August 2008 Archives
Lone Pine Area Campgrounds: (Maps at the bottom)
Campground Name: Portagee Joe Campground (county) Area: Lone Pine
Administered by: County Parks Department
Elevation: 3,750
Season Length: Opens late April through late October and subject to weather conditions
Contact: Inyo County Parks Department,(760) 878-0272
Number of sites: 15
Fee: $10.
RV sites: Yes RV’s up to: No restrictions
Toilets: Vault Water: Yes Picnic tables and fire grills
Nearest town: Lone Pine
Nearby facilities: Lone Pine
Nearby fishing: Diaz Lake, Lone Pine Creek (See Highway 395 Fishing Category)
Reservations: Reservations are accepted ($9. fee). For reservable campsites, call (877) 444-6777 or http://www.ReserveUSA.com or http://www.recreation.gov/. 1-877-444-6777.
Additional information: Pets must be kept on a leash.
Directions: From Highway 395 in Lone Pine, turn right (west) on Whitney Portal Road and drive one mile to the Tuttle Creek Road. The campground is just a small distance from this intersection.
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Boulder Creek RV Campground (800) 648-8965 / (760) 876-4243
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_______________________________________________________________________Campground Name: Diaz Lake Campground Area: Lone Pine
Administered by: Inyo National Forest / Ranger District
Elevation: 3,650
Season Length: Opens late April through late October and subject to weather conditions
Contact: Inyo National Forest. http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/ 760-873-2400; Inyo County Parks Department (760) 878-0272
Number of sites: 200
Fee: $10-14 per night
RV sites: Yes RV’s up to: No restrictions Hook-ups: Garbage: containers
Toilets: flush Water: Yes Picnic tables and fire grills
Nearest town: Lone Pine
Nearby facilities: Boat ramp (water skiing), playground; golf course nearby
Nearby fishing: 85 acre Diaz Lake (See Highway 395 Fishing Category)
Reservations: Reservations are accepted. For reservable campsites, contact the National Recreation Reservation Center at http://www.recreation.gov or call them at 1-877-444-6777.
Additional information: Pets must be kept on a leash. Inyo National Forest Listings: Please note that the dates and prices below are subject to change and reflect 2007 data. If listed, the campground opening dates are approximate due to weather conditions. For reservable campsites, contact the National Recreation Reservation Center at http://www.recreation.gov or call them at 1-877-444-6777.
Directions: Highway 395 three miles south of Lone Pine
Diaz Lake Fishing: Warm water species include largemouth bass, bluegill and crappie, along with some channel catfish. Trout are planted in the spring and winter when cooler water temperatures prevail and the stocked fish can survive. Covering 80 acres the lake is mostly used for boating and water recreation and not a viable fishery due to summer heating and evaporation. However, with cooler temperatures and better oxygen levels, fishing can be fair to good.
Lake name:
Road condition: Paved
Region: Mt. Whitney Ranger District Area/description: Three miles south of Lone Pine.
Closest town or supplies: Lone Pine
Contacts: Inyo
County Parks Department; Mt. Whitney Ranger District (760) 876-6200; Lone Pine
Chamber of Commerce: toll-free at (877) 253-8981 or locally at (760) 876-4444;
Lone Pine Sporting Goods (760) 876-5365;
Facilities: Boat launch; rest rooms, picnic site, swimming area and playground
Nearest campground:
Boating: Personal watercraft allowed
Fishing season: Early opener-see regulations Best times: Spring and late fall
Favorite lures or bait: Conventional gear for bass; lures and bait for trout
Stocking information:
12,000 rainbows
Additional
information: If you are a bass fisherman and a trout fisherman, this is a
great spot for a spring outing. Lone Pine also hosts an Early Opener Derby. If you enjoy bass fishing ask locally for
directions to “High Banks” on the Owens River as well as
Nearby fishing: Lone Pine Creek
Directions: Three miles south of Lone Pine on Highway 395.
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Campground Name: Tuttle Creek Campground (primitive) Area: Lone Pine
Note: The county also has a campground named Tuttle Creek in the same vicinity.
