Brightman Flat Campground
Closed for the winter season. Highway 108 (Sonora Pass) closed December 26, 2025. The campground typically operates May through October and is first-come, first-served only.
Fireworks and Explosives are always Prohibited
Fireworks and explosives (including explosive targets) are always prohibited on national forest lands. The prohibition of fireworks and exploding targets on national forest system lands is part of a set of permanent fire safety regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), listed below.…
Extension of Seasonal Road Closures
Following a series of evaluations by Stanislaus National Forest Recreation Specialists, the Forest has issued Forest Order STF-16-2026-04 cleaving closed several roads in the forest’s higher elevations. Conditions will continue to be monitored on a regular basis and when applicable, roads will…
Beardsley Lake Boat Ramp Closure thru June 15
At the request of Tri-Dam, the Stanislaus National Forest has issued Forest Order STF-16-2026-03; effective April 15 through June 15, 2026, closing the Beardsley Lake Boat Ramp for all use.
Temporary Road Closures
This Forest Order closes the below listed roads beginning Aug 7, expiring on Dec 31, 2026.Calaveras District Roads (Exhibit A):• Forest Road No. 4N40• Forest Road No. 4N80Y (Candy Rock Road), from the gate at approximately 3.5 miles fromHighway 4 then continuing to its terminus. 36 CFR…
Cherry Lake Camping Restrictions
Camping, cooking, building a campfire, or storing fuel on National Forest Lands at, below or within 100 feet above the Cherry Lake high water mark (4702 feet elevation), or on the island within Cherry Lake
About
Brightman Flat Campground is situated in a mixed conifer forest along the banks of the Middle Fork Stanislaus River in the Stanislaus National Forest. Located 22 miles east of Pinecrest on Highway 108 at 5,600 feet elevation, the campground offers 33 first-come, first-served campsites accessible via two entrances. The main road and parking pads are dirt, and each site includes a picnic table and metal fire ring. The campground provides vault toilets but no potable water. Campers can obtain water from a free RV water fill station at the old Forest Service Brightman Flat Fire Station on Highway 108, or treat/filter water from the nearby river. An RV dump station is located on Highway 108, just a quarter mile west of Pinecrest Lake Road for $10. The campground is operated by Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort under special use permit from the Forest Service. The riverside location offers fishing access to the Stanislaus River, though there is no designated trail to the water. Nearby attractions include Kennedy Meadows for horseback riding, Columns of the Giants geological site, and Donnell Vista. The maximum stay is 14 days, with a 6-person limit per site. Check-in is at 2:00 p.m., check-out at noon, and quiet hours run from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Directions
22 miles east of Pinecrest on Highway 108.
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | — |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $25 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | — |
| Pull Through Sites | — |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (209) 965-3474 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Useful Links
| Brightman Flat Campground | |
| View on Recreation.gov |
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