Dry Gulch

Sierra National Forest — lakeside

Location: EL PORTAL, CA, CA

Price: From $41 per night

Rating: 3.8 out of 5 (48 reviews)

Season: May through October

Dry Gulch Campground sits on the north side of the Merced River. The small camp features walk-in tent sites on the river, shaded by a grove of pine and oak trees. Dry Gulch’s remote location makes for a quiet and peaceful camping experience.During the spring and early summer, the Merced River is a popular location for white water rafting and kayaking.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/dry-gulch to be notified when sites open up.

Dry Gulch offers walk-in tent sites on the north side of the Merced River, shaded by pine and oak trees in a remote location that provides a quiet and peaceful camping experience. Google reviewers consistently praise it as one of the most beautiful campgrounds, with sites right by the water and pretty wildflowers.

Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, California Nightsnake, Great Gray Owl, Ringtail, Gray Fox, and Sierra Nevada Mountain Beaver present in the area

Insider tips for Dry Gulch: Arrive early — sites are first-come, first-serve and there is only 1 site available Verify campground is open before traveling; one camper found it closed in October despite a recreation.gov reservation

Skip Dry Gulch if: You need hookups — no hookups available. You prefer developed facilities — vault toilets only. You want guaranteed availability — only 1 site and Federal campground requires booking early.

Best time to visit Dry Gulch: May-June — Campground opens in May; spring is when Merced River is popular for white water rafting and kayaking, and wildflowers are present.

Nearby campgrounds: Dirt Flat (EL PORTAL, CA), Crane Flat Campground (Yosemite National Park, CA), Tamarack Flat Campground (Yosemite National Park, CA), Hodgdon Meadow Campground (Yosemite National Park, CA (Big Oak Flat Entrance)).