Best Dispersed Camping near Swall Meadows, CA

Dispersed camping opportunities exist throughout the public lands surrounding Swall Meadows, California, primarily on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Inyo National Forest lands. The Volcanic Tableland BLM area north of Bishop provides numerous primitive sites, while several hot springs areas like Crab Cooker and Hilltop offer additional dispersed camping zones. McGee Creek, Deep Canyon, and Eastern Sierra Flats feature backcountry camping areas accessible via forest roads, with sites typically situated along creeks or offering mountain views.

Many access roads require careful navigation due to washboarding, soft sand, and occasional rough sections. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for reaching more remote sites, particularly at Crab Cooker Hotsprings and along some forest service roads. Most areas have a 14-day stay limit and no amenities—no toilets, drinking water, or trash service. Fire restrictions are common, especially during summer months. Cell service varies significantly by location, with some areas having usable coverage while others have none. Campers must pack out all waste and follow leave-no-trace principles.

"The dirt road into this spot off of Hwy 120 is washboarded but doable," noted one visitor about Sage Hen Dispersed. Areas near hot springs tend to attract more visitors but still maintain a sense of privacy. "Even though most spots were taken the weekend we stayed there, everyone is so spread out that you still have silence and privacy," reported a camper at Volcanic Tableland. The region provides excellent stargazing opportunities and scenic views of the Eastern Sierra. Wildlife sightings are common, and many sites serve as good base camps for exploring nearby hiking trails, climbing areas, and natural features like Mono Lake and the surrounding volcanic landscape.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Swall Meadows, California (54)

    1. Volcanic Tableland BLM Dispersed Camping

    13 Reviews
    Bishop, CA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 872-5000

    "This BLM land is managed by the Bishop Field Office.  

    There are many clearings where you can find a spot to camp."

    "Easy drive to Bishop for supplies, and the free dump & water fill at the Speedway at the other end of town is really nice. 

    The road in is fairly washboarded, but manageable."

    2. Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping

    11 Reviews
    Inyo National Forest, CA
    14 miles
    Website

    "4x4 or high clearance coming in. Long dirt road with dips and rocks. Water only flowing in winter months. Lots of tent camping spots along with 8 back in spots. Really amazing views 360 degrees."

    "About 8 spots at the end of the dirt road. Only one bar of service. It would be hard to access with anything thing over 22ft."

    3. McGee Creek

    6 Reviews
    Bishop, CA
    13 miles

    "May 2023- We happened upon this place through "the dyrt" and what a hidden jewel! We camped right next to the stream and stayed one night and it was peaceful and far away from any highway."

    "Such a great spot and close to a lot of the local hiking. Nice and flat areas for van parking. Some occasional noise from the road but not bothersome at all."

    4. Deep Canyon

    2 Reviews
    Bishop, CA
    12 miles
    Website

    "This is a must stop on the way to mammoth lakes. big, open, former river bed i assume. Probably not safe during rainy seasons."

    "The area was dry when I was there. Nice views."

    5. Hilltop Hot Springs

    3 Reviews
    Inyo National Forest, CA
    14 miles

    "There is a small parking lot & a turn around for cars, it’s not as “dispersed” as advertised."

    "We showed up around 3 am and the main loop was taken so we slept in the little parking lot for the hot springs."

    6. BLM Road to Hot Springs

    2 Reviews
    Mammoth Lakes, CA
    14 miles

    "Winter doesn’t have as many open dispersed camping area near mammoth as summer so it’s good for that"

    7. Scenic Loop - Dispersed Camping

    10 Reviews
    Mammoth Lakes, CA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 924-5500

    "Got here on Sunday - plenty of spots to park the camper van both Sunday and Monday. Multiple turn offs on the Scenic Loop road to camp at. No bathrooms, water, electricity, or fire rings."

    "As you drive along this road, every 10 seconds you will pass a dirt road. Each dirt road has multiple campsites!"

    8. Scenic Loop Dispersed Camping - Eastside

    9 Reviews
    Mammoth Lakes, CA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 924-5500

    "Our Tacoma made it to the campsites toward the back of the grounds just fine, but there was access closer to the main road for vehicles without high clearance."

    "Multiple locations near by not listed. It gets a bit dusty and windy. Lots of off road vehicles.

    All the camper vans rolled in after dark and it filled up quick."

