A white Tacoma with a camper shell parked on a rise above a broad, empty basin under building cloud.

Forest Service campground

Jackass Meadow

Forest Service campground in Sierra National Forest, Fresno County, California. 7,164 feet. 23.9 miles from Mammoth Lakes.

Managed by
Forest Service Sierra National Forest
Elevation
7,164 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
35 35 standard non-electric
Longest rig
46 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Fresno County

Overview

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. This camp is located near several Native American archaeological sites.

Recreation

There is a .7 mile accessible hiking trail near the campground. Nature walks are held every Saturday during the summer.

Most of the recreation opportunities here can be found in and around Florence Lake. There is a boat ramp and boat rentals at the Florence Lake Store.

Facilities

Each campsite has a table, fire ring and grill. Bear-proof food lockers, water and accessible vault toilets are provided.

Supplies and groceries can be purchased half a mile from the campground at the Florence Lake Store.

Natural Features

The Sierra National Forest, located on the western slope of the central Sierra Nevada, is known for its spectacular mountain scenery and abundant natural resources.

The terrain includes rolling, oak-covered foothills, heavily forested middle elevation slopes and the starkly beautiful alpine landscape of the High Sierra.

The John Muir Wilderness stretches for 100 miles along the crest of the Sierra. It is a land of lofty snow-capped mountains, deep canyons and vast expanses of glacially carved terrain.

Nearby Attractions

A popular activity is to take a ferry from Florence Lake to the John Muir Trail, which is part of the Pacific Crest Trail, which stretches from Mexico to Canada. Ferry tickets can be purchased at the Florence Lake Store.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • boating
  • camping
  • day use area
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • historic & cultural site
  • horseback riding

The land around Jackass Meadow

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated August 11, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.