California · Camping · Near Bear Valley

Highland Lakes

from $30
fee
May–Oct
best months

Is Highland Lakes open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Stanislaus National Forest. It doesn't name Highland Lakes, 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 8,633 ftHigh camp: expect cold nights, even in summer
  • Calaveras Ranger DistrictStanislaus National Forest

Highland Lakes is a developed campground in California's Stanislaus National Forest, within the Calaveras Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the site has food lockers, picnic tables, fire rings and parking spurs. It serves as a base for exploring the surrounding trails and lakes, which offer fishing and water play. The most comfortable months for a visit are July and August, when typical averages from a nearby weather station run around 75°F for highs and 49°F for lows, with only one or two wet days a month. That station sits about 1,300 feet lower than the campground, so temperatures at Highland Lakes run cooler. Vault toilets are the on-site restroom option. A fee is charged for recreation here, and the site asks visitors to practice Leave No Trace and Pack it in, Pack it out principles. Wolf Creek Trail and Wolf Creek are both within about a mile, and Halfmoon Lake Trail is about 1.7 miles away. For more camping, Bloomfield I is about 3.5 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    Highland Lakes

    Campground

    Campground · < 0.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Lake Alpine Resort

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 11 mi
  • If it rains

    Alpine County Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 14 mi from Bear Valley

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

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

    Best time to visit Highland Lakes

    Best months: May–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

      36° / 23°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      37° / 23°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 26°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      48° / 29°

      5 wet

    5. May

      56° / 35°

      4 wet

    6. Jun

      66° / 42°

      2 wet

    7. Jul

      75° / 49°

      2 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 49°

      1 wet

    9. Sep

      67° / 44°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 36°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      43° / 28°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 23°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dagget Pass, NV, 34.1 mi away at 7,334 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.