Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest)
Campground · California · 133 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Stanislaus National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 133
- Bookable sites
- 56 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 50
- People per site
- 6,530 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Big Meadow Campground lies at about 6,400 feet elevation on the Stanislaus National Forest. It is located 21 miles east of Arnold, California. Breathtaking views abound, and wildlife viewing opportunities include marmots, squirrels, and deer.
Recreation
Picnicking, birding and hiking are popular pastimes at Big Meadow.Lake Alpine and Spicer Meadow Reservoir, both just a 15 minute drive away, offer fishing and other water activities.
Facilities
Big Meadow has 65 individual camping sites.
Big Meadow Group camp is easily accessible from Highway 4 and can accommodate a maximum of 50 guests and 20 vehicles.
Natural Features
Big Meadow Campground is situated in Stanislaus National Forest. It is known for exceptional stargazing, remote location, spread out campsites, and large granite boulders.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (209) 753-6350.The facts
- 133 bookable sites
- 137 sites in total, including non-bookable
- Vehicles up to 56 ft
- Up to 50 people per site
- Loops: A, BIG, GRP, XXX
Site types
- 119 Standard Nonelectric
- 13 Tent Only Nonelectric
- 4 Management
- 1 Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric
Amenities
- Campfires allowed
- Picnic tables
- Grills
- Shade
- Pets allowed
- Water hookups — not available
- Sewer hookups — not available
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, fire pits.
137 campsites at Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest)
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Access | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | A | Management | Back In | Gravel | — | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 02 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 03 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 04 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 40 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 05 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 36 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 06 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 43 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 07 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 40 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 08 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 40 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 09 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 26 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 10 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 11 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 38 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 12 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 32 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 13 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 23 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 14 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 45 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 15 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 26 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 16 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 36 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 17 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 48 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 18 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 43 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 19 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 38 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 20 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 21 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 22 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 40 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 23 | A | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 24 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 25 | A | Management | Back In | Gravel | — | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 26 | A | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 26 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 27 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 38 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 28 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 33 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 29 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 32 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 30 | A | Management | Back In | Gravel | — | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 31 | A | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 32 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 42 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 33 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 36 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 34 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 28 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 35 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 36 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 37 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 28 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 38 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 20 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 39 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 24 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 40 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 41 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 41 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 42 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 39 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 43 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 44 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 27 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 45 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 46 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 41 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 47 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 47 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 48 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 49 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 40 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 50 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 51 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 44 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 52 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 27 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 53 | A | Management | Back In | Gravel | — | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 54 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 55 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 35 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 56 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 45 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 57 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 36 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 58 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 59 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 46 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 60 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 54 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 61 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 62 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 40 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 63 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 25 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 64 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 34 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 65 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 40 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 66 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 40 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 67 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 56 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 68 | A | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 38 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 001 | BIG | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 002 | BIG | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 003 | BIG | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 004 | BIG | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 005 | BIG | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 006 | BIG | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 007 | BIG | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 008 | BIG | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 009 | BIG | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 010 | BIG | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 011 | BIG | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 012 | BIG | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 013 | BIG | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 014 | BIG | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 015 | BIG | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 016 | BIG | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 017 | BIG | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 020 | BIG | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 021 | BIG | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 024 | BIG | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 001 Group Camp | GRP | Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Walk In | 30 ft | 50 | 🐾 |
| X18 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X19 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X22 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X23 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X25 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X26 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X27 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X28 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X29 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X30 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X31 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X32 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X33 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X34 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X35 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X36 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X37 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X38 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X39 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X40 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X41 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X42 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X43 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X44 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X45 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X46 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X47 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X48 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X49 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X50 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X51 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X52 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X53 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X54 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X55 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X56 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X57 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X58 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X59 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X60 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X61 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X62 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X63 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X64 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X65 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X66 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X67 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — | |
| X68 | XXX | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | — |
Getting there
From Arnold, California, take Highway 4 east for 25 miles to the Big Meadow Campground.
38.41639, -120.10500 · 38°24'59.0"N 120°6'18.0"W
Typical weather
Typically 81°F in Jul, down to 44°F in Dec.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 45 | 46 | 49 | 54 | 63 | 73 | 81 | 80 | 74 | 64 | 52 | 44 |
| Low °F | 30 | 30 | 32 | 35 | 42 | 49 | 56 | 55 | 51 | 43 | 34 | 30 |
| Precip in | 10.6 | 9.8 | 8.5 | 4.6 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 2.9 | 5.2 | 9.7 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 14.8 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest)
- Can you reserve a site at Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest)?
- Yes, Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest) is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest) have?
- 137 sites in total, of which 133 can be booked.
- What is the maximum RV length at Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest)?
- 56 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest)?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest).
- Does Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest) have hookups?
- No hookups are recorded here.
- Are campfires allowed at Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest)?
- Campfires are allowed at Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest). Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Also listed by
Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest) also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest)'s operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- The Forest Service operates the Big Meadow Campground and charges the following fees: New campsite fee prices, 2024 & 2025 $25 per night and fee raises to $30 per night in 2026. The America the Beautiful, Interagency Senior and Access Passes are honored and receive 50% off the nightly rate. Only app
Restrictions:
- Some sites may be closed at various times due to hazard trees.
Camping near Big Meadow (Stanislaus National Forest)
- Sandy Flat - Utica Reservoir (Stanislaus NF) 5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Union West - Union Reservoir (Stanislaus NF) 5.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- (Lake Alpine) Lodgepole Campground 6.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Stanislaus River Campground 3.2 mi · Campground
- Utica Reservoir Campgrounds 5 mi · Campground
- Utica/Union Reservoirs 5.3 mi · Facility
- Black Springs OHV Area 5.6 mi · Facility
- Spicer Reservoir 5.7 mi · Facility
- Union West Campground 5.8 mi · Campground
- Lodgepole Group Campground 6.1 mi · Campground
- Union East Campground 6.2 mi · Campground
- Silvertip Campground 6.5 mi · Campground
Contact
- Phone 209-795-1381
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-06-26.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
Comments