The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Inyo National Forest. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that California camping has to offer. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Inyo National Forest camping trip.
$35 / night
"My husband and I have been camping at Convict Lake for many years. He and his family have gone to opening day of fishing in the freezing cold for MANY years."
"It’s just a short drive from the highway and Mammoth Airport. The campground is very popular with a mix of reserved and non reserved sites."
$35 - $80 / night
"Pet friendly which is a plus. Be mindful it’s bear country so wonderingl around at night not so wise lol"
"Walking distance to town. Great walking paths. Choose to camp under the shade of the pines on a dirt pad or in the clean, parking lot style section. This place never lets us down."
$32 / night
"We weren’t at a drive-in spot, but the walk-in wasn’t too bad. Plenty of wildlife visit the campgrounds, so definitely be sure to use the bear boxes."
"Sunny until around 4, then quite shaded. Large lot with space for the dog to roam around on. Only one side has a neighbor, so it’s quite quiet."
$32 / night
"We were really tucked away from neighbors and were very close to the lake and bathrooms. We went in August and it was perfect weather, warm days and cool nights."
"We really enjoyed June Lake Campground! Stayed there for one night on our way out of Yosemite. The drive around the lake is beautiful and there are multiple camping areas."
$33 / night
"CAMPGROUND REVIEW: Coldwater Campground, Mammoth Lakes, CA A beautiful 77 site campground nestled in at over 9,000 ft in the Inyo National Forest of the Eastern Sierras."
"It wasn’t too close to other sites, although you could see them. We loved having the creek across the road. The campground has nice access to hiking trails, and Lake Mary."
$34 / night
"We decided to camp further away from the lake (towards the back of the campground), as there were less people and it was more quiet and secluded."
"Twin lakes is Located in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains near the town of Mammoth Lakes, California. Upper and lower twin lakes are a fantasic place to set up base camp and explore the sierras."
"I went here solo camping with my dog in may 2021. Great little spot. Pretty busy on the weekends though. It was also crazy windy which I think cooled off the hot spring a bit."
"Views on the other are rolling fields / foothills with lots of cutie vocal Moo Moos and Alkali Lake! You can see other hot springs in the distance. No shade. Lots of flies and red ants."
$38 / night
"I had always wanted to camp in the Inyo national forest. Oh ridge was on my list and I was able to finally make the trip. It was a hefty drive from the Central Valley but the views were stunning."
"Easy access to purchasable firewood, Bear Boxes at every site, well kept bathrooms with flush toilets and sinks, wind guards at some sites, near a lake, amazing starry night sky, general store nearby"
"GREAT SPOT. so so close to the mountain."
"Super close to the town of Mammoth too."
"We boondocked in Inyo National Forest just last weekend, September 27-29, and it felt like we had the place to ourselves."
"Great access to mount Whitney trails and close to lone pine in case you gotta restock."
GuideA small lake-side campground in Inyo National Forest, just outside Yosemite National Park’s Eastern entrance. First come, first served with so few sites (9-11) that you would think you’re staying at the lake alone! Overlooks Tioga Lake and Mt. Dana, at an elevation of 9,800 ft., so be acclimated. Only drawback is it’s close proximity to the road, but we barely noticed.
LegendThis camp ground is smaller relative to some of the other camping options in the area, but still well maintained. It is close to the road but still quiet. Each site has a table, fire ring, and a food storage locker. There are two vault toilets. Bring your own water. You cannot reserve sites ahead of time.
If you want to experience the Yosemite area with your dog, camping in the Inyo National Forest is a great option, because dogs are allowed to join you anywhere you go in the area, as long as they are leashed or well trained to verbal commands. Since the Yosemite NPS does not allow dogs on trails, these national forest campgrounds are a better pet-friendly alternative.
If you like fishing, there are great fishing spots at the nearby stream and lake.
Because this campground is actually a part of the national forest, you can stay here for up to two weeks, in addition to the two week maximum enforced for camping within the NPS limits. So in total you could can stay in "Yosemite" for a month by combining camping at this site (or other nearby national forest sites) with camping inside the park, which is why we stayed here for a long rock climbing trip.
ScoutWe boondocked in Inyo National Forest just last weekend, September 27-29, and it felt like we had the place to ourselves. The location was incredible, there were fellow boondockers around, but not too close, and it felt like we had the place to ourselves. There is no water on site that we found, but we knew that going in. Our rig was 58' long and we had no issues getting in or out. We enjoyed Jeeping on the trails in Inyo National Forest, and we enjoyed the peace and quiet. We will be back.
RangerI had always wanted to camp in the Inyo national forest. Oh ridge was on my list and I was able to finally make the trip. It was a hefty drive from the Central Valley but the views were stunning. The mountainous route was sketchy but arriving to June lake was amazing! Our campsite was awesome, site 6 in bear loop. You can see the lake perfectly from our site. There’s bathrooms and an easy short drive to the town. From our site we drove down to June lake which was short and easy. You could technically walk but I don’t recommend it if you don’t like walking uphill. The lake is cold but beautiful!
LegendThousand Island Lake is a backcountry camping area located at 9,839 feet elevation in Ansel Adams Wilderness within the Inyo National Forest, California.
If you desire 360 degree mountain beauty, a cool lake to fish, float, swim or reflect by, epic sunrises and sunsets, star-filled night skies...or just desire the unearthly quiet of being unplugged and being a speck in rugged vastness...this is for you!
This incredible dispersed backcountry camping area must:
There are a few methods of getting to Thousand Island Lake...all involve backpacks and hiking. First, if you are hiking the Pacific Crest Trail NOBO or SOBO, you will at some point of your journey reach Thousand Island Lake. Second, if you are hiking the John Muir Trail NOBO or SOBO, you will reach Thousand Island Lake during your journey. Third, you can choose a beautifully scenic 14.3 mile out and back from Mammoth, CA...the shortest of the three options. Fourth, there are horseback/mule train options.
We happened to reach Thousand Island Lake as part of our August 2018 SOBO John Muir Trail attempt.
Choosing to hike in by any of the options takes planning and preparation. This is beautiful country, but it is also rough and unforgiving. The trails are wonderfully cared for, but not groomed and flat...know this and adequately prepare.
Every hiking/camping group must possess a permit, which for a short hike directly into Thousand Island Lake is secured through the Inyo National Forest office. PCT and JMT permits are primarily lottery based (although several walk-in permits are granted each day on site...but that's a gamble).Inyo National Forest website page states: "Groups cannot be larger than 15 people (includes day use). Quota of 30 people permitted to start overnight trips each day from May 1 to November 1."
This is active black bear country, so you must use approved bear canisters for food and odoriferous items (toothpaste, soap, lip balm, insect repellent, etc). Stiff fines by rangers (and they do backcountry patrols) await if you foolishly ignore this law...worse yet, you might receive a catastrophic visit from Yogi or Boo-Boo. We did not see any bear or evidence of their presence but I’m sure they saw us.
Leave No Trace...pack it in...pack it out. Yes, that means everything. Know the rules and abide by them. Nothing more distasteful and damaging to pristine wilderness are those that believe they are the exception to this rule and leave trash...worse, waste and TP dotting the landscape. Unfortunately, I found myself burying selfish stranger's waste. So bring a small shovel (www.tentlab) and a Ziploc freezer baggie to pack out your TP.
There is signage at Thousand Island Lake advising where to camp, which is far away from the main JMT trail. Again, abide by the rules and camp at least 40 feet away from the trail and 100 feet from the lake. Read and obey the list of rules on the website.
We camped on the northwest area of the Lake. Numerous hikers were there, some groups that hiked in for a day or two, others were thru-hikers. I enjoy the "community" of backcountry backpacker's. Day hikers can bring "Fido."
It is unnecessary to pack in hordes of water, as there seems to be streams and lakes aplenty. I'd recommend a reliable water filter or boiling the water to ensure a parasite free thirst quencher. We used a simple Sawyer Squeeze, which was both lightweight and effective.
Once camp is set, hike around the trails of this pristine wilderness and soak it all in...or just pull out your sleeping pad and relax.
I have read and been admonished to use 100% DEET for the mosquitoes on the JMT...particularly June-July, and though prepared, we experienced none in mid-August, nor at this elevation. The elevation should not be bothersome healthwise, as it is not above 10,000 ft. As Floridian Flatlanders, we had no adverse altitude maladies...other than being out of breath while climbing passes. June and early July hikers may experience snow at this elevation depending on the winter accumulations.
Several notable peaks shadow Thousand Island Lake, Banner Peak being one of them.
For those securing a day hike permit, search out several websites/blogs for the best starting locations (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/thousand-island-lake-pct).
If you are looking for the best bang for your buck in backcountry short trips, file this one away as a "must do!" There are others in the eastern Sierra Nevadas...but that's for another post.
RangerThis campground is on the way to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the Inyo National Forest. (While the elevation is high compared to the valley, it can still be quite warm in the summer. And bear in mind that the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest itself doesn't open for the season until the snow melts.) While these are the White Mountains, it's more desert-y chaparral and brush than what you think of with a pine forest.
Sites here are mostly pretty private, with some shade and separation from the brushy vegetation. This is a dry camp, so you have to haul in all of your water. There are pit toilets. It's about a 45-minute to one-hour drive to Big Pine, the closest town for supplies.
TravelerMy husband and I have been camping at Convict Lake for many years. He and his family have gone to opening day of fishing in the freezing cold for MANY years. Tucked away in the mountains of the Inyo National Forest it is just a few skips North of Bishop and an easy drive up to Mammoth from here. Choosing the best site takes some know-how and I cant give you my sweet spots just yet however I will share some details about fishing here on this little lake . It is decent fishing from almost any point- shore or from small boat. I have caught several fish myself- even out-fishing my husband on our honeymoon. The little store is great- friendly people. The little restaurant is fine- though there are places a short distance away as well.
While we have either tent-camped or had a motorhome this campground offers various rental cabins, inexpensive showers that are decent (comparatively speaking). Good hiking. great hot springs, cold springs, picturesque views, plenty of small museums just south in Bishop (Railroad museum etc) and small casino in the North End of Bishop on the southbound side.
Its a great little escape- as long as people continue to keep it nice and clean
LegendThis is the first campground coming out of Yosemite into the Inyo National Forest to the north/east. It’s small, only a dozen or so sites, but it sits next to spectacular snow melt lakes. The sites were a bit weedy and some were more overgrown than others, but all seemed to have the usual amenities of bear locker, picnic table and fire pit. You can buy firewood from the camp host. Pit toilets and a shared water pump that is shut off except June-October (tho the sign said closing in September). I was told the fishing was good, and if they weren’t biting try a different lake (I don’t fish, so I can’t say if the neighboring camper was feeding me a line or not). This is a good option if all of the campgrounds in Sequoia/Kings Canyon are full. About that bear locker- USE IT! If the rangers happen to patrol thru you will be fined for not properly storing your food and smellies. While visiting with a ranger I was told about a few instances in various campgrounds near the Sierras of bears opening cars and trashing them because food was kept in the car instead of the bear locker. On a lighter note, it was really cool for this midwest girl to see snow drifts in June.
LegendCAMPGROUND REVIEW: Coldwater Campground, Mammoth Lakes, CA
A beautiful 77 site campground nestled in at over 9,000 ft in the Inyo National Forest of the Eastern Sierras.
Amenities: large sites, modern restrooms spaced throughout the camp (two unisex doors, includes one sink with running cold water, a flush toilet, and metal mirror), water spigots near the latrines.
Each site has a large picnic table, a fire pit with sliding cook grate, a double door bear cabinet and small paved parking pad.
We chose site 66, as it sprawled to s mountain stream, nestled in shaded pines, had a couple flat tent spots and was relatively close to restrooms and water.
No electric, no showers (nearby Twin Lakes Campground Store rents shower time at $7.00…one person per shower.
Coldwater Campground is a short drive from Mammoth Lakes, which has all you should need or desire.
The trails from the back of Coldwater Campground go up, up, up…but offer spectacular mountain views, glacier lakes, picturesque alpine meadows, waterfalls and cascades. A short drive and bus ride away are trails to Iconic Rainbow Falls and Devil’s Postpile, among other ridiculously beautiful mountain trails!
Mountain bike trails are innumerable…and the paved multi-use trails are stellar and travel for miles. https://www.visitmammoth.com/blogs/top-5-xc-mountain-bike-trails-near-mammoth-lakes
There are rentals nearby for every sportsman. This is the active person’s Mecca! Also close-by is Mammoth Ski area that offers the downhill mountain bikers absolute Nirvana, during summer months.
https://www.mammothmountain.com/summer/bike-park-overview/mammoth-bike-park/mammoth-bike-park
At $24 a night, this seems to be the standard rate for this region…and that without showers.
Note: Even during hot summer months, it gets chilly at night. August 6, it was 50 degrees at night. A 40 degree dip from the cloudless daytime temps.
It did not take long to fall in love with the Eastern Sierra Nevadas. I would not hesitate to camp here again, and am already planning a return visit.
Camping with pets near Inyo National Forest in California offers a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors while keeping your furry friends by your side. With a variety of well-reviewed campgrounds that welcome pets, you can explore beautiful landscapes and create lasting memories together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Inyo National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Inyo National Forest is Convict Lake Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 18 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Inyo National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 235 dog-friendly camping locations near Inyo National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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