Administered by: Bureau of Land Management / Whitney Ranger District /
Elevation: 5,120
Season Length: Opens late April through late October and subject to weather conditions
Contact: Inyo National Forest. http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/ 760-873-2400
Number of sites: 85
Fee: $5
RV sites: Yes RV’s up to: 30 feet Garbage: Pack-it-out!
Toilets: Vault Water: Non-potable only Picnic tables and fire grills
Nearest town: Lone Pine
Nearby facilities: Lone Pine
Nearby fishing: Although the creek is very small, Tuttle Creek is stocked with 6,000 Rainbow trout a year. (See Highway 395 Fishing Category)
Reservations: Reservations are not accepted
Additional information: Some facilities have wheel-chair accessibility; pets must be kept on a leash; an extra fee is charged for each additional vehicle. Inyo National Forest Listings: Please note that the dates and prices below are subject to change and reflect 2008 data. If listed, the campground opening dates are approximate due to weather conditions. For reservable campsites, contact the National Recreation Reservation Center at http://www.recreation.gov or call them at 1-877-444-6777.
Directions: From Highway 395 in Lone Pine, turn right (west) on Whitney Portal Road. Continue 3.5 miles to the Horseshoe Meadow Road and turn left. The campground is 1.5 miles on a good dirt road.
Tuttle Creek Fishing: Tuttle Creek is another small drainage creek that is both narrow and shallow. However, generous weekly stocking in and around the campground provide close fishing for campers who could not find a camp site at Whitney Portal or Lone Pine Creek.
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Campground Name: Lone Pine Creek (Below the Whitney Portal Campground) Area: Lone Pine
Administered by: Inyo National Forest / Mt. Whitney Ranger District
Elevation: 6,000
Season Length: Opens late April through late October and subject to weather conditions
Contact: Inyo National Forest. http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/ 760-873-2400
Number of sites: 43
Fee: $16.
RV sites: Yes RV’s up to: 35 feet
Toilets: Pit Water: Yes Picnic tables and fire grills
Nearest town: Lone Pine
Nearby facilities: Small campground store
Nearby fishing: Lone Pine Creek (See Highway 395 Fishing Category)
Reservations: Reservations are accepted ($9. fee). For reservable campsites, call (877) 444-6777 or http://www.ReserveUSA.com or http://www.recreation.gov/. 1-877-444-6777.
Additional information: Some facilities have wheel-chair accessibility; pets must be kept on a leash.
Directions: From Highway 395 in Lone Pine, turn right (west) on Whitney Portal Road. Continue 13 miles to the campground.
Lone Pine Creek Fishing: Although fishing for stocked fish in a campground is not something that interests me, when I saw the size and the numbers of fish swimming in the pocket water I was shocked. You pay for these campground fish so you might as well catch your dinner! Fish ranged from 8 to 12-inches. I was impressed, and I began to think of how good they would taste. This is a great spot to take children fishing. Leave the pools where the fish are looking right at you, and look for broken water where they are more likely to take your bait. I watched a mother showing her young children how to snag. Fortunately, she was not all that successful.
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Campground Name: Whitney Portal Campground Area: Lone Pine
Administered by: Inyo National Forest / Mt. Whitney Ranger District
Season Length: Opens late April through late October and subject to weather conditions
Contact: Inyo National Forest. http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/ (760) 937-6070
Number of sites: 44
Fee: $17 + $5. for extra vehicle. Golden Age Access is half price. (2008)
RV sites: Yes RV’s up to: 30 feet Garbage: containers
Toilets: Vault Water: Yes Picnic tables and fire grills
Nearest town: Lone Pine
Nearby facilities: small campground store
Nearby fishing: Yes (See Highway 395 Fishing Category)
Reservations: Reservations are accepted ($9. fee). For reservable campsites, call (877) 444-6777 or http://www.ReserveUSA.com or http://www.recreation.gov/. 1-877-444-6777.
