- Location: Mammoth Lakes, CA
- Month: October, 2021
- Site: #8
- Bathrooms: Yes, flush toilets.
- Cost: $29 per night/ $8 per extra car.
- Reservations: First come, first serve.
- More info: Here!
This is a gem of a campsite! We stumbled upon it and it fulfilled so many expectations. It especially satisfied my desire to see fall colors in the Eastern Sierra.
About the Campground
With a very quaint vibe, this campground held only 10 campsites and two restrooms in addition to trashcans for both trash and recyclables. All campsite were first-come, first-serve, and at this time only half were occupied.
Parking spaces fit two cars either next to each other, or in tandem. Each site was equipped with a standard sized bear box, a fire pit, and a picnic table. The prettiest feature, in my opinion, is the creek that flows generously through the backside of each campsite just a couple yards away. Fishing is popular here, and there is a water source nearby specifically for cleaning fish.
As for the rest of the scenery, imagine the most mountain-based scenic campground. Aspens stood tall everywhere and their leaves colored in brilliant yellows and oranges. The pine trees dominated the wooded grounds all along the creek. The lack of privacy did not matter amongst the surrounding beauty and fresh air.
About the Campsite
Our campsite (#8) resided at the start of a cul-de-sac which made it very isolated and peaceful. Campsite #9 was at the end of this road (to the left of the picture) which made it the most prime campsite in my opinion as you didn’t share any space or sides with any neighbors.
Campsite #8 shared one side with a neighbor (to the right of the picture), and the other side contained a large area that was big enough to fit another car or even two, despite not being a parking space. However, many tents could be pitched in this area, if you had a larger party.
What is nearby?
Now, if you are familiar with Tom’s Place along Highway 395, this campsite is maybe 5-10 minutes up the road on the right-hand side. Tom’s Place has an excellent restaurant and cabins to rent if that’s your preference, or if there is in bad weather.
Geographically, Mammoth Lakes is only 30 minutes north from this campground, plus the hot springs are also nearby. Bishop is not even 35 minutes away heading south. And I already mentioned Tom’s Place which has a restaurant and a little store for your convenience as well. Little Lakes Valley Trail and Rock Creek Lodge and Lake are just up the road as well, and everything is dog-friendly! Finally, this road also contains many other campgrounds, like French Campground, Holiday Campground, Iris Meadow Campground, and a couple more.
Final Thoughts
We will definitely be back. We arrived with snow falling which made it a picturesque dream. The snow melted pretty quickly, and it easily fell below freezing during the night. Despite the weather, you just cannot beat the central location to the Eastern Sierra that this campground provides. The nights are silent with just the nature noises, and the air is crisp at this elevation. I could definitely not recommend a more pristine spot. The friends we made on this trip state that this site is very popular in the summer, so plan ahead!