U.S. Forest Service · Stanislaus National Forest · Carson City, CA

Silver Tip Campground

Silvertip Campground is less than a mile west of Lake Alpine, with a trail leading from the campground down to the lake. 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.

Reservable · Recreation.gov22 sites62 ft maxNo hookupsPets okFires ok

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Silver Tip CampgroundSilver Tip Campground(LAKE ALPINE) SILVER TIP CAMPGROUND(LAKE ALPINE) SILVER TIP CAMPGROUND
Photos courtesy of Geminai Graphics and Photography · Recreation.gov
1fire
active
Tmu Rx Support (prescribed burn) · 31 mi away
Interagency incident data as of 2026-10-16
Incident details ↓

Site mix

RV, no hookups16
Standard, no hookups5
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

21 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
0107N & SilvertipRVBack-in49GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2YesStandard
0207N & SilvertipRVBack-in51GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2YesStandard
0307N & SilvertipRVBack-in45GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2YesStandard
0707N & SilvertipRVBack-in39GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2YesStandard
0807N & SilvertipRVBack-in53GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2YesStandard
0907N & SilvertipRVBack-in45GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2YesStandard
1107N & SilvertipRVBack-in39GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2YesStandard
1307N & SilvertipRVBack-in46GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2YesStandard
1407N & SilvertipRVBack-in40GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2YesStandard
1507N & SilvertipRVBack-in44GravelPartialNo / No6 / 2YesStandard

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 1:00 PM.

Campground map of Silver Tip Campground
Campground map published by U.S. Forest Service on Recreation.gov, credited to Dennis Moore. Open the image for full size.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length62 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

Campsites with room for up to 6 people, 3 tents, and 2 vehicles per campsite. Picnic tables, campfire rings, 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.

Getting there

From Angel's Camp, drive east on Highway 4 toward Lake Alpine. About 1/10th. mile past Bear Valley Ski resort turn-off, watch for sign for Silvertip Campground. The Campground is 2/3 of a mile west of Lake Alpine on Highway 4.

Nearest townCarson City, California
Coordinates38.4811° N, 120.0170° 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 ↗1.9 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗30.6 mi
RV sales & serviceCustom Truck Accessories ↗47.3 mi

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

Explore

Video

Sllvertip 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.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.1 mi
    Silvertip Cg to Lake Alpine
    0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.1 mi
    Osborn Crest
    1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.1 mi
    17e02lg Snow Trail
    0.4 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski, snowcoach
  • 0.1 mi
    McTc: Bear Valley to 7n20
    2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.1 mi
    Sp01g Snow Trail
    0.4 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski, snowcoach
  • 0.2 mi
    North Lake Alpine
    2.7 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

West Shore Campground sits at an elevation of 7,400 feet on the north 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.

Recreation

Lake Alpine provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities. There is hiking, biking, kayaking, paddle-boarding, boating, OHV-ing, 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 Silver Tip Campground?

Sites at Silver Tip Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Silver Tip Campground?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Silver Tip Campground have?

22 sites, including 16 RV sites without hookups and 5 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Silver Tip Campground?

The longest site here provides 62 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 Tip Campground?

Hot showers and laundromat available at nearby Lake Alpine Resort.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Silver Tip Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Silver Tip Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Silver Tip 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

Is there cell service at Silver Tip Campground?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Silver Tip Campground?

Lake Alpine provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Silver Tip 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 Tip Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Lodgepole Campground (0.5 mi), West Shore (0.6 mi), and Backpackers (0.8 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby