Jackass Meadow

Sierra National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: Shaver Lake, CA, CA

Price: From $38 per night

Price range: $38–$77 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)

Season: May through October

Jackass Meadow Campground remains closed until further notice due to hazard tree removal. Jackass Meadow Campground is situated below Florence Lake on the San Joaquin River, surrounded by the craggy peaks of the John Muir Wilderness. Jackass Meadow is shaded by a stand of Aspen and Lodgepole Pine, and the South Fork of the San Joaquin runs through the campground.

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Bear Boxes, Fishing, Boat Launch

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

Jackass Meadow offers stunning wilderness camping surrounded by John Muir Wilderness peaks, with crystal clear water from the South Fork of the San Joaquin River flowing through shaded Aspen and Lodgepole Pine stands. Campers consistently rate it 4.7/5 stars for the gorgeous scenery and excellent fishing and swimming opportunities.

Wildlife alert: Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, Mountain Garter Snake, and Western Aquatic Garter Snake present in area. Sooty Grouse, Mountain Quail, and multiple hummingbird species also documented.

Insider tips for Jackass Meadow: Arrive early or book in advance — federal campground fills quickly Request one of the larger sites for families if available Bring a swimsuit — water is ice cold and excellent for refreshing Visit early morning before heavy campground use for peaceful experience

Skip Jackass Meadow if: You need RV hookups — campground has no hookups, suitable only for self-contained RVs. You require level tent sites — some campers noted limited level camping areas. You visit outside May-October — seasonal closure applies. Campground is currently closed for hazard tree removal until further notice.

Best time to visit Jackass Meadow: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Nearby campgrounds: Mono Hot Springs (Shaver Lake, CA), Mono Creek (Shaver Lake, CA), Vermillion (Shaver Lake, CA), Badger Flats Group (Shaver Lake, CA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Jackass Meadow

Cell signal at Jackass Meadow (Shaver Lake, CA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

CamperWatch›CA›Jackass Meadow
Jackass Meadow — photo 1
Sierra National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Jackass Meadow

Share:
Shaver Lake, CA, CA★ 4 (0 reviews)From $38/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Jackass Meadow Campground remains closed until further notice due to hazard tree removal. Jackass Meadow Campground is situated below Florence Lake on the San Joaquin River, surrounded by the craggy peaks of the John Muir Wilderness. Jackass Meadow is shaded by a stand of Aspen and Lodgepole Pine, and the South Fork of the San Joaquin runs through the campground.

Best for:AnglersHikersBoatersFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV46 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsBear Boxes
Recreation
Picnic TablesFishing
Family & Pets
Vault ToiletsBoat Launch

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups — campground has no hookups, suitable only for self-contained RVs✕ You require level tent sites — some campers noted limited level camping areas✕ You visit outside May-October — seasonal closure applies✕ Campground is currently closed for hazard tree removal until further notice

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Arrive early or book in advance

federal campground fills quickly

Request one of the larger sites for families if available

Bring a swimsuit

water is ice cold and excellent for refreshing

Visit early morning before heavy campground use for peaceful experience

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally May through October only

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, Mountain Garter Snake, and Western Aquatic Garter Snake present in area. Sooty Grouse, Mountain Quail, and multiple hummingbird species also documented.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
559-893-2111· Sierra National Forest
Getting there →

From Clovis, California: Take Hwy 168 north for 70 miles to Huntington Lake Campground office at Eastwood. Turn right and follow Kaiser Pass Road approximately 21 miles to Jackass Meadow campground.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Sierra National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Sierra National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Jackass Meadow cost per night?+
Jackass Meadow costs $38–$77 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Jackass Meadow open?+
Jackass Meadow is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Jackass Meadow have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Jackass Meadow?+
Jackass Meadow can accommodate RVs up to 46 feet.
How do I make reservations at Jackass Meadow?+
Jackass Meadow is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Jackass Meadow?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Jackass Meadow is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Jackass Meadow open, and what are check-in times?+
Jackass Meadow is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Print Facility MapVista Recreation
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$38 /night★ 4 (0)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Jackass Meadow cost per night?+
What season is Jackass Meadow open?+
Does Jackass Meadow have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Own a campground nearby?

List free on CamperWatch — we take 5% only on bookings we send. No monthly fee.

List your campground →
$38–77 /nightNo booking fees
+TRIPCheck availability