Forks Campground is a 27-site campground located on Bass Lake, California, in the Sierra National Forest.
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Forks Campground - Bass Lake, California
Forks Campground is my favorite campground around Bass Lake. Several sights have breathtaking views of the lake and are centrally located for most activities.
The campground is managed by Sierra Recreation and is located in the Bass Lake Ranger District of the Sierra Nevada Forest, located on the West end of Bass Lake in California. There is plenty of vegetation for privacy, and you will see Ponderosa Pine, Cedar, and oak trees.
Bass Lake itself is a very popular area with several day-use areas and a boat ramp that offers numerous water-based activities, including swimming, motorized boating, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing, sailing, and jet skiing.
Other popular recreational activities include exploring the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway, taking a train ride on the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad, picnicking, and hiking. It is 21 miles (approximately 45 minutes) from the south entrance to Yosemite National Park.
Hikers can find several area trails, including Willow Creek, Spring Cove, Goat Mountain, and Way-of-the-Mono Interpretive Trail.
Area wildlife includes Black Bears, deer, bobcats, coyotes, western gray squirrels, Bald Eagles, Osprey, Golden Eagles, herons, ducks, and more!
Fishermen will enjoy a large variety of fish, including Rainbow Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Bass, Bluegill, Crappie, and Catfish.
Campground Fees
Make sure to check with the park for the most updated camping fees
Campground Reservations
Are Campground Reservations Available? Yes
Phone Number? (877)444-6777
Online? Recreation.gov
How Far Ahead can you make a reservation? Individual campsites at this campground operate on a 6-month rolling basis.
Forks Campground General Information
Season: May- September
Number of Sites: 27
Elevation: 3400 feet
Check-out Time: 12:00 PM
Location in the park: From Fresno, take Highway 41 north past Oakhurst, California/ Shortly later, turn right on Forest Road 222 (Bass Lake). Keep right for 3.5 miles to the Bass Lake Campground office.
Phone Number: (559)297-0706
Campground Address:
S Shore Rd
Wishon, CA 93650
Latitude/Longitude:
Latitude: 37.312854
Longitude: 119.569991
Accessible Sites: Campsites 5 and 13 are accessible sites.
Campground Amenities
Potable Water: Yes
Bear Boxes/ Food Storage Lockers Available:
Flush Toilets: Yes
Laundry: No
Showers: No
Payphone: No
Is Wi-Fi available? No
Is Cellular Service Available? Yes
Is there a camp host available on-site?
Amphitheater: No
Are fire pits/fire rings available at each site? Yes
Are Picnic Tables available at each site? Yes
RV Camping at Forks Campground
Hookups Available: No
RV Length: 40 feet
Generators: Yes, Generators are allowed between 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Dump Station: Across the street from the Campground Entrance
Campground Regulations
The maximum number of people in a campsite: 6
The number of cars per campsite: Maximum of two vehicles per site, including towed vehicles, and must stay within the designated parking area.
The maximum number of tents per campsite: Two tents are allowed per campsite.
Quiet Hours: 10:00 PM through 6:00 AM
Are Pets Allowed? Pets are allowed but must be leashed and under control.
Don't forget to pack these items!
Picnic table cover - picnic table covers not only look good but also help you provide a clean surface for you and your family/friends. They also offer easy cleanup and are usually water resistant. Don't forget the tablecloth clips to help secure it into place.
Picnic Table Canopy - Have you ever had a miserable day camping because of rain? A picnic table canopy is the perfect solution! They can protect you and your picnic table and camping supplies during rain, provide shelter so you can play board/card games, and provide shade during the intense sun of the summer. You can get canopies with netting to enjoy a meal without worrying about flies and mosquitoes!
Insect Repellent - Insect repellent is always a great idea outdoors, especially around any body of water. We use Permethrin Spray on our clothes before our park trips. Please read my article on preventing biting insects while enjoying the outdoors.
Sunscreen - I buy environmentally friendly sunscreen whenever possible because you will inevitably pull it out at the beach.
For fun things to do at your campsite, please read my article on camping games for the whole family!
Yosemite National Park Tours
Semi-Private Yosemite Tour with Ahwahnee Lunch and Hotel Pickup/Dropoff - This is an 8-hour tour that begins with a pick-up at your hotel or the meeting point(Denny's in Oakhurst).
The tour includes stops at Glacier Point(April-November), depending upon the weather, and several stops in the Yosemite Valley. The valley stops include Tunnel View, Bridalveil Falls, Sentinel Bridge, Chapel, Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, and more!
California Audio Tour Bundle (Get 4 Audio Tours) - With Shaka Guide's GPS Audio Tours, you are guided to hidden gems and iconic sights. Now, you can explore at your own pace without worrying about keeping up with a tour. Tours include:
- Yosemite's Majestic Beauty
- Death Valley's Unique Geology
- Joshua Tree's otherworldly Landscapes
- Lake Tahoe's Clear Waters
Private Full-Day Fly Fishing for Beginners and Experienced Anglers - Here is your chance to enjoy fly fishing in Yosemite with your private guide! This full-day adventure (Approx. 8 hours) is where you can fish the Tuolumne and Merced River watersheds for Rainbow, Brown, Brook, and Golden Trout on the catch-and-release excursion. The tour includes:
- all fly fishing gear, fishing license, Peak Season Reservation, and entrance fees
- round-trip transportation from Yosemite Valley or Groveland
- snacks/lunch
Check out more great tours of Yosemite. Tours include hiking, snowshoeing, roundtrip tours from San Francisco, and more!
Lodging options near Forks Campground
The Pines Resort - Bass Lake Beachfront Resort with lots of amenities, including Spa services, gym, two restaurants, bar/lounge, Airconditioning and more!
Click here to book your stay at the Pines Resort.
Sierra Sky Ranch - located near Oakhurst, California, offers easy access to Highway 41 into Yosemite National Park. They offer several amenities, including free WIFI, pool, Air Conditioning, free self-parking, complimentary continental breakfast, arcade/game room, and a fantastic restaurant on-site!
Click here to book your stay at Sierra Sky Ranch.
Chateau du Sureau - Exceptional 5-star luxury accommodations south of Yosemite National Park. Includes breakfast, feww WIFI, pet friendly, air conditioning and much more! Also has an incredible restaurant o-site and a spa!
Click here to book your stay at Chateau Du Sureau.
The map below shows the current hotels and vacation rentals available in the area. You can select the dates you are visiting to see current availability.
Bass Lake Area Resources, including Yosemite National Park
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Additional Photos of Forks Campground
Check out all of the National Parks in California and neighboring National Parks in Oregon, National Parks in Nevada, and National Parks in Arizona.
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