Are you in need of a campground near Olancha, CA? There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. Find the best campgrounds near Olancha, CA. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
$10 / night
"Near Lone Pine, just off Whitney Portal Road, adjacent to Alabama Hills, so lots of exploring opportunities! Great dark skies for stargazing and photography."
"Right in the middle of many trails and sites to see, not to mention a quick skip away from Lone Pine."
$34 - $95 / night
"Really secluded surrounded by trees, close to bathroom and water faucet. The bathrooms are clean and have toilet paper. Right next to a river, where the sound relaxes you."
"Lone Pine Lake is your first option, about 2.8 miles from the trailhead at Whitney Portal. This is a beautiful little lake, surrounded by pines and imposing granite walls."
"This was (still kind of is) a working horse packing station where they ran cattle out for the summer. Most trips out now are aimed at tourists/fishermen but the vibe is still the same."
"Adventure Awaits folks get outside!"
$6 / night
"I slept in the equestrian campground since those were back-in sites, but if there are horses you're not allowed to do that. The hike to the base of Langley was great though!"
"Many campgrounds close to each other but not on top. Cast meadow to the west is wonderful for morning walk with coffee. Hikes nearby from beginner to expert take you to alpine lakes."
"Overnight stay driving through. Easy access. Level parking areas. I stopped close to 395 & had no noise from road. Slept well with strong night winds."
"We landed here and drove thru the FF campground, which we knew was closed but wanted to check it out, and pulled out onto the dry lake bed area to spend the night. "
$34 - $81 / night
"It is also very close to the town of Lone Pine, which has a little market and several restaurants in case you accidentally forget anything or don’t bring enough food.
The views of Mt."
"We camped at one of the walk-in sites. Enough space for the 4 of us, 2 tents, and the family pup. The parking spots are only 50 yds away and next to the restrooms."
"First site is large and was to turn around a larger trailer or rv. The SuperDrive get to spots is getting a large rut go slow and even my Subaru Forester had no issue."
"It was a convenient place to park, because you drive right up to the trailhead, and there are trash cans, bear boxes, and vault toilets."
"We have a trip planned to come back next year for a week and backpack this whole trail. It’s so beautiful!!"
"We like to camp next to the creek. Fishing is plentiful and the air is great as long as there’s no fires near."
"The entrance to the road which leads from Sherman Pass to the campground does not give a clear indication that there is, in fact, a campground at the end."
"This is one of my favorite here in sequoia national park south entrance by gen hi way. Park rangers were so helpful at the entrance and they are well organized."
"The lake isn't too cold if you want to rinse or just cool off. Plenty of tree coverage for both some shade and to hang your food."
GuideGreat for tent camping, but no pull-in or flat spots if you're sleeping in your vehicle. I slept in the equestrian campground since those were back-in sites, but if there are horses you're not allowed to do that. The hike to the base of Langley was great though!
LegendWe didn't camp here, rather we used this as the start/finish point for our 2-day hike to the summit of Mt. Langley. It was a convenient place to park, because you drive right up to the trailhead, and there are trash cans, bear boxes, and vault toilets. We stashed some extra toiletries in the bear boxes, rather than risk leaving them in the car. Toilets were pretty clean. Unfortunately, the potable water spigots were already turned off. The national forest website said they are off in the winter, but I didn't expect that already in early September. This is an equestrian campground, so there was some horse dung on the trails around the campground.
GuideStarted coming here over 40 years ago as a kid. This was (still kind of is) a working horse packing station where they ran cattle out for the summer. Most trips out now are aimed at tourists/fishermen but the vibe is still the same. Fun horse riding trips. Great family vacation to get away from everything. Cabins are rustic but have everything you need. Plenty of tent camping in the campgrounds before the lodge. This is a great starting point for many backcountry backpack trips as it is near the PCT. Lots of hiking. Great fishing spot, river is generally stocked with fish on a weekly basis.
ScoutThe hike to Kennedy meadows campground was wonderful and scenic and the campground itself is in a nice location. The only downfall is the trail and campground is shared for horses and there is POOP EVERYWHERE. Somewhere midway through the hike there is a trail leading to Sharon Lake. Very isolated lake with lots of trout - they were jumping out of the water.
GuideBy far the best campground I've been too.
I was on campsite 044. Really secluded surrounded by trees, close to bathroom and water faucet. The bathrooms are clean and have toilet paper. Right next to a river, where the sound relaxes you. Flat ground for the tent and in no sight of other campers. Close (walking distance) to Mt Whitney Trailhead
GuideMany campgrounds close to each other but not on top. Cast meadow to the west is wonderful for morning walk with coffee. Hikes nearby from beginner to expert take you to alpine lakes.
GuideWe recently backpacked to the summit of MT Whitney. On the way to the summit there are several options for overnight camping. Lone Pine Lake is your first option, about 2.8 miles from the trailhead at Whitney Portal. This is a beautiful little lake, surrounded by pines and imposing granite walls. This is the last place you can camp without a Whitney zone overnight permit. Outpost camp is your next option at mile 3.8. Flat and shady with meandering streams and a waterfall, this is a beautiful place to stop for the night. Trail Camp is located at mile 6.3. Surrounded by tall, jagged granite peaks, and edged by a beautiful alpine lake, Trail Camp is awe inspiring. Trail Camp is about 12,000 ft elevation, so be prepared to camp at high altitude. If you can swing it, taking your time to ascend slowly, and camping along the way for at least a couple of nights will make your MT Whitney experience truly unforgettable.
ScoutThis is a walk-in campground designed primarily for the backpackers who use this as a jumping off point for trips. There are campsites spread around the meadow with picnic tables and bear boxes.The campsites are spread well apart under the pines. The parking encircles the large, flat meadow. The area is just gorgeous. It’s a great spot to get away from summer heat at 10,000 feet. Vault toilets, water spigots. Lots of hiking.
GuideOne of my favorite campsites that I have been to. I stayed at the Backpackers spots near the entrance of the Portal and the spots were perfect for what I needed before and after I climbed Mt. Whitney. There are plenty of spots for a reasonable $10-15 with plenty of shade and coverage. The surroundings are gorgeous and you could have a great time staying here and just walking around looking at the river and waterfall at the campground. The store at the Portal has great options in terms of food if you do not feel like cooking or if you forget anything. The people inside are also very friendly and willingly to assist you in any way you may need. There are only vault toilets and I did have to filter all my water while there because of E.Coli threat but that just happens sometimes. When there isn't an E.Coli threat they also have showers available for use! For the price however, you can't find a more enjoyable and gorgeous site to camp at. I was a solo female and I felt extremely safe and comfortable. Bonus for the bear lockers by your car!
Horse camping in California offers a unique opportunity to explore the stunning landscapes while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and hit the trails.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Olancha, CA is Tuttle Creek Campground — Alabama Hills with a 4.7-star rating from 41 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 15 equestrian camping locations near Olancha, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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