Mccabe Flat Campground
Merced River Recreation Management Area Overview The Merced River Recreation Area is a special place just downstream from Yosemite. It is well known for excellent whitewater boating, wildflower viewing, camping, swimming, and recreational gold panning/prospecting. Visitors will have plenty to do in the Merced River Recreation Area during every season. Springtime comes early to the Merced River Canyon and by March the wildflower season is well on its way—lasting into May. Easy access, un-damned flows, and excellent whitewater boating attract rafters and kayakers during the spring runoff (April through July).
More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California · group sites in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Tent-only | 8 |
| Standard, no hookups | 1 |
| Group sites | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 18 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
3 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Tent only | None | No / – | Riverfront | 8 / 2 | No | |||
| 009 | Standard | Back-in | 22 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | No | |||
| 010 | Group | Pull-through | 22 | Gravel | 20 / 4 | No |
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
| Hookups | None |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Fees | Booking Windows. Individual sites at this campground are block released on the 15th of each month. Facility Rates. Facility rates by season dates. SEASON DATES SITE TYPE NIGHTLY/DAILY RATES. January 01- December 31 Standard Nonelectric $20.00. Group Site (up to 20 people) $40.00. |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Mariposa, take CA-140 east to Briceburg, where the highway first meets the Merced River. Turn into Briceburg and cross the Old Briceburg Suspension Bridge. Follow the Briceburg Road downstream 2.3 miles to McCabe Flat Campground.
| Nearest town | Midpines, California |
| Coordinates | 37.5966° N, 120.0035° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Each of the three BLM Merced River Campgrounds includes the following features: • Vault toilet(s), and seasonal port-o-potties • Bearproof garbage cans. • Bearproof recycling cans. • Bearproof food lo
Charges and cancellations
- Reservation Rules
- Maximum Consecutive Stay You may stay up to 14 nights during a visit at this campground.
- Maximum Stay You may stay up to 14 nights total at this campground within any calendar quarter (Jan-March, April-June, etc)
- Max Concurrent Stay You may hold up to 2 reservations on any given night at this campground. Each campsite is its own reservation. All Year
- Maximum Reservations per Transaction You may pay for up to 2 reservations at one time within the same credit card transaction. All Year
- Maximum Total Reservations You may hold up to 2 current or upcoming reservations at this campground. All Year
- Maximum Reservation Changes You may modify this reservation up to 2 times. Modifications only count towards this rule if there is a change in balance. It does not impact other reservation data in the order details. Reservation creation does not count towards this rule. All Year
- If I book this reservation today, what are my options to change or cancel?
- Please remember that reservations at these facilities prevent other visitors from using these sites.
- Changes
- If your new stay dates are completely different from your original stay dates, there is a $10 change fee (per reserved site). There are no additional fees for:
- • Adding or removing nights to your stay.
- • Changing to a different campsite.
- Balances will adjust based on your new stay's nightly rate.
- Cancellations
- You can cancel the reservation any time before the date of your scheduled arrival. You will receive a refund for your stay, minus the following fees:
- • $10 cancellation fee
- • Any reservation fees (only if paid when booking)
- • Any previous change fees
Fire nearby
- WildfireDome
21 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 ↗ | 19 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Mountain Shop & Mountaineering School ↗ | 25.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Denis RV Center ↗ | 48.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Merced River at Drive into McCabe Flat Campground Near Yosemite National Park
Worth a stop
- Yosemite National Park is the main attraction in Mariposa County. The Arch Rock Entrance Station is 22.8 miles from McCabe Flat Campground (20 miles from Briceburg Visitor Center on CA-140).
- California State Mining and Mineral Museum is located at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds--14.2 miles from the Briceburg Visitor Center.
- Mariposa Museum and History Center is in downtown Mariposa 12 miles from Briceburg Visitor Center. 5119 Jessie St Mariposa, CA 95338
- 0.9 miCable Rock Day Use Site ↗Day use
Public land it sits in
Yosemite Wilderness begins about 12 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 12 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
- Mariposa County CourthouseBuilding · Mariposa · 7.7 mi
- Mariposa County High School AuditoriumBuilding · Mariposa · 7.7 mi
- St. Joseph Catholic Church, Rectory and CemeteryBuilding · Mariposa · 8.2 mi
Natural features
McCabe Flat Campground is situated on the shore of the Wild and Scenic Merced River. Nine (9) of the campsites are within 100 feet of the river. The Group Site is on the other side of the Old Yosemite Railroad Grade/Merced River Road; about 150 yards from the water. The river is the main natural feature here. The Merced River Trail follows the Old Yosemite Railroad Grade past where cars can drive. This trail is spectacular during springtime (February-April)! It provides good access to more secluded swimming and fishing holes downstream from the campgrounds. This trail also provides access to the North Fork Merced where swimming and wildflower viewing is excellent in spring to early summer. Wildflower viewing is great all along the Merced River. The best season to see the colorful display is February through April. California Newts are common in this area. They are active in the winter and spring especially on wet days. They are slow moving docile creatures, but do not touch or pick them up. They have a neurotoxin in their skin that is poisonous to people and pets. Do not eat them.
Recreation
The Merced River Recreation Management Area was established because of the outstanding recreational opportunities found here. The proximity to Yosemite National Park attracts people from around the world to camp, boat, swim, and play along the Merced River. Whitewater rafting opportunities are excellent with easy road-side access. Established launch sites upstream near El Portal are Redbud, Indian Flat, Old Suspension Bridge, and Briceburg Day-Use Area. Take-out locations include Briceburg Day Use Area, Railroad Flat Boat Ramp, and Bagby. Hiking along the Merced River Trail/Old Yosemite Railroad Grade is good year around. Camping along the Merced River has been a cherished recreational activity for generations of families for a hundred years. Picnicking, nature study, hobby gold prospecting, wildflower viewing, birding, mountain biking, and swimming are all popular recreational activities within the Merced River Recreation Management Area/Wild and Scenic Merced River.
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 Mccabe Flat Campground?
Sites at Mccabe Flat Campground 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 Mccabe Flat Campground?
Booking Windows. Individual sites at this campground are block released on the 15th of each month. Facility Rates.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Mccabe Flat Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Mccabe Flat Campground?
• $10 cancellation fee
Source: Charges and cancellations
How many sites does Mccabe Flat Campground have?
10 sites, including 8 tent-only sites, 1 standard site without power, and 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Mccabe Flat Campground?
Mccabe Flat Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Mccabe Flat Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Mccabe Flat Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Mccabe Flat Campground?
The Merced River Recreation Management Area was established because of the outstanding recreational opportunities found here. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Mccabe Flat Campground?
Midpines, California. Yosemite National Park is the main attraction in Mariposa County. The Arch Rock Entrance Station is 22.8 miles from McCabe Flat Campground (20 miles from Briceburg Visitor Center on CA-140).
Source: Getting there
What if Mccabe Flat Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Willow Placer Campground (1 mi), Railroad Flat Campground (1.7 mi), and Jerseydale Campground (9.7 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby