Silver Valley Campground
Silver Valley 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.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| RV, no hookups | 16 |
| Standard, no hookups | 5 |
Site guide
21 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Standard | 44 | Gravel | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 2 | A | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 12 | A | Standard | Back-in | 43 | Gravel | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 13 | A | Standard | Back-in | 38 | Gravel | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 14 | A | Standard | Back-in | 27 | Gravel | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 03 | Silver Valley CG | RV | Back-in | 46 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 04 | Silver Valley CG | RV | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 05 | Silver Valley CG | RV | Back-in | 34 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 06 | Silver Valley CG | RV | Back-in | 28 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 07 | Silver Valley CG | RV | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 2 | 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 02:00 PM, checkout 01:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 46 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Campsites with room for up to 6 people, 2 tents, and 2 vehicles per campsite. Picnic tables, campfire rings, vault toilets 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 Lodge.
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. |
| Forest | Stanislaus National Forest |
| Booking | All sites are reservable. Unreserved sites will be available on a walk-in, first-come, first-served basis. |
| Fees | $31 per night |
Getting there
Silver Valley is about 60 miles east of Angel's Camp on Highway 4 toward Lake Alpine. At the east end of the lake, turn onto the side road just east of Chickaree Picnic Area and follow the road around to Silver Valley Campground.
| Nearest town | Carson City, California |
| Coordinates | 38.4802° N, 119.9850° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedTmu 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 gear | Bear Valley Adventure Company ↗ | 3.3 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 31.7 mi |
| RV sales & service | Custom Truck Accessories ↗ | 46.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Silver Valley Campground - Lake Alpine, CA
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 is Big Trees State Park, Grover Hot Springs, Mercer Caverns, Mountain Adventure Seminars, and the wine country of Calaveras County.
- 0.1 miSilver Valley Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 0.1 miSilver Valley Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 10.9 miCottonwood Day Use ↗Day use
- 13.4 miBlack Springs Ohv Area ↗OHV / range
- 13.4 miBlack Springs Ohv Campground ↗OHV / range
- 14.3 mi
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miAlpine Horse Trail Loop1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.1 miHighland Creek ↗17 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.2 miHwy 4 to 19e010.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miAlpine Horse Trail Alt Route0.08 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miDuck Lake Bypass0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.4 miLk Alpine Cg to Chickaree0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.1 miSilver Valley Trailhead ↗Stanislaus National Forest
- 0.2 miLakeshore Trail/ Inspiration Point Trailhead ↗Stanislaus National Forest
- 0.4 miBee Gulch Trailhead ↗Stanislaus National Forest
- 0.9 miWoodchuck Basin Trailhead ↗Stanislaus National Forest
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
This campground sits inside Mokelumne Wilderness, which overlaps Stanislaus National Forest.
- inMokelumne Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 104,048 acres
- inStanislaus National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,090,354 acres
- 4.1 miCarson-Iceberg Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 158,147 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
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Natural features
Silver Valley 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.
Recreation
Lake Alpine provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities: fishing, hiking, biking, kayaking, paddle-boarding, boating, OHV trails, swimming, rock climbing, and wildlife watching. Interpretive programs are offered by Forest Service rangers during the summer months.
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 Silver Valley Campground?
Sites at Silver Valley Campground 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 Silver Valley Campground?
$31 per night
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Silver Valley Campground?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 01:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Silver Valley Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Silver Valley Campground have?
21 sites, including 16 RV sites without hookups and 5 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Silver Valley Campground?
The longest site here provides 46 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 Silver Valley Campground?
Hot showers and laundromat available at nearby Lake Alpine Resort.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Silver Valley Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Silver Valley Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Silver Valley Campground?
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 Silver Valley Campground?
Lake Alpine provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities: fishing, hiking, biking, kayaking, paddle-boarding, boating, OHV trails, swimming, rock climbing, and wildlife watching. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Silver Valley Campground?
Carson City, California. A restaurant, bar, general store, and boat rentals can be found at nearby Lake Alpine Lodge.
Source: Getting there
What if Silver Valley Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Pine Marten (0.2 mi), Backpackers (1 mi), and West Shore (1.3 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby