Best Tent Camping near Olancha, CA
The eastern Sierra Nevada mountains near Olancha, California offer several high-elevation tent camping options, particularly in the Inyo National Forest. Cottonwood Pass Walk-in Campground and Horseshoe Meadow Campground provide established tent campsites at approximately 10,000 feet elevation. These campgrounds serve as popular starting points for backpacking trips into the Golden Trout Wilderness and for hikers attempting nearby peaks like Mount Langley. For backcountry tent camping, the Cottonwood Lakes area offers pristine alpine settings with designated campsites that require wilderness permits.
Most tent-only sites in this region feature dirt or decomposed granite surfaces with minimal grading. Bear activity is common throughout the area, with bear boxes provided at established campgrounds but required bear canisters for backcountry camping. Potable water is available at some trailhead campgrounds during summer months but typically shut off by early September. Vault toilets are standard at developed sites, while primitive tent camping requires proper waste disposal techniques. The camping season typically runs May through October, with high elevation sites often inaccessible until late June due to snowpack. Fire restrictions are common during summer and fall months.
Tent campers frequently use these sites as acclimation points before attempting higher elevation hikes. According to one visitor, Horseshoe Meadow Campground offers "campsites spread well apart under the pines" with parking that "encircles the large, flat meadow." Another camper noted that Cottonwood Pass provides "plenty of access to bear boxes to properly store your food." The night sky visibility is exceptional, with minimal light pollution allowing for stellar Milky Way viewing. Wildlife sightings are common, including marmots, deer, and occasionally bighorn sheep on higher trails. Early mornings often bring cold temperatures even in summer, with frost possible at any time of year at these elevations.
