A gray 4x4 Sprinter with a roof rack on a two-track through a wildflower meadow, cloud sitting on the mountains behind.

Forest Service campground

Vermillion

Forest Service campground in Sierra National Forest, Fresno County, California. 7,660 feet. 17.1 miles from Mammoth Lakes.

Managed by
Forest Service Sierra National Forest
Elevation
7,660 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
30 30 tent only non-electric
Longest rig
50 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Fresno County

Overview

Vermillion Campground is located on the northwest shore of Edison Lake, in a shady stand of Ponderosa pine. Most sites provide lake views. The campground is ideal for tents, as well as small RVs. Visitors can enjoy mountain views of the surrounding John Muir and Ansel Adams Wilderness areas.

Recreation

Edison Lake has a free public boat launch. Canoeing and kayaking near the shoreline are popular activities. Anglers can fish for rainbow, brown or brook trout. Sandy beaches within the campground provide lake access for swimming.

Campfire programs are offered throughout the summer. Numerous hiking and equestrian trails are in the area.

Facilities

Each campsite has a picnic table, campfire ring and bear-proof food storage locker, all set off a bit from the parking spur. Some sites are sloped and not suitable for tent camping. Vault toilets are provided. There are 8 water spigots in the campground with potable drinking water.

Limited supplies and pay showers are available at the Vermillion Valley Resort, which is within walking distance.

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.

Nearby Attractions

Vermillion Campground is an excellent base for exploring the Ansel Adams or John Muir Wilderness Areas. The Vermillion Valley Resort offers ferry rides across the lake to trails within the Ansel Adams Wilderness.

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

What people do here

  • boating
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • horseback riding
  • interpretive programs
  • swimming site

The land around Vermillion

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 March 27, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.