USDA Forest Service · California
Portal Forebay Campground
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 7,156 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T good · T-Mobile none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- CAMP 61 (NFSR 07S080) · asphalt · suitable for passenger cars
Season dates aren't confirmed for this campground yet - opening and closing dates haven't been verified. Check the operator's page or call ahead before you plan a trip.
Site map
The imagery of the campground. Press and hold the map to drop your own pins and notes; the operator publishes no site points here. Your ratings, notes, pins and photos are kept with the campground on your Saved list, the same list the camping map and the drive page keep.
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About
US Forest Service campground. Located along Kaiser Pass Road at Portal Forebay Lake. Sites are shaded by pine and cedar trees and each campsite has a picnic table, grill and bear-proof food storage locker. Vault toilets are provided. Drinking water is not available. Paved and dirt roads provided access to the campground. Large RV's or motorhomes not recommended for travel on Kaiser Pass Road. Pack out what you pack in. Open season: June. Not reservable through Recreation.gov, so plan on first-come, first-served; check with the ranger district for current conditions and fees.
Fees
Overnight Use:
Single Site: $32 per night; Additional Holiday Fee: $2 per night
Double Site: $61 per night; Additional Holiday Fee: $4 per night
Additional Vehicle Fee: $10 per vehicle per night
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 24° | 1° | 57° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 40° | 22° | 6° | 57° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 42° | 25° | 6° | 64° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 46° | 28° | 11° | 58° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 58° | 35° | 20° | 70° | 8 of 11 |
| June | 70° | 46° | 28° | 84° | 1 of 11 |
| July | 80° | 55° | 44° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 77° | 53° | 46° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 70° | 48° | 36° | 79° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 62° | 38° | 18° | 78° | 5 of 10 |
| November | 52° | 32° | 7° | 68° | 8 of 10 |
| December | 42° | 25° | 7° | 58° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Trails nearby
- Portal Forebay Trailhead · 0.3 mi as the crow flies
Mono Crossing 4.8 mi Hike · Drive there - Kaiser Pass Toilet Area Trailhead · 2.8 mi as the crow flies
Idaho Lake 2.3 mi Hike · Drive there - Rattlesnake Trailhead · 3.8 mi as the crow flies · Drive there
- Badger Flat Trailhead · 4.5 mi as the crow flies
California Riding and Hiking 50 mi Hike · Drive there - Bear Creek Trailhead · 5.2 mi as the crow flies
Bear Creek 6.4 mi Hike · Drive there
All 519 trails in Sierra National Forest
Trailheads the Park Service and the Forest Service map, within 10 miles as the crow flies; each trail's page has its length, climbing and the Service's description.
Nearby campgrounds
- Bolsillo Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Mono Hot Springs · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 23 sites
- Badger Flats Group · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 1 sites
- Mono Creek · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi · 13 sites
- Ward Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-06-29. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.