Lost Claim Campground

Primitive camping near Yosemite's Big Oak Flat entrance in Groveland.

(33)

Groveland, CA

About

Lost Claim Campground sits a short drive outside Yosemite's Big Oak Flat entrance in Groveland — a bare-bones, quiet spot for campers who want proximity to the park without lodge prices or crowds. Recent visitors rate it 4.3 out of 5 across 33 reviews, describing a small campground with fire pits, picnic tables, vault toilets, and a hand-operated water pump.

What to expect

Sites here are simple: fire pits, picnic tables, vault toilets, and bear lockers that reviewers describe as new and roomy. Water comes from a single hand pump, so plan your supply accordingly. One reviewer noted the area had been closed for a time after a wildfire, but found it back to normal operation by their visit. Wild blackberries grow around the sites, and poison oak is present in the surrounding woods, though campsites themselves are generally reported clear of it.

Good to know before you book

Bring your own firewood — reviewers note some downed wood is available, but pack in extra.
Some sites are sloped and better suited to tents than trailers.
A camp host isn't always present, so don't count on daily oversight.
Lock up gear when you head into the park for the day — one visitor reported items stolen from an unattended site.

Getting to Yosemite

Reviewers put the drive at roughly 15 minutes to the park's Big Oak Flat entrance, with about an hour more to reach Yosemite Valley itself — a reasonable trade-off for quiet, lower-cost camping just outside the park boundary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there drinking water at Lost Claim Campground?

Water is available from a single hand-operated pump on site, according to camper reviews — there's no piped water at individual sites, so plan your supply around that one access point.

How far is Lost Claim Campground from Yosemite Valley?

Campers report about a 15-minute drive to Yosemite's Big Oak Flat entrance, with roughly an hour more from there to reach Yosemite Valley.

Is there a camp host at Lost Claim Campground?

Not reliably. Multiple reviewers note they didn't see a host staying on site during their visit, though sites appeared to be marked and managed periodically.

Should I bring my own firewood?

Yes. While some reviewers mention downed wood being available to gather, it's best to bring your own firewood to be safe.

Reviews (33)

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4.3

33 reviews

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Karine Rolfe

a month ago

Shannon Murphy

2 months ago

Be careful leaving anything behind to go hiking, we stayed Sunday night, May 17th a went to Yosemite the following day for a few hours. When we got back we noticed we’d been robbed!! Clothes….gone, only one chair…gone, all cooking camping supplies gone!! I’ve never had issues camping I’m completely heartbroken so lock your tents pack up before you leave to explore for the day!

Irene Vega

11 months ago

The campsite was peaceful and very quiet. I had a very good night's rest. I will come back to stay longer next time.

Lauren Petkus

a year ago

We were nervous to book here because there were so few reviews - and the ones that existed are so old. Clearly the area had been hit by a fire and was closed for some time. When we went things seemed to be back to normal. The campsite is barebones but the sites and toilets are clean. The one water access comes from a large hand pump. We didn’t see a campsite host staying here, but did see someone drive through a few times and the sites were marked with reserved notes. Bring your own firewood to the site. Our parking site was level enough for our camping van, but I can see how risers might be needed for some (not agressive, but worth noting). I suppose tent camping might be tricky in a few of the spots. Lots of poison oak in the woods, but all the campsites looked clear. We didn’t have an issue staying away from it. Great location outside of the park.

Erica Mortensen

a year ago

No host when we arrived. Our spot (number 10) was small, slanted, and surrounded in poison ivy. Most of the other sights were slanted. Definitely not suited for trailers, although we were in a tent. We did not stay here after arriving.