    9. Rock Tub Hot Springs

    2 Reviews
    Inyo National Forest, CA
    13 miles

    10. Inyo National Forest Dispersed Camping

    13 Reviews
    June Lake, CA
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 873-2400

    "You can get maps for this area at some of the information boards at the beginning of the dirt roads, they also have an app that will show you all the roads in the area."

    "We boondocked in Inyo National Forest just last weekend, September 27-29, and it felt like we had the place to ourselves."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Swall Meadows, CA

131 Reviews of 54 Swall Meadows Campgrounds


  • Thomas K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 9, 2020

    Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping

    Private hotspring with mountain views

    4x4 or high clearance coming in. Long dirt road with dips and rocks. Water only flowing in winter months. Lots of tent camping spots along with 8 back in spots. Really amazing views 360 degrees. No service with Verizon.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 17, 2021

    Sage Hen Dispersed

    Beautiful, near Mono Lake

    The dirt road into this spot off of Hwy 120 is washboarded but doable. This spot is at an intersection of forest service road 1S158A and Sage Hen Rd. There was still snow on the dirt road at this time of year (in mid April) so be aware,  and there are also low hanging branches that might make it tough for taller rigs. 

    This spot is a large flat area with zero amenities so bring water and pack in and pack out. 

    Good for a night or two if you want to hike or bike along the plethora of forest service roads. There were signs on the way in for both free range cattle and horses, but we didn't see any.

     Cell service with Verizon, weak but usable.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 9, 2021

    Mono Lake South Dispersed

    Beautiful view of Mono Lake

    All around Mono Lake is USFS and BLM land that is open for dispersed camping, as long as you stay above the 1941 water line (you will see signs marking this line, which is fairly close to the lake). Note there are multiple pull out areas and forest service roads to stay in along Hwy 120 east just be mindful that the entire area is sand, as some vehicles may get stuck.

    The road into these spots is quite sandy and narrow in some places, but we did fine in our 26' Class C. There is a very large previously burned area with charred remains of plants and trees but it made for some interesting eerie photos. Very quiet place with amazing views and stunning night sky. There are no amenities so bring water and pack in and pack out all trash. Nearby are various hikes and other roads to the range of craters in the area and the tufas along Mono Lake.

    We stayed there on a Monday night and did not see anybody else around, other than a truck that drove past our camp spot in the night.  Very quiet night.

    Good cell reception from AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile.

    Note that Google Maps said that Hwy 120 is closed Oct through May and would not direct us to this area via that road, but the road was open in April 2021, probably due to the mild winter.  Check Hwy 120 conditions for yourself because without it you miss out on so much beautiful area to explore.

  • Val C.
    Jul. 3, 2023

    Mono Basin Dispersed Camp Site

    Epic

    Came up here in July. It gets warm during the day, but there is a good breeze during the day. And an even better breeze at night. lots of bugs. bring bug spray. 4wd not required, but might help. High clearance will help.

  • Dave V.
    Sep. 13, 2018

    Gladys Lake Backcountry, Ansel Adams Wilderness

    Breathtaking Beauty!

    RANGER REVIEW: Mountain House Spaghetti with Meat Sauce at Gladys Lake Backcountry Campsites, Ansel Adams Wilderness, CA

    CAMPGROUND REVIEW: Gladys Lake Backcountry Campsite, Ansel Adams Wilderness

    Backcountry camping often offers great hiking, epic scenery, serene solitude and otherwise missed sights. Depending on location, backcountry campsite locations can offer their own challenges, whether through the permitting process, preparation of gear and meals, logistics, or difficult terrain…but the trade offs can pay out big dividends.

    Leaving behind the din of packed campgrounds…getting unplugged from electronic encumbrances…relaxing beside an untouched alpine lake where the only sound you hear is the whir of dragonfly wings as they dart about.

    Only a set number of backcountry permits are issued daily, so crowds and impact remain minimal to nonexistent.

    Permits are necessary for all backcountry overnight stays in the Inyo National Forest. https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/inyo/passes-permits

    Whenever backcountry hiking/camping in California, do yourself a service and go online https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/inyo/passes-permits/?cid=stelprdb5139009 and take the California Campfire Permit test to acquire your certificate and possess it when in the backcountry.

