Cedar Bluff operates as a group campground in the Ponderosa pines above Bass Lake, with units designed for double, triple, and quad occupancy. At $10 per night, it's positioned for organized groups wanting lake access without the chaos of individual sites scattered throughout the forest.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Group
- 💵Fee per Night
- $10
- 📍GPS
- 37.30955, -119.54710
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 📞Phone
- 559-642-3212
- 🗺️Address
- CA
The Camp
The campground sits in thick Ponderosa pine forest at 3,400 feet elevation, adjacent to Bass Lake rather than directly on the water. Sites come with the standard setup — picnic table, grill, fire ring, and paved parking spur — but some are carved into slopes where tent space gets squeezed onto the parking areas themselves. Flush toilets and drinking water keep things civilized, with accessible facilities available.
The group-only designation means you're dealing with organized parties rather than random neighbors, which cuts both ways depending on what those groups are up to.
The Lake
Bass Lake handles the full spectrum of water activities: swimming, motorized boating, water skiing, sailing, and fishing for bass, trout, bluegill, and catfish. The lake maintains a boat ramp and beach area, so groups can launch watercraft and claim shoreline space. Bald and golden eagles nest in the area, adding wildlife interest beyond the standard Sierra forest mix.
Nearby
Four named trails start from the area: Willow Creek, Goat Mountain, Spring Cove, and the Way-of-the-Mono Interpretive Trail. The Forest Service runs educational programs on summer weekends. Yosemite's entrance sits 24 miles away, making this a potential base camp for national park visits, though you're trading convenience for the group camp structure and lake access.
What to Know
Group sites book 12 months out through Recreation.gov's standard system. The Bass Lake area draws heavy summer traffic, so the quieter shoulder seasons likely offer better odds for last-minute availability and more relaxed lake conditions.