At Devils Postpile National Monument campgrounds, visitors camp at elevations between 7,500-9,000 feet in the Inyo National Forest. The area surrounding these Eastern Sierra camping destinations experiences temperature fluctuations of up to 40 degrees between day and night, even in summer months. Campgrounds near Devils Postpile feature volcanic formations and multiple alpine lakes within hiking distance.
What to do
Mountain biking trails: The area offers diverse mountain biking options from the campgrounds. At Twin Lakes Campground, campers enjoy "lots of trails to hike, many leading to waterfalls or creeks" with access to "Mammoth area is gorgeous. You'll have plenty of hikes to choose from, go fishing, or hit the slopes (biking during the summer and snowsports in the winter)."
Kayaking and fishing: Multiple lakes provide water recreation opportunities. At Silver Lake Campground, "the lake was beautiful and the leaves were changing in time for winter" and "good area for fishing and boating." Another camper mentions it's "a pretty site" and "good place to fish and kayak and there is a rental of all things water down the road."
Hiking to alpine lakes: The Coldwater Campground area features "spectacular mountain views, glacier lakes, picturesque alpine meadows, waterfalls and cascades." One visitor reports taking "the Meadows trail and it did not disappoint with beautiful scenery and rivers." Another camper notes "we ran to Arrowhead Lake which was beautiful! Walkers and runners will both enjoy this trail!"
What campers like
Night sky viewing: The dark skies provide excellent stargazing opportunities. A camper at Oh Ridge Campground reports: "Amazing star gazing! Hiked up a rock face and laid out for hours watching the stars." Another visitor notes how "nights are dark" with "great starscapes" at the dispersed camping areas.
Wildlife encounters: Multiple campgrounds report regular wildlife sightings. At Twin Lakes Campground, expect "lots of wildlife in the area; squirrels, ducks, deer, and even bears." Oh Ridge visitors mention: "We got to see many deer up close. Came to our site to eat" and there is "plenty of wildlife around though. They said a bear was wandering around the camp at night, and within 15 minutes of us arriving we saw countless squirrels and several deers."
Lakeside locations: Many campgrounds offer water access. Convict Lake Campground features "swimming holes and waterfalls" while Silver Lake Campground sites are "literally on June Lake. So watching the lake in the evening and morning is a real treat." At Oh Ridge, "epic views of June lake" provide a prime setting for relaxing by the water.
What you should know
Bear activity: The area has significant bear presence requiring proper precautions. A visitor at Convict Lake Campground warns to "beware of keeping foods in your vehicles as bears are commonly seen near the campsite." At Coldwater Campground, "each site has a large picnic table, a fire pit with sliding cook grate, a double door bear cabinet" which must be used for food storage.
Weather variations: Despite summer warmth, nights get cold at elevation. At Twin Lakes Campground, "remember that you're at elevation so it can get cold at night even in the summer." A Convict Lake camper notes they "went at the end of October with some snow! The lake is gorgeous when you can see the snow. Highly recommended for a late season trip. Bundle up though!!"
Reservation considerations: Many campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. Coldwater Campground "can be a pretty popular sport during the summer, so you may want to make reservations or call ahead just to make sure." Oh Ridge Campground "is popular so I wasn't able to book a spot last year" indicating the need to plan ahead.
Tips for camping with families
Accessible activities: Families enjoy the variety of recreation options. At Sherwin Creek Campground, "the campground is just outside the main part of Mammoth Lakes, CA" where "there is a cute Creek, Sherwin Creek, that runs past the whole camp. You can hear it all night, which my husband and I liked." One family found that "the site was in a great spot in the middle of a nice, busy town filled with people you can tell live outdoors."
Swimming spots: Kids particularly enjoy the swimming areas. Convict Lake features a "nice swimming area nestled in the camp" with "kayaks and paddle boards to rent." At Oh Ridge Campground, "June lake is walking distance which is nice" and "the lake is cold but beautiful!"
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Children appreciate animal sightings. At Twin Lakes, families report seeing "a bear come visit!!" and mention the area has "squirrels, ducks, deer, and even bears." Sherwin Creek campers note "plenty of wildlife visit the campgrounds, so definitely be sure to use the bear boxes."
Tips from RVers
Generator policies: Different campgrounds have varying generator rules. At Mammoth Mountain RV Park, "Generator hours till 10pm but thankfully only hear sounds of nature at 7pm." Sherwin Creek campers note some campgrounds can "get pretty busy with the RV's and tow behind campers."
Accessibility considerations: Site terrain varies considerably. At Mammoth Mountain RV Park, visitors can "choose to camp under the shade of the pines on a dirt pad or in the clean, parking lot style section" and "spots are large enough for almost all size rigs." However, Convict Lake reports "sites are narrow" and "the campground runs in a linear path pointed away from the lake."
Hookup limitations: Most campgrounds near Devils Postpile lack full hookups. At Oh Ridge, "they do not have showers, you'll need to go to the campground next to it" while Coldwater Campground has "water and flush toilets, but the down fall is no showers. Each site has a picnic table, firepit ring, and a two-locker bear storage."
