U.S. Forest Service · Sierra National Forest · California

Ward Lake Campground

Located on Ward Lake, Ward Lake Campground provide sites with lake views. Sites offer picnic tables, fire rings, bear boxes, and pine and aspen trees provide shade for most campsites. Vault toilets are also provided. Ward Lake offers opportunities for non-motorized boating, fishing, and swimming.

Closed for the seasonFirst-come, first-servedFrom $32 per nightTents only

More like this: first-come in California · tent only in California

Ward Lake Campground
Photo from the area. The Greater Southwestern Exploration Company from Long Beach (CC BY 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
3fires
active
Cy26 Snf Rx Support (prescribed burn) · 17 mi away
2 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
Fees$32.00 Single site, Holidays/$2.00 additional/night. $63.00 Double site, Holidays/$4.00 additional/night. $10 fee for each additional vehicle.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonJune to September
ForestSierra National Forest
Fees$32.00 Single site, Holidays/$2.00 additional/night. $63.00 Double site, Holidays/$4.00 additional/night. $10 fee for each additional vehicle.

Sierra National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Ward Lake Campground30°40°50°60°70°January: 8.47 inches of precipitationFebruary: 7.80 inches of precipitationMarch: 6.80 inches of precipitationApril: 4.02 inches of precipitationMay: 2.42 inches of precipitationJune: 0.71 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.66 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.10 inches of precipitationSeptember: 0.40 inches of precipitationOctober: 2.29 inches of precipitationNovember: 3.92 inches of precipitationDecember: 6.82 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 33.6°F averageFebruary: 33.8°F averageMarch: 36.1°F averageApril: 39.5°F averageMay: 46.0°F averageJune: 54.2°F averageJuly: 61.4°F averageAugust: 61.7°F averageSeptember: 55.9°F averageOctober: 47.4°F averageNovember: 39.9°F averageDecember: 34.7°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 in10 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Huntington Lake, 14 miles from the campground at 7,020 feet, station USC00044176 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 44 inches a year.

Getting there

Coordinates37.3016° N, 118.9861° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Cy26 Snf Rx Support

    17 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Three Creeks Rx/Support Season

    29 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Grant Grove Fall Rx

    38 mi from the campground · 466 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗21.7 mi
Outdoor gearCaptain Jack's Tackle ↗22.8 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.1 mi
    Hell Hole
    1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.4 mi
    Hooper Diversion Spur a T1
    0.09 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 1.5 mi
    Hooper Diversion Spur a T2
    0.09 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 1.5 mi
    Poison Meadow
    1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.5 mi
    Hooper Diversion Spur A
    1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 1.6 mi
    Hooper Diversion Spur a T3
    0.09 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Sierra National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

Guidebooks for California

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Ward Lake Campground?

No. Ward Lake Campground is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Ward Lake Campground?

$32.00 Single site, Holidays/$2.00 additional/night. $63.00 Double site, Holidays/$4.00 additional/night. $10 fee for each additional vehicle.

Source: Forest Service

Is Ward Lake Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 26, 2026. Season June to September.

Source: Forest Service status

Can I bring an RV to Ward Lake Campground?

Ward Lake Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

What if Ward Lake Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Jackass Meadow (1.9 mi), Mono Hot Springs (2.5 mi), and Bolsillo Campground (3.2 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby