Willow Placer 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 | 6 |
| Standard, no hookups | 2 |
| Group sites | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 22 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
3 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Fits, ft | Surface | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 012 | Standard | 22 | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 2 | No |
| 013 | Group | 22 | No / No | 20 / 4 | No | |
| 020 | Standard | 22 | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 2 | 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 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
The site records list no campfires. The campground description says each site has a fire ring.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 20 ft |
| 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. |
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 locker in each site • Picnic table in each site • Fire ring in each site • Bulletin board with local information, rules and regulations • Parking areas. • Self-pay fee system. • McCabe Flat Campground has a designated swimming area—no dogs allowed.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Mariposa, take CA-140 east to the visitor center, where the highway first meets the Merced Wild & Scenic River. Turn into the visitor center and cross the Suspension Bridge. Follow the Briceburg Campground Road downstream 3.6 miles to Willow Placer Campground.
| Nearest town | Midpines, California |
| Coordinates | 37.6104° N, 120.0095° W · Directions ↗ |
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
22 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 ↗ | 18 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Mountain Shop & Mountaineering School ↗ | 25.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | Denis RV Center ↗ | 47.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- Yosemite National Park is the main attraction in Mariposa County. The Arch Rock Entrance Station is 26.4 miles from Willow Placer Campground (20 miles from the Briceburg Visitor Center on Highway 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 the Briceburg Visitor Center. 5119 Jessie St Mariposa, CA 95338
- Splash-n-Dash Aqua Park at Lake McSwain is 45 miles from the Briceburg Visitor Center.
- 1.6 miCable Rock Day Use Site ↗Day use
- 14.7 miRainbow Pool Day Use Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 4.3 miTexas Hill Mine1.9 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
Yosemite Wilderness begins about 11.7 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 11.7 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
- Mariposa County CourthouseBuilding · Mariposa · 8.7 mi
- Mariposa County High School AuditoriumBuilding · Mariposa · 8.7 mi
- St. Joseph Catholic Church, Rectory and CemeteryBuilding · Mariposa · 9.2 mi
Natural features
Willow Placer Campground is situated on the shore of the Merced Wild & Scenic River. All of the eight (8) walk-in campsites are within 100 feet of the river, the group site is within 200' of the river. The river is the main natural feature here; as well as easy access to the Merced River Trail a short drive beyond the last campground. 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 of the Merced River 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 due to 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/Merced Wild & Scenic 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 Willow Placer Campground?
Sites at Willow Placer 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 Willow Placer 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 Willow Placer Campground?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Willow Placer Campground?
• $10 cancellation fee
Source: Charges and cancellations
How many sites does Willow Placer Campground have?
9 sites, including 6 tent-only sites, 2 standard sites without power, and 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Willow Placer Campground?
The longest site here provides 20 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 Willow Placer Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Willow Placer Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Willow Placer Campground?
The Merced River Recreation Management Area was established due to the outstanding recreational opportunities found here. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Willow Placer Campground?
Midpines, California. Yosemite National Park is the main attraction in Mariposa County. The Arch Rock Entrance Station is 26.4 miles from Willow Placer Campground (20 miles from the Briceburg Visitor Center on Highway CA-140).
Source: Getting there
What if Willow Placer Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Railroad Flat Campground (0.8 mi), Mccabe Flat Campground (1 mi), and Dirt Flat (10.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby