Pipi Campground

Overview

Pipi Campground (pronounced "pie pie") offers RV and tent camping along the Middle Fork of the Cosumnes River, offering great fishing and swimming opportunities.

The Cosumnes River flows from the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada and runs for about 52 miles through California's Central Valley and into the Mokelumne River. Historically, the native Miwok people of northern California used to camp in this region in summertime.

Recreation

Rainbow trout are regularly stocked in the river and wheelchair accessible fishing is provided from the paved river walkway. The walkway meanders along the river for just under a mile.

Facilities

A spacious picnic area is located along the river. The campground provides drinking water and vault toilets. Most parking aprons are paved, but some are gravel. Single sites fit a maximum of two vehicle and six people.

Interpretive programs take place in peak season.

Natural Features

At an elevation of 4,100 feet, PiPi boasts three camp loops with a dense mixture of conifers like cedar and fir. The area is part of the Eldorado National Forest located in the central Sierra Nevada. A Mediterranean climate extends over most of the forest with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters.

Charges & Cancellations

Recreation Fee: Recreation fees are the fees a visitor pays for things like overnight camping, a day-use pavilion, group facilities, a tour or a permit. Recreation fees vary by location and/or activity.
Reservation Fee: A fee may be charged at the time a reservation is made to cover the cost of reservation services. This fee is in addition to the Recreation Fee and is non-refundable. Fees for camping, day use, group sites, cabins and lookouts: $8 if made on-line; $9 if made through the call center; $3 if made in-person.
Change Fee: A service fee may be charged at the time a modification is made depending on the changes.
Cancellation Fee: A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation.
Cut-Off Window: The latest date and/or time that you can make an advanced reservation or a change to an existing reservation. Cut-off windows can vary by location, but are typically 4 days before your arrival date. A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (see Late Cancellation below).
Late Cancellation: If you cancel your reservation too close to the start date, additional service fees may be withheld.

Camp site features

Across 50 camp sites:

Picnic table: 1 of 50 sites
Pets allowed: 1 of 50 sites
Longest rig: 35 ft
Largest party: 18 people

Directions

From Jackson, California, head east on Highway 88 for 26 miles to Omo Ranch Road. Turn north (left) on Omo Ranch Rd. and follow for 1 mile to North South Road. Turn right on North South Road and continue for about 6 miles into the campground.

Stay Limit

Check in from 2 PM, check out by 2 PM.

Reviews

163 reviews

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1 stars

Ruth N

Loop:Pipi

Site:

Reviewed 14 days ago

We enjoyed our time very much. We did have some trouble with a bear in our site. So put up everything not just your food. When we did that we didn't have any more problems.

Wendy D

Loop:Pipi

Site:

Reviewed 22 days ago

It’s a pretty campground but there are a few sites that look ran down. We had site 31 & 32. Site 31 was shaded and a very good size we could have easily had 4 big tents on this site. Site 32 was not shaded but it did say it was on recreation.gov. And it’s kinda on a slope. We thought we were pretty close to the water cause the recreation.gov said it was but it wasn’t. It would be nice if they actually had a walkway that cut through the field( or whatever yiu call it).To get to the water. it’s a bit of a walk. The boardwalk by the water needs to be fixed in some spots. There are bears and it would have been nice to have bear lockers but we just put our food in the car and didn’t have any problems. I read the the yellow jackets were real bad so I brought my screen tent and didn’t need it. I think I seen a handful of yellow jackets the 4 days we were there. I have never had a problem with mosquitoes when we have been camping but they were horrible here. Bring mosquito repellent. The water spigots would stop working(no water) and thr camp host didnt know why and apparently it’s happened before. The river is low but we found a spot where the kids could swim a little bit and was deep enough to jump in. Be careful walking on the ricks to the water they are slippery. My son in-law slit his hand open and had to leave to have it stitched up ( he was holding a bottle). There is no store on site but if you drive to the top of the road and make a few left turns there is a small store. We went to the store at 3:55 pm and it was already closed. Go early. Toilets are vault toilets but we brought our own because our 3 year old is scared of them. We also brought a shower tent. The campground is nice but we probably won’t go back BECAUSE the kids would rather go where they can paddle board and jump of their floating platform and swim. They did have fun here but they prefer a lake.

Sue H

Loop:Pipi

Site:

Reviewed a month ago

It was the first family camping trip here since coming as a teenager with my parents and family. It is now going to be an annual trip. We love that the only phone service you get is the payphone. The talks around the campfire with s’mores is never going to be forgotten.

Henry P

Loop:Pipi

Site:

Reviewed a month ago

Love this place been coming here for 27 years with my family. Only issue was the trash bins being moved and no replacement to put garbage in. Otherwise still my favorite place on earth.

MICHAEL W

Loop:Pipi

Site:

Reviewed a month ago

Overall I was good Noise hours were loose

Patrick W

Loop:Pipi

Site:

Reviewed 2 months ago

Beautiful, quiet weekend. Camp host visited once. Forest Service Ranger visited once.

Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.