0
Pull-thru
USFSSix Rivers National Forest · California
Bear Basin Lookout And Cabin
Overview On a high, narrow mountain ridge at 5,280 feet, Bear Basin Lookout and Pierson Cabin offer visitors an awe-inspiring experience and a quiet haven away from crowds.
Sites1all reservable
Elev.4,921ft
Comf.May-Oct6 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Sacramento7h17real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
At 4,921 ft, Bear Basin Lookout And Cabin has a 6-month comfortable window (May-Oct). Winter nights average around 27°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. All 1 sites are reservable in advance, so plan ahead. Popular weekends book out. Within about 4 miles: 5 peaks, lake or river access.
The campground at a glance
01 · CHARACTER
Reads strongest on reservability and cool nights. Softest on shade.
Six axes, each scored relative to every other federal campground in the region: quiet (miles to a major road), cool (elevation), roomy (average site spacing), shade, RV-fit (longest rig), and how reservable it is. All six come from data, nothing hand-tuned.
When to go
02 · CLIMATE
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Jul
May-Oct
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
92%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
Jun 14
Last spring frost; first fall frost Oct 9.
52°F
Average July low. Bring a fleece.
Getting there
03 · ACCESS
01
Sacramento
328 mi
7h17
02
San Francisco
374 mi
8h19
03
Fresno
532 mi
11h49
04
Los Angeles
798 mi
17h44
05
San Diego
942 mi
20h56
By drive time
Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 6.2 mi away.
Picking your site
04 · 1 SITES
0
Walk-in
0
50-amp
1
Accessible
0
Prime
1
Sites
What's within four miles
05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER
Trails & Peaks
Trail segments
4
Peaks
5
Water & Access
Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
6.2 mi
Method
We synthesize public data layers: RIDB and Recreation.gov facility and site records, Open-Meteo climate normals, OpenStreetMap roads, trails, and water, OSRM drive times, and USGS elevation. We take no bookings, no ads, and no paid placements. Independence is the entire point.