Best chance of seeing a bear: Tuolumne Meadows and White Wolf (Yosemite); Dorst Creek (Sequoia NF); Lodgepole (Sequoia NP).

Best walk-in: Marmot Rock (Sierra NF)

You can always find a site at: Sheep Creek and Moraine (Kings Canyon NP).

Most off the beaten path: South Fork (Sequoia NP); West Kaiser and Voyager Rock (Sierra NF).

Campground lowdown

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

-- Overview: Demand for the park's 13 campgrounds is incredibly high, especially in Yosemite Valley. Six are first-come first-served in the summer, including four along Tioga Road and 50% of Tuolumne Meadows. For the best chance of snagging one, arrive before noon on weekdays or 9 a.m. on weekends.

-- Information: nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/campground.htm

-- Reservations: Available in one-month blocks, up to five months in advance, on the 15th of each month beginning at 7 a.m. at recreation.gov or (877) 444-6777.

SEQUOIA & KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS

-- Overview: Sequoia and Kings Canyon have 14 campgrounds between them, including two (Lodgepole and Dorst Creek) on a summer reservation system. The others are all first-come first-served. Campgrounds often fill up on Saturday nights in July and August.

-- Information: nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm or (559) 565-3341.

-- Reservations: Accepted up to six months in advance (for Lodgepole and Dorst Creek) at recreation.gov or (877) 444-6777.

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST

-- Overview: There are 87 developed campgrounds, including 43 that can be reserved. Dispersed camping is allowed except around Bass Lake, Huntington Lake, Dinkey Creek and the Merced River canyon.

-- Information: fs.usda.gov/sierra/ (look for "campground status" under quick links heading) or (559) 297-0706.

-- Reservations: recreation.gov or (877) 444-6777

SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST

-- Overview: There are more than 50 developed campgrounds, which also includes the Giant Sequoia National Monument. About half can be reserved. Dispersed camping is also allowed in most areas.

-- Information: fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/recreation/campgrounds.html or (559) 784-1500.

-- Reservations: recreation.gov or (877) 444-6777

OTHERS

-- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Pine Flat Lake has 94 sites at Island Park and eight at Trimmer. Eastman Lake has 88 sites at Codorniz. Hensley Lake has 55 sites at Hidden View. Lake Kaweah has 80 sites at Horse Creek. Lake Success has 103 sites at Tule. Reservations accepted up to 240 days in advance at recreation.gov or (877) 444-6777.

-- California State Parks: Millerton Lake has 135 sites along its north shore. Reservations are accepted up to seven months in advance at (800) 444-7275 or reserveamerica.com.

-- Camp Edison: Southern California Edison operates 252 campsites at Shaver Lake with electricity, cable TV and limited high-speed Internet. Mail-in or fax reservations only. Details: (559) 841-3134, ext. 6, or sce.com/CommunityandRecreation/CampEdison/

-- Bureau of Land Management (San Joaquin River Gorge): Small campground is first-come, first-served. Details: (559)855-3494.