Additional information: Whitney Portal Campground is used for climbers planning on climbing Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain in the lower 48 states. It is also the trailhead for the John Muir Wilderness Trail. Some facilities have wheel-chair accessibility; pets must be kept on a leash; the campground is seven miles from Whitney Trailhead. The campground is located in the eastern Sierra, six miles west of the town of Lone Pine, California. Firewood is for sale at the campground. Popular activities include hiking and fishing. Restrooms are provided. Some first come, first serve sites may be available.
Forest Listings: Please note that the dates and prices below are subject to change and reflect 2007 data. If listed, the campground opening dates are approximate due to weather conditions. For reservable campsites, contact the National Recreation Reservation Center at http://www.recreation.gov or call them at 1-877-444-6777.
Directions: From Highway 395 in Lone Pine, turn right (west) on Whitney Portal Road. Continue 13 miles to the campground.
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Campground Name: Horseshoe Meadow Walk-In and Equestrian Campground Area: Lone Pine
Administered by: Whitney Ranger District / Inyo National Forest
Elevation: 5,120
Season Length: Opens late April through late October and subject to weather conditions
Contact: Inyo National Forest. http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/ 760-873-2400
Number of sites: 18 walk-in camp sites for hikers entering the John Muir Wilderness and the Golden Trout Wilderness; 10 equestrian sites at the trail head provide corrals and hitching posts
Fee: $6 for walk-in campsites; $12 for equestrian camp sites.
RV sites: Yes RV’s up to: 30 feet Garbage: Pack-it-out!
Toilets: Vault Water: Yes Picnic tables and fire grills
Nearest town: Lone Pine
Nearby facilities: Pack Station
Nearby fishing: Although the creek is very small, Tuttle Creek is stocked with 6,000 Rainbow trout a year. (See Highway 395 Fishing Category)
Reservations: Reservations are not accepted for equestrian camp sites; trailhead reservations for wilderness stays are required.
Additional information: Inyo National Forest Listings: Please note that the dates and prices below are subject to change and reflect 2007 data. If listed, the campground opening dates are approximate due to weather conditions.
Directions: From Highway 395 in Lone Pine, turn west on Whitney Portal Road and drive 3.5 miles and turn left on Horseshoe Meadows Road. Drive 19 miles to the trail head. (Warning: This is an extremely steep climb. I over-heated my engine pulling a large camper in 102-degree heat. Yes, at the top it was 20-degrees cooler, but I had to pull over and idle my engine for about 20 minutes.)
Non-potable water is available for stock, but bring a bucket. Equestrian campers are expected to clean up all horse manure, so bring a bucket and rake and pack it out.
Road condition: Paved to Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead
Day hike: A physically challenging 4 mile hike. It is the last mile that is most challenging.
Region: Mt.
Whitney Ranger District Area/description:
Closest town or supplies: Lone Pine
Contacts:
Nearest campground: Tuttle
Creek Campground; Whitney Portal is located in the eastern Sierra, 13 miles
west of Lone Pine, CA. This campground is adjacent to
Fishing season: General Restrictions: Artificial lures with barbless hooks
Tips: Bring a good map, plenty of water or a water filter and watch for trail signs as the trail forks after Golden Trout Camp. The trail will follow Cottonwood Creek.
Favorite lures or bait: Use small lures such as Kastmasters, Daredevils and Panther-Martins. Bring smaller lures, but have a variety of color combinations to entice both shallow and deep cruising trout. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)
Favorite fly patterns: Fly & Bubble technique with small nymphs such as Hare’s Ear, Zug Bug, Bead-Head Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or a Tellico Shrimp. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)
Stocking information: Wild trout populations
Additional information: This is a popular and scenic Golden trout lake.
Nearby fishing: Cottonwood Creek
Directions: From
Highway 395 in Lone Pine, turn left on
Maps courtesy of mytopo.com.
Lake name: Davis Lake
Road condition: Paved with gravel access roads to the campgrounds
Region: Cascades Lakes Basin
Area/description: Approximately 10 miles south of Crane Prairie Reservoir and about a forty-minute drive from Chemult from Highway 97.
Lake size: 3,500 to 3,900 acres at full pool Depth: The average depth is 8 to 10 feet with a few spots attaining a depth of 20 to 25 feet
Species: Largemouth bass; Klamath strain rainbows and tui chub. Although the lake was once renown as a trophy trout lake, the illegal introduction of tui chubs and largemouth bass has forever altered this once famous fly fishing only lake. Although trout may still be caught, their numbers have greatly diminished. Stories abound of 14 to 16-inch rainbows lodged in the gullet of trophy size bass. Today Davis Lake is considered a trophy bass fishing lake, but for every good sized bass caught, be prepared to land a lot of 8 to 10-inch little hungry guys.
Closest town or supplies: Chemult, Crescent, La Pine
Bend Fly Shops: The Patient Angler 541-389-6208; The Riffle Fly Shop 541-388-3330; Sunriver Fly Shop 541-593-8814
Facilities: None
Nearest campground: (See information below.)
Boating: Boating is restricted to 10 mph. Boat launches are primitive. The West Davis Lake Campground has the best launch; East Davis Lake Campground has a primitive spot for car-top boats; the Lava Flow Campground has a good hard-packed, shallow bottom, but during the summer you will have to drag your boat off your trailer and follow a narrow channel along the Lava flow to circumvent the tulles and weed growth.
Fishing season: General Best times: April through early July on good water years provides the best fishing for bass and trout, but check with the local fly shops after a heavy snow pack year. During the spring the winds can be fierce by mid-day, and even during the summer there is no guarantee that the wind will settle down for the evening bite. Because the lake is so shallow and loses water due to the porous lava bed section, water temperatures do not cool until September when the fishing picks up again. Small bass may be taken easily throughout the summer using poppers in the evening and Rickard’s Seal Buggers in the morning.
Tips: During spring start with large leech patterns and Zonker minnow patterns in olive green, but keep the retrieves slow. In May and June start with olive damsel fly nymphs. By June good morning hatches of both damselfly nymphs and dragon fly nymphs emerge and begin their migrations to shore. Anglers using kickboats do well probing the edges of the tulles and looking for recessed openings to present their offerings. Working Zonkers in the lava bed coves and along the shoreline can be very effective. Most anglers work the eastern shoreline above and below the lava flows. If the wind picks up, look for passages and openings in the heavy tulles. Although the water rises and drops like the wake of a large boat passing by, my son and I found that the bass readily attacked poppers when we could get off the lake and find sanctuary in secluded opening in the tulles.
Restrictions: Davis Lake is a fly fishing only lake requiring barbless hooks.
Favorite fly patterns: Rickard’s Seal Buggers; green and white poppers; Bunny Leeches; Zonkers and damselfly and dragonfly nymph patterns
Additional information: Having selected a favorite new five-weight rod, I would recommend using a six-weight rod. I would also recommend a floating line for poppers, and an intermediate full sinking line when you probe under the surface.
Nearby fishing: Odell Creek; Crane Prairie Reservoir
Directions: From Highway 97 in Chemult, continue a few miles north to the Highway 58 route to Eugene. Continue west on Highway 58 to the signed route to Davis Lake. The lake may also be reached from the town of Crescent or by following the Century Drive Highway from Bend, which is a longer but scenic route taking you past many of the great Cascade lakes west of Bend.
Escaping the blistering mid-summer heat of Bishop requires only a short ride up the Bishop Creek drainage into high alpine canyon country. Campers and anglers experience some of the best high Sierra outdoor opportunities in the region at South Lake, North Lake and Lake Sabrina. Anglers can wet a line at the above three lakes, at the Intake, Intake II ponds or the forks of Bishop Creek or the main stem of Bishop Creek. (See Bishop Creek Drainage for fishing information.) Hikers have a myriad of trails to choose from that lead to high elevation lakes above South Lake, North Lake and Lake Sabrina. The video clip will provide a quick overview of the Bishop Creek campgrounds, which combined offer over 250 campsites. Full information on all the campgrounds is listed below based on the closest campground from Bishop to the furthest campgrounds located at South Lake and Lake Sabrina, which is approximately 20-miles from Bishop.
Campground Name: Bitterbrush Campground Area: Bishop
Administered by: White Mountain Ranger District (760) 873-2500.
