East Fork Campground, near Inyo National Forest, is a fantastic spot for those looking to immerse themselves in nature. With a mix of tent and RV sites, it offers a laid-back atmosphere where you can kick back and enjoy the great outdoors.

The campground is known for its clean facilities, including well-kept bathrooms and drinking water, which make your stay comfortable. Many visitors have praised the beautiful sites along Rock Creek, where you can soak in stunning mountain views and listen to the soothing sounds of the water. As one camper noted, “I snagged a spot with a great view of the mountains and had the surrounding area all to myself.”

For outdoor adventurers, East Fork is a prime base for exploring nearby trails, including the popular Little Lakes Valley. You’ll find plenty of opportunities for hiking, fishing, and simply enjoying the scenery. Some campers have mentioned that the best sites are tucked away in the trees along the creek, providing a bit of shade and a peaceful retreat.

While the campground can get busy during peak times, many have found it easy to secure a spot without reservations, especially on weekdays. Whether you’re planning a family trip or a solo getaway, East Fork Campground has the charm and amenities to make your stay memorable.

## Overview

 East Fork Canyon is in a beautiful wooded section of Rock Creek Canyon, near Lower Rock Creek. Anglers, hikers and photographers enjoy this scenic location in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. The facility is large and accommodating, with several loops of campsites.Opening and closing dates for the season are dependent on weather.
## Recreation

 Rock Creek and other waterways in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains are known for their exceptional trout fishing. A catch from the creek may include brook, brown, rainbow and stocked Alpers trout, while anglers in the backcountry are treated to populations of golden trout. The area's majestic scenery and challenging trails are an obvious draw for hikers and mountain bikers. There are several trails in and around Rock Creek Canyon, some of which meander around high-elevation alpine lakes.
## Natural Features

 This beautifully wooded area is dense with pine and fir trees, with aspens that turn golden and shimmer in the fall. Sitting at an elevation of 8,900 ft., East Fork offers views of the taller mountain peaks that surround it. The campground is adjacent to the clear, cold and cascading Rock Creek, which originates in the John Muir Wilderness and runs for 22 miles through the bottom of Rock Creek Canyon. The area is home to abundant wildlife, including black bear, mountain lions, mule deer, pine marten, pika and many species of fish and birds. 
## Contact Info

 For facility specific information, please call (760) 935-4012. 
## Nearby Attractions

 For campers interested in local events, Mule Days are held in nearby Bishop over Memorial Day weekend, and the Mammoth Jazz Jubilee is hosted in Mammoth in mid-July.

East Fork Campground – Inyo National Forest (CA)

Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Swall Meadows, CA has a lot to offer. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Swall Meadows, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.

Swall Meadows

The Best Camping Near Swall Meadows, California

Great bathroom, clean, no strong smell. Nice staff, but very crowded

Do the job

East Fork Campground is an awesome spot with a lot of campsites. The bathrooms are very clean and probably the nicest I've seen in California (in the Eastern Sierra). Our site was a short walk to the river and it was very quiet. I did notice some Bear Scat in our campground after a long day of hiking, but we hadn't left food out so everything was left untouched. There were a lot of bugs, so bring extra bug spray. This is an awesome spot if you want to explore the nearby Little Lakes Valley. Bring your fly-rod, extra tackle, and your license!

