has a table and metal fire ring. A fee is charged for extra vehicle parking. There is no designated trail down to the river.

Closed for the seasonFirst-come, first-served

More like this: first-come in California

Brightman Flat Campground
Photo from the area. sdold (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons
1fire
active
Tmu Rx Support (prescribed burn) · 40 mi away
Interagency incident data as of 2026-10-16
Incident details ↓

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonMay to October
ForestStanislaus National Forest
BookingNo reservations may be made for Brightman Flat Campground. Cash Only
FeesDodge Ridge Corporation operates Brightman Campground and charges the following fees: Cash Only $25.00 for a single-family site. The Interagency Senior and Interagency Access Passes are honored and provide a 50 percent discount on camping fees in the campground.
RulesCamp in designated sites only. The number of people allowed in a single campsite is six. The maximum length of stay in any campground is 14 days. Please leave the area in as good (or better) condition than you found it. Often, locations destroyed by thoughtless campers must be closed to restore the area's natural health. Help ensure your favorite area remains open.

Stanislaus National Forest recreation page ↗

Getting there

22 miles east of Pinecrest on Highway 108.

Coordinates38.3519° N, 119.8484° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • Potable water is not available.

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Tmu Rx Support

    40 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 ↗13 mi
RV sales & serviceCustom Truck Accessories ↗54.5 mi

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

Explore

Video

Fraser Flat Campground 10 minutes from Pinecrest Lake #camping #fishing #hiking #drivethru

Worth a stop

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 1.4 mi
    Dardanelle OHV-4x4
    0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 1.5 mi
    6n06 Snow Trail ↗
    6.2 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski, snowcoach
  • 1.6 mi
    6n75y Snow Trail
    1.5 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski, snowcoach
  • 1.6 mi
    Eagle Creek ↗
    8.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.5 mi
    Columns of the Giants N.R.T
    0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3.6 mi
    Donnel Lk OHV -ATV
    1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, e-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 →

This campground sits inside 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.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

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 Brightman Flat Campground?

No. Brightman Flat Campground is first-come, first-served. No reservations may be made for Brightman Flat Campground. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Brightman Flat Campground?

Dodge Ridge Corporation operates Brightman Campground and charges the following fees: Cash Only $25.00 for a single-family site. The Interagency Senior and Interagency Access Passes are honored and provide a 50 percent discount on camping fees in the campground.

Source: Forest Service

Is Brightman Flat Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May to October.

Source: Forest Service status

What if Brightman Flat Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Dardanelle Campground (1.1 mi, first-come), Fence Creek Campground (1.6 mi, first-come), and Boulder Flat Campground (2 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby