Chilkoot sits in a mixed conifer grove at 4,600 feet, offering relief from valley heat while keeping you close to Bass Lake's recreation scene. The campground takes its name from the creek that flows nearby, where you can fish for brown trout between trips to Yosemite, just under an hour away.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Developed
- 💵Fee per Night
- $41
- 📋Reservations
- Reservation Required
- 🏔️Elevation
- 4,600 ft
- 📍GPS
- 37.36747, -119.53742
- 🌤️Best Seasons
- spring, fall
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 🗺️Address
- CA
Amenities
The Camp
Ponderosa pine, fir, and cedar shade the sites at Chilkoot, creating a classic Sierra Nevada camping environment without the alpine chill. The campground accommodates both tents and RVs, though site selection matters here. Some sites sit on slopes that won't work for tents, while others are designated tent-only. Each site comes with a gravel parking spur, picnic table, and fire ring.
The facility operates without water, so come prepared. Vault toilets and a camp host handle the basics, but this is rustic camping despite the developed amenities.
What to Know
Chilkoot Creek runs past the campground, holding channel catfish, sucker, and brown trout for anglers willing to try their luck. The elevation puts you in that sweet spot for escaping summer heat while staying accessible to the Sierra's lower-elevation attractions.
Bass Lake sits just a few miles away, offering the full menu of lake recreation: boating, fishing, swimming, water skiing, and sailing. It's a popular resort area, which means crowds during peak season but also means amenities when you need them.
Nearby
Yosemite's southern entrance is less than an hour's drive, making this a viable base camp for day trips into the park. Closer to camp, the Buena Vista trail provides hiking options, and Willow Creek offers paddling opportunities.
The South Fork of the Merced River runs nearby and draws whitewater rafting groups. You're positioned in the Sierra National Forest's middle elevation zone, where oak-covered foothills transition into heavily forested slopes, with the High Sierra's alpine terrain visible to the east.