Beautiful, Beary, Bugs

East Fork Campground is off Rock Creek road, 3 miles below Rock Creek Lake, and about 4 miles below the Mosquito Flat trail head, from which you can access the beautiful Little Lakes Valley, and beyond into the high Sierra backcountry.    
It is a huge campground with 133 sites, and stretches for a mile or so along Rock Creek.  Some sites are in tall pines with good cover, and some are in scrubby aspens, or open meadow with very little cover.  Some sites are well spaced, and some are right on top of each other.  A few sites are right on the creek.  About half of the sites are on a reservation system, and about half are first-come first-served.  In my opinion, most of the best sites are not reservable.   All sites have a sturdy old-school picnic table, and large bear box.  Some sites are suitable for a small RV, but most don't have the space for large vehicles.  The team of camp hosts were all very nice and were doing a great job keeping things clean and organized.  One of them shared with me that the campground was designed in the 40's, before large RV's existed.  Today's rolling condos just don't fit.  (Another plus in my book)  
We camped here for 10 days in late June - early July, basically the peak camping window in the Sierras and the campground was only full on July 3 &amp; 4.  Otherwise it was about 1/2 full.  Totally possible to get a site without reserving ahead.   
We drove in on a Thursday morning, with no reservations, after checking out other nearby campgrounds (Rock Creek Lake, Upper and Lower Pine Grove).  Open sites were plentiful, and we happened to snag what is, I think, the best site in the whole place.  Huge, right on the creek, and no close neighbors, yet not terribly far from the restrooms.  SCORE!  The sound of the rushing creek muffled all undesirable campground sounds. 

Bathroom facilities offer flush toilets and running water, a very nice surprise.    
This is a great base camp from which to explore the Eastern Sierras and Owens River Valley.

Very large, but has some great sites

There are some really great campsites at east fork, that are mostly along the rock creek and have shade. But there are a few that are out in the open with NO shade and are quite plain.

It’s a great back up plan for June loop or mammoth if there is nothing available at those elevations.

Great Back Up for June Loop

Decent campground close to everything you could imagine for the outdoors adventure.  Only stayed for one night to stage for a hike up into Little Lakes Valley the next day.  Has the basic essentials (picnic table, bear locker, water and bathrooms) nearby.  The sites are relatively private.  We arrived on a Thursday night and there were plenty of open sites to choose from.  Will definitely keep this place in mind for future visits.

Nice campground.

I had site 61. It was right off the road but next the creek. It was neatly tucked away and was very peaceful.

Cool hide away sites

Was here the weekend after Labor Day and it was practically empty. Intended on staying at Rock Creek but since they were full, I swung in here and was pleasantly surprised. Snagged a spot with a great view of the mountains and had the surrounding area and bathroom all to myself. Sites are nice, bathrooms well kept, and it’s an easy location to get to all trailheads. 

Great views

I have been camping at East Fork Lamaist every summer since I was a child. Every spot is beautiful and the camp attendants have always been helpful and friendly.

Lovely

Near Toms Place, Hwy 395, Bishop, Mammoth, Rock Creek Lake and Mosquito Flats trailhead.  Sites along Rock Creek.  Sites numbered in the 100’s closest to the creek.

Family Favorite

East Fork Campground is a large campground in the Rock Creek area down below the road. It looked like the best sites were in the trees along the creek. 

Our site, #27, was in some low aspen trees and was not set up well for tent camping. The site with the tent pad, picnic table and bear locker  required stepping down on some rocks from the parking area. The tent pad was small and sloped, our four person tent was wedged into the area. The people in the site behind ours has set up there tent right next our only place to fit a tent. 

The bathrooms were near by and very clean.

Nice campground, not great site

We intended to stay here, but most of the sites have zero shade and no trees. There are a few along the creek but they were all occupied. 

No shade no trees

Most sites here looked to be closed off from eachother, and fairly private but was unpleasantly surprised to find that I had reserved one of the least private sites available (48)

The campground was quiet and reached below freezing temperatures each evening but hit 80-85 by peak sun. 

The bathrooms were well stocked and clean, and campers were responsible with bear safety. 

Every night around 6-7 pm a UPS truck would come tearing through the campground Atleast double the limit and sometimes driving against traffic on a one way road. 

Clean bathrooms!

The campground was big yet still quite. We came up on a Thursday and got a first come spot. There are plenty of restrooms and water faucets throughout the campground to fill up. 

Most of the camp sites seemed pretty uneven so come prepared.

No wildlife sitings during our stay

Photos of East Fork Campground – Inyo National Forest (CA)

Real photos from real campers