Elevation: 7,500
Season Length: Open year-round / subject to weather
Contact:
Number of sites: 36
Fee: $19
RV sites: Yes RV’s up to: Hook-ups: Garbage: containers
Toilets: Water: Yes
Nearest town: Bishop
Nearby facilities: Bishop
Nearby fishing:
Reservations: NO
Additional information: Pets must be kept on a leash. Please note that the dates and prices below are subject to change and reflect 2007 data. If listed, the campground opening dates are approximate due to weather conditions.
Directions: From
Highway 395 in Bishop, turn left (west) on
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Campground Name: Big
Trees Campground Area:
Administered by: White Mountain Ranger District (760) 873-2500.
Elevation: 7,500
Season Length: 4/25-9/30 - subject to weather conditions
Contact:
Number of sites: 9
Fee: $16.
RV sites: Yes RV’s up to: 30 feet No Hook-ups: Garbage: containers
Toilets: Vault Water: Yes Picnic tables and fire grills
Nearest town: Bishop
Nearby facilities: Bishop
Nearby fishing:
Reservations: NO
Additional information: Pets must be kept on a leash. Please note that the dates and prices below are subject to change and reflect 2007 data. If listed, the campground opening dates are approximate due to weather conditions
Directions: From
Highway 395 in Bishop, turn left (west) on
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Campground Name: Forks
Campground Area:
Administered by: White Mountain Ranger District (760) 873-2500.
Elevation: 7,800
Season Length: 4/26-10/1 - subject to weather conditions
Contact:
Number of sites: 9
Fee: $16.
RV sites: Yes RV’s up to: 22 feet No Hook-ups: Garbage:
Toilets: Vault Water: Yes Picnic tables and fire grills
Nearest town: Bishop
Nearby facilities:
Nearby fishing:
Reservations: NO
Additional information: Pets must be kept on a leash. Please note that the dates and prices below are subject to change and reflect 2007 data. If listed, the campground opening dates are approximate due to weather conditions
Directions: From Highway 395 in Bishop, turn left (west) on_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Campground Name: Bishop
Park Campground Area:
Administered by: White Mountain Ranger District (760) 873-2500.
Elevation: 8,400
Season Length: 5/15-10/29 - subject to weather conditions
Contact:
Number of sites: 21
Fee: $16.
RV sites: Yes RV’s up to: 22 No Hook-ups: Garbage: containers
Toilets: Flush Water: Yes Picnic tables and fire grills
Nearest town: Bishop
Nearby facilities: Bishop
Nearby fishing:
Reservations: Reservations
are accepted only for group reservations.
For reservable campsites, contact the
Additional information: Pets must be kept on a leash. Please note that the dates and prices below are subject to change and reflect 2007 data. If listed, the campground opening dates are approximate due to weather conditions.
Directions: From
Highway 395 in Bishop, turn left (west) on
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Campground Name: Bishop
Park Campground Area:
Administered by: White Mountain Ranger District (760) 873-2500.
Elevation: 8,400
Season Length: 5/15-10/29 - subject to weather conditions
Contact:
Number of sites: 21
Fee: $16.
RV sites: Yes RV’s up to: 22 No Hook-ups: Garbage: containers
Toilets: Flush Water: Yes Picnic tables and fire grills
Nearest town: Bishop
Nearby facilities: Bishop
Nearby fishing:
Reservations: Reservations
are accepted only for group reservations.
For reservable campsites, contact the
Additional information: Pets must be kept on a leash. Please note that the dates and prices below are subject to change and reflect 2007 data. If listed, the campground opening dates are approximate due to weather conditions.
Directions: From
Highway 395 in Bishop, turn left (west) on
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Campground Name:
Area:
Administered by: White Mountain Ranger District (760) 873-2500.
Elevation: 9,500
Season Length: 6/13-10/1 - subject to weather conditions
Contact:
Number of sites: 11 sites for tents only
Fee: $16.
RV sites: Yes RV’s up to: Hook-ups: Garbage: containers Pack-it-out!
Toilets: Vault Water: Yes Picnic tables and fire grills
Nearest town: Bishop
Nearby facilities: Horseback riding
Nearby fishing:
Reservations: NO
Additional information: Pets must be kept on a leash. Please note that the dates and prices below are subject to change and reflect 2007 data. If listed, the campground opening dates are approximate due to weather conditions.
Directions: (Check
on road conditions as this is a steep and windy road.) From Highway 395 in
Bishop, turn left (west) on
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Campground Name: Sabrina
Campground Area:
Administered by: White Mountain Ranger District (760) 873-2500.
Elevation: 9,000
Season Length: 5/15-10/15 - subject to weather conditions
Contact:
Number of sites: 18
Fee: $16.
RV sites: Yes RV’s up to: 30 feet No Hook-ups: Garbage: containers
Toilets: Vault Water: Yes Picnic tables and fire grills
Nearest town: Bishop
Nearby facilities:
Nearby fishing:
Reservations: NO
Additional information: Pets must be kept on a leash. Please note that the dates and prices below are subject to change and reflect 2007 data. If listed, the campground opening dates are approximate due to weather conditions
Directions: From
Highway 395 in Bishop, turn left (west) on
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Note: The road from Bishop forks with a spur road leading to South Lake, which is near Intake II. The campgrounds that follow are located on the road to South Lake.
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Campground Name: Intake
II Walk-in Campground
Area:
Administered by: White Mountain Ranger District (760) 873-2500.
Elevation: 8,200
Season Length: 4/26-10/29 - subject to weather conditions
Contact:
Number of sites: 8 (7 walk-in tent camp sites)
Fee: $16.
RV sites: Yes RV’s up to: 22 feet No Hook-ups: Garbage: containers
Toilets: Vault Water: Yes Picnic tables and fire grills
Nearest town: Bishop
Nearby facilities: Bishop
Nearby fishing:
Reservations: NO
Additional information: Pets must be kept on a leash. Please note that the dates and prices below are subject to change and reflect 2007 data. If listed, the campground opening dates are approximate due to weather conditions.
Directions: From
Highway 395 in Bishop, turn left (west) on
Campground Name: Four
Jeffrey Area:
Administered by:
Elevation: 8,100
Season Length: 4/26-10/29 - subject to weather conditions
Contact:
Number of sites: 106
Fee: $16.
RV sites: Yes
RV’s up to: 25 feet No
Hook-ups: Dump Station
Garbage: containers
Toilets: Vault Water: Yes Picnic tables and fire grills
Nearest town: Bishop
Nearby facilities:
Nearby fishing:
Reservations: Reservations
are accepted. For reservable campsites, contact the
Additional information: Pets must be kept on a leash. Please note that the dates and prices below are subject to change and reflect 2007 data. If listed, the campground opening dates are approximate due to weather conditions.
Directions: From
Highway 395 in Bishop, turn left (west) on
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Campground Name: Mountain
Glen Campground Area:
Administered by:
Elevation:
Season Length: 5/23-10/1 - subject to weather conditions
Contact:
Number of sites: 5
Fee: $18.
RV sites: RV’s up to: Hook-ups: Garbage:
Toilets: Water: Picnic tables and fire grills
Nearest town: Bishop
Nearby facilities: Resort lakes
Nearby fishing:
Reservations: NO
Additional information: Pets must be kept on a leash. Please note that the dates and prices below are subject to change and reflect 2007 data. If listed, the campground opening dates are approximate due to weather conditions.
Directions: From Highway 395 in Bishop, turn left (west) on_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Campground Name:
Administered by:
Elevation:
Season Length: 5/23-10/1 - subject to weather conditions
Contact:
Number of sites: 7
Fee: $18.
RV sites: Yes RV’s up to: Hook-ups: Garbage: containers Pack-it-out!
Toilets: Vault Water: Yes Picnic tables and fire grills
Nearest town: Bishop
Nearby facilities:
Nearby fishing:
Reservations: No
Additional information: Pets must be kept on a leash. Please note that the dates and prices below are subject to change and reflect 2007 data. If listed, the campground opening dates are approximate due to weather conditions
Directions: From
Highway 395 in Bishop, turn left (west) on
Map courtesy of mytopo.com.
