California · Camping · Near Bear Valley

Dardanelle

May
season
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Dardanelle open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Stanislaus National Forest. It doesn't name Dardanelle, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Stanislaus National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

  • At 5,757 ft
  • Summit Ranger DistrictStanislaus National Forest

Dardanelle is a Forest Service campground in the Summit Ranger District of Stanislaus National Forest in California. It sits within the national forest's boundaries, and the Forest Service manages the land. Vault toilets are the only facility listed for the site. A fee is charged for stays. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Cherry Valley Dam show May highs around 70°F and October highs around 70°F, with July and August peaking near 89°F. That station sits about 1,000 feet lower than the campground, so temperatures here run cooler. Eagle Creek is a hike about 0.6 miles away, and Brightman Flat and Pigeon Flat are both campgrounds within about 1.6 miles. The Columns of the Giants Trail lies roughly 1.5 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Dardanelle

    Campground

    Campground · < 0.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Lake Alpine Resort

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 13 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Bear Valley
  • Best time to go · May–Jun, Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Dardanelle

    Best months: May–June and September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      49° / 31°

      10 wet · 5 snow

    2. Feb

      51° / 31°

      10 wet · 5 snow

    3. Mar

      55° / 33°

      10 wet · 5 snow

    4. Apr

      61° / 37°

      8 wet · 2 snow

    5. May

      70° / 44°

      6 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      80° / 51°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      89° / 58°

      1 wet

    8. Aug

      89° / 57°

      1 wet

    9. Sep

      82° / 53°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      70° / 44°

      4 wet

    11. Nov

      57° / 36°

      7 wet · 2 snow

    12. Dec

      49° / 31°

      9 wet · 4 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cherry Valley Dam, CA, 25.7 mi away at 4,765 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.