Overview

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.

Facilities

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.

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.

Nearby Attractions

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.

Important Notices

• This high alpine campground is very old, and was not designed and built with modern RVs in mind. It contains narrow roads, tight turns, and many, many inconvenient boulders and trees. RVs are allowed in every site if they fit, but this campground is a far cry from an RV park. The only surefire way to know if you can comfortably fit your RV in a specific site is to take an exploratory trip to scout it out for yourself.

• Site driveways are asphalt and may not be level. There is no guarantee of sites having level driveways. Please bring ample leveling equipment for RVs and trailers.Driveway lengths are estimates and not guaranteed.

• Campsites must be occupied during the dates of reservation. Guests who do not arrive by 2PM on the day following their scheduled date of arrival will be considered a No-Show and their reservation will automatically be cancelled.

• Dogs must remain on leash and under control at all times. Dogs may not be left in camp unattended, and all leads must be 6 feet or less in length. USFS guidelines allow for a maximum of two dogs per campsite.

• Generator use is limited to 2 hours per day, in between the hours of 8 am and 8 pm.

• This is bear country-Be bear aware! Keep all food out of sight in containers or inside a locked vehicle. Remove all food from the area after eating.
• Boats have a 10 MPH speed limit on the lake.

• No electric hookups, water, or sewer hookups available. Drinking water available through spigots.

• All equipment must fit on the site pad. Vehicles park in developed areas only.

• No extra vehicles are allowed. Extra vehicle parking is available along Highway 4 and campground entrance roads.

• Click Here for more information on Stanislaus National Forest
• Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.

Notifications and Alerts

• Christmas Tree Cutting Permits Information: Recreation.gov Christmas Tree cutting permits will go on sale on Friday, October 10, 2025. Christmas trees are $10.00 each and there is a maximum of two (2) trees per permit for a total of $20.00. Fourth graders can use their Every Kid Outdoors pass to obtain one (1) free tree. There is an additional $2.50 reservation fee for all permits. Tree cutting dates are Friday, November 28, 2025, through Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Starting in 2026, Christmas trees will increase in price to $20.00 per tree.

Available Activities

• WILDLIFE VIEWING - Wildlife Viewing
• HIKING - Hiking
• FISHING - Fishing
• CAMPING - Camping
• BOATING - Canoeing
• BIKING - Biking

Directions

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.

Contact Information

Phone: 209-753-6350

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip