A narrow, rough road along a mountain edge is the price of admission at North Lake Campground, a small first-come, first-served site in Inyo National Forest above Bishop, California. The drive in is not for the faint-hearted, and low-clearance vehicles or trailers may struggle on the final stretch. Once you arrive, though, the campground opens into a forested setting with running water audible from nearly every site.
The campground has just five sites, each with enough tree cover between them to provide reasonable privacy. Water is close. As Shannon C. notes, there are "lots of running water near just about any of the camp sites." Fishing at nearby North Lake draws anglers, and the trailhead for Mount Lamarck sits at the campground, making it a practical staging point for day hikes or backpacking trips into the backcountry. Summer mosquitoes can be heavy, so repellent is worth packing.
Temperatures drop significantly at night even when Bishop is hot, so warm layers and a proper sleeping bag are necessary regardless of the season. The campground sees day hikers and backpackers passing through, but reviewers consistently describe it as relatively quiet. Trash service, drinking water, picnic tables, firewood, and toilets are all on-site. Pets and campfires are permitted. Campers who want more developed options nearby can look at Sabrina Campground to the southeast or Bishop Park Campground (Ca) — Inyo National Forest a couple of miles down the road.
Description
North Lake Campground is situated among the trees and adjacent to the north fork of Bishop Creek. It is a lovely campground - all 11 campsites have shade among the tall Jeffery and Lodgepole pines. Three of the sites are very short walk-in's. The remainder have small parking spots at the sites. The road to North Lke is partially paved and partially gravel and is narrow and winding. Trailers and RVs are prohibited. In the spring and early summer, mosquitoes can be an annoyance.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsNorth Lake Campground is located in California near Bishop
Directions
From Bishop go west on State Route 168 (Line Street) approximately 18 miles. Turn right on North Lake Rd and go up the hill approximately 2 miles. Follow the signs to the campground 1/2 mile past North Lake.
Coordinates
37.22700004 N
118.62700067 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
Drive Time
- 4 hrs 50 min from Merced, CA
- 4 hrs 58 min from Visalia, CA
- 5 hrs 6 min from Hanford, CA
- 5 hrs 28 min from Fresno, CA