    Several ways to get to Gladys Lake exist…

    1. John Muir Trail (JMT) thru-hike permits NOBO or SOBO

    2. John Muir Trail section hike permits

    3. Wilderness Permits Day hike permits

    You could enter from Reds Meadows and follow the JMT north to Gladys Lake…or better from Agnew Meadows and follow the Shadow Creek Trail (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=21272&actid=51 ) up and around Shadow Lake and then south on the JMT past Rosalie Lake to Gladys Lake. Each access trail has a daily quota…such as Shadow Creek, which has a daily quota of 30…18 secured through reservation and 12 walk-ups. So if you are choosing to walk-up, have some flexibility of starting days.

    We had a JMT SOBO permit acquired six months in advance through the NPS permit lottery. But next visit, I will likely enter through Agnew Meadows via day permit.

    Most hikers will stop and camp at Rosalie Lake, which is a wonderful option and a much larger lake. Some would suggest a more picturesque lake than Gladys Lake…but that is all in the eye of the beholder.

    August of 2018 saw little precipitation and the winter snowfall was below expectations, so lake water levels were lower and surrounding shoreline not marshy or soggy. Which made for dry and mosquito free conditions.

    The effects of local forest fires did cover surrounding mountain views during certain times of the day, and brought with it a bit of lung burning and eye stinging. Early morning and late evening hours brought clearer skies.

    Be forewarned that seemingly every backcountry campsite brings with it a steep uphill slog, but worth it. Gladys Lake is at 9600 ft elevation.

    I believe there was one other camper at Gladys Lake the night we stayed…but we neither heard nor saw them. It was a perfectly peaceful evening!

    Amenities? Well, no showers…no toilets…no water spigots…no electricity…no picnic tables…one lonely stone fire ring but open fires are not permitted. No cell service or WiFi…no general store or local grocery store. However, Gladys Lake water was refreshing both to wade and drink (filtered). You are surrounded by fragrant conifers that buffer sound. A perfectly peaceful location to relax and dream.

    PRODUCT REVIEW: Mountain House Spaghetti With Meat Sauce

    https://www.mountainhouse.com/

    As a frequent user of Mountain House freezes dried dinners, and being a creature of habit, I often settle into a couple favorite meals and don’t deviate to new offerings. Mundane and boring?…perhaps.

    But…after winning $100 worth of Mountain House meals through an early season TheDyrt.com contest… and with my daughter as my hiking buddy, I selected several different meals to avoid mutiny.

    One of these meal pouches was Mountain House’s Spaghetti with Meat Sauce.

    I admit, I was a little suspect as to how freeze-dried spaghetti with meat sauce would taste, but we were both very pleased with the sauce flavors, seasoning and the amount of meat in the sauce. The only thing I would add is a couple slices of toasted garlic bread.

    If the next rotation of Mountain House Spaghetti with Meat Sauce was easily located in our bear canisters, we would’ve likely had a second helping…but sadly, it was not.

    In pairing down weight before our backcountry hike, I removed the contents from Mountain House’s original packaging and utilized a commercial vacuum sealer to make smaller, lighter meal packs as 11 days of food needed to fit in a bear canister. It worked, but the distinct drawback was not being able to prepare the meal in the resealable pouch. A pot was necessary to allow the freeze-dried contents to soak in the boiling water. So clean up was more extensive than it would’ve been by using the Mountain House resealable pouch. It was a trade off and we made it work.

    If you are new to Mountain House freeze dried meals, directions are printed plain and simple on the pouch.

    •Measure out the prescribed amount of water

    •boil water

    •open meal pouch and remove moisture packet

    •pour boiling water in pouch and stir contents thoroughly

    •seal pouch for prescribed time

    •open pouch and stir contents

    •serve and enjoy

    It doesn’t get any easier.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2022

    Owens River Road Dispersed

    Lots of Spots Along Owens River Rd

    There are a ton of spots to camp along Owens River Rd.  All the spots closest to 395 were taken when we went in late September, but we found this spot that I've marked here that was easily accessible in our 26ft Motorhome.  Owens River Rd itself is paved, but the offshoots are hit or miss so take it slowly and proceed at your vehicle's ability. 

    This particular spot was nice and big and is probably suitable for any size rig.  The pavement on the road heading in was partly washed out but we were easily able to drive around the pits.  See video - it's long but I recorded us leaving the spot and showed the pits in the road.

    Good cell reception, very quiet, very little traffic.  

    No amenities, no toilets, no trash service.  Area was clean! Hopefully it stays that way.

