Highland Lakes campground
Highland Lakes
Reservations are not accepted at Highland Lakes Camping Area, making it a first-come, first-served campground. It is advised to arrive early, especially during peak seasons, to secure a camping spot. The best time to visit this camping area is during the summer months when the weather is pleasant, and activities like fishing and swimming in the lake are enjoyable. However, be aware that the campground tends to get crowded during weekends and holidays, so planning a mid-week trip might be a good idea to avoid overcrowding.
While exploring the Highland Lakes camping area, campers should be cautious of wildlife encounters, particularly bears. It is important to store food securely and dispose of trash properly to prevent attracting these animals. Additionally, it is recommended to bring bug spray as the campground is known to have mosquitoes during certain times of the year. Overall, Highland Lakes Camping Area offers a tranquil and scenic environment for a memorable camping experience in the beautiful state of California.
What's on-site at Highland Lakes
Key facilities Snoflo tracks for this campground. Confirm with the operator before booking -- amenities can change seasonally.
Plan your trip down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max so trends jump out at a glance.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks. Hover any point for the full breakdown.
Other campgrounds in the area
Snoflo-tracked campsites within driving distance of Highland Lakes, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Lakes Campground | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Bloomfield 2 | ✗ | ✓ | → |
| Bloomfield I | ✗ | ✓ | → |
| Bloomfield Campground | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Sherrold Lake | ✗ | ✗ | → |
Nearby streamflow
USGS streamgauges within reach of Highland Lakes -- pulled live from the National Water Information System.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| E F Carson R Bl Markleeville C Nr Markleevilleca | 497 cfs | → |
| Leviathan C Ab Mine Nr Markleeville Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Leviathan Mine Adit Drain Nr Markleeville Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Leviathan C Channel Underdrain Nr Markleeville Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| 4l C Nr Markleeville Ca | 0 cfs | → |
| Aspen C Abv Leviathan Mine Nr Markleeville Ca | 0 cfs | → |
Nearby snow depths
NRCS SNOTEL stations within reach of Highland Lakes -- relevant when planning a shoulder-season or alpine trip.
| SNOTEL station | Snowpack | 24h Snowfall | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nohrsc Ebbetts Pass | 1.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Ebbetts Pass | 0.0 in | -1.0 in | → |
| Nohrsc Elstanislaus Meadow (Goes) | 21.8 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Nohrsc Poison Flat | 2.0 in | -1.0 in | → |
| Poison Flat | 2.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Nohrsc Blue Lakes | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, lakes, boat launches, and paddle runs so a camping night can grow into a full weekend.
Parks
- Heenan Lake Wildlife Area
- Toiyabe National Forest
- Wildlife Area Slinkard / Little Antelope
- Wilderness Carson-Iceberg
- Grover Hot Springs State Park
- Wilderness Mokelumne
Boat launches
- Summit Lake Trail Alpine County
- Indian Creek Camp Ground Day Use Area
- Amador County
- Topaz Park Road Douglas County
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Wilderness Boundary To Confluence With Middle Fork Stanislaus
- Headwaters To Wilderness Boundary
- Highway 4 To Salt Springs Reservoir
- Source Sec 24, T6n, R21e To Centerville Flat
- Confluence With Clark Fork To Donnell Reservoir
- Headwaters To Confluence With East Carsonriver
Camping essentials & Leave No Trace
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Take all trash, food scraps, and gear back with you to keep campsites clean and protect wildlife.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe animals from a distance, store food securely, and never feed wildlife to maintain natural behavior and safety.
- Know before you go
- Check weather, fire restrictions, trail conditions, and permit requirements to ensure a safe and well-planned trip.
- Minimize campfire impact
- Use established fire rings, keep fires small, fully extinguish them, or opt for a camp stove when fires are restricted.
- Leave what you find
- Preserve natural and cultural features by avoiding removal of plants, rocks, artifacts, or other elements of the environment.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Highland Lakes as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, snowpack, freezing temperatures), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Highland Lakes
Can I make reservations at Highland Lakes?
This campground does not appear to accept reservations -- it's typically first-come, first-served. Arrive early on summer weekends.
How fresh is the weather data on this page?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from the NOAA / yr.no public feeds. Streamflow data is pulled live from USGS streamgauges and snowpack from the NRCS SNOTEL network.
What's the best time of year to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation. For longer trips, the 5-day hourly meteogram shows snow + rain accumulation hour-by-hour.
How do I get to Highland Lakes?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the campground.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed through the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this campground, set a threshold (temperature, snowpack, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
Other campgrounds near here
Snoflo-tracked campgrounds within driving distance of Highland Lakes.