Best Tent Camping near Independence, CA
The eastern Sierra Nevada mountains surrounding Independence, California offer diverse tent camping options ranging from established campgrounds to remote backcountry sites. Symmes Creek Campground provides primitive tent sites near Independence with drive-in access, while Horseshoe Meadow Campground offers walk-in tent camping at 10,000 feet elevation in the nearby Inyo National Forest. Cottonwood Pass Walk-in Campground serves as a popular starting point for backpackers heading into the wilderness areas.
Tent campsites in this region typically feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. Most established tent campgrounds provide bear boxes for food storage, picnic tables, and fire rings, though fire restrictions are common during dry summer months. Vault toilets are available at developed sites like Horseshoe Meadow, but drinking water is limited or unavailable at many locations. High-elevation tent camping areas may be inaccessible until late spring due to snow, with most sites open from May through October. Backcountry tent camping in the surrounding wilderness requires permits, which can be obtained at the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center in Lone Pine.
The tent camping experience near Independence offers exceptional access to alpine scenery and solitude. Many sites sit above 8,000 feet, providing cool temperatures even during summer months when the valley floor reaches triple digits. Tent campers frequently use these areas as acclimation points before attempting higher-elevation hikes or mountain summits. The Cottonwood Lakes area provides spectacular backcountry tent camping with alpine lakes and fishing opportunities. According to one visitor, "Horseshoe Meadow Campground is a walk-in campground designed primarily for backpackers who use this as a jumping off point for trips. The campsites are spread well apart under the pines." Wildlife sightings are common, with marmots, deer, and occasionally bears frequenting the higher elevation tent camping areas.
