Oak Flat Campground

Decided on short notice to visit Pinnacles National Park for the first time, in early May, 2021. On Campendium we saw the BLM campgrounds Sweetwater and Laguna Mountain, southeast of Pinnacles, thought we’d try one of them. Arrived Saturday afternoon and, unsurprisingly, found both full. We continued east, hoping to find a dispersed site. Stumbled across another BLM campsite about 7 miles away, Oak Flat. Only one other site occupied when we arrived, though several other groups came in after us. By Sunday afternoon everyone else left and we had the place to ourselves for two additional nights. Oak Flat has 6 sites … packed gravel, quite level. Lots of separation between sites, covered picnic table and fire ring at each site. Vault toilet, no water, no trash. Super clean. Good shade, very quiet while we were there. We were thrilled to find the place. Be aware, Oak Flat is pretty remote … it’s about an hour’s drive to Pinnacles NP. Luckily, the drive is beautiful. Zero cell reception (AT&T). The weather in early May was perfect … but expect the area is hot and very dusty in the summer.

Oak Flat is in the BLM’s Clear Creek Management Area … there’s a $5 vehicle permit required, good for one week (self-pay station). The campground is on Clear Creek Road (gravel), about 2 miles from the Coalinga Road turn off. After our trip, checked the Clear Creek Management Area website and saw listed another campsite (Jade Mill) about 3 miles farther east … we didn’t see it, but it’s nice to know there’s another option nearby.