  • Alex P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2020

    Inyo National Forest Dispersed Camping

    Beautiful dispersed camping

    You can get maps for this area at some of the information boards at the beginning of the dirt roads, they also have an app that will show you all the roads in the area. What’s nice is the map color codes the roads so that you know what your vehicle is capable of driving on. Some of the roads can get a bit rough, so make sure you know your vehicles limits. Once you get out there, enjoy! It’s so beautiful and quiet. Please make sure you pack in and pack out your trash, there are no services for that. Also, be aware of fire restrictions!

  • Megan S.
    Jul. 28, 2022

    Scenic Loop - Dispersed Camping

    Great free camping!

    Got here on Sunday - plenty of spots to park the camper van both Sunday and Monday. Multiple turn offs on the Scenic Loop road to camp at. No bathrooms, water, electricity, or fire rings. Pretty dispersed but close enough to downtown. Would go back!

  • T
    Oct. 3, 2019

    Inyo National Forest Dispersed Camping

    Boondockers welcome!

    We 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.


Guide to Swall Meadows

Dispersed camping near Swall Meadows, California offers access to both high-altitude alpine terrain and lower-elevation desert landscapes. The area sits at approximately 5,000-8,000 feet elevation along the eastern Sierra Nevada range, experiencing hot summer days with cool nights and cold winter conditions. Winter camping requires preparation for overnight temperatures that can drop below freezing, while summer brings monsoon patterns with afternoon thunderstorms.

What to do

Bouldering at Sad Boulders: Located in the Volcanic Tableland area, this climbing destination attracts outdoor enthusiasts. "Sad Boulders is a rock climber's playground. There are petroglyphs to be found on some of the boulders in the area, as well as rattle snakes, only saw one baby though," notes Laura M. from Volcanic Tableland BLM Dispersed Camping.

Visit local hot springs: The region offers several geothermal soaking options. "The crab cooker hot spring was a little confusing to find. Once you find it... it's TINY. 3 people comfortably. And HOT HOT HOTTTT!" shares Rachel W. who stayed at Crab Cooker Hotsprings.

Hike McGee Creek Trail: An accessible trail with seasonal creek access. "The real glory is in the McGee Creek trail at the end of the road. It's only a couple of miles away and is fantastic, easy hiking. The October foliage was amazing," reports Beth M. who camped at McGee Creek.

What campers like

Proximity to Bishop: Quick access to town supplies while maintaining a wilderness feel. "Easy drive to Bishop for supplies, and the free dump & water fill at the Speedway at the other end of town is really nice," mentions Laura M. about camping in the area.

Winter camping options: Year-round access makes this area valuable for off-season trips. "Winter doesn't have as many open dispersed camping areas near mammoth as summer so it's good for that," notes Dalton K. who stayed at BLM Road to Hot Springs.

Solitude and spacing: Most sites offer separation from other campers. "Big, open, former river bed I assume. Probably not safe during rainy seasons," shares Tyler D. about Deep Canyon. Another camper at Volcanic Tableland noted, "There are many clearings where you can find a spot to camp. Everyone is so spread out that you still have silence and privacy."

What you should know

Road conditions vary significantly: Many access roads require appropriate vehicles. "The road becomes dirt and while bumpy in places, our class B van with low clearance did fine going slow," reports Larry E. from McGee Creek. For other areas, high clearance vehicles are necessary.

Morning hot spring traffic: Popular thermal areas see day visitors. "Night time was quiet, but definitely lots of visitors during the day for the hot springs," explains catalina T. from Hilltop Hot Springs.

Fire restrictions change seasonally: Always check current regulations. "Spots had fire rings" notes Kristyn C. about Volcanic Tableland, but Steve L. explicitly warns "NO FIRES" during restricted periods at the same location.

Cell service varies by location: Coverage is inconsistent throughout the region. "Decent Verizon signal off of the Inyo Crater road" reports Jeffrey F. who stayed at Scenic Loop, while others mention spotty or no service in certain areas.

Tips for camping with families

Creek access for kids: Sites near water provide entertainment and cooling options. "The creek was 40 feet from our spot, running well (Spring of 2023 after record snowfall) and the dog loved playing in it," shares Larry E. from McGee Creek.

Watch for natural hazards: Environmental awareness is important. "Areas are being restored so tread lightly and 'Don't Crush the Brush'" advises Laura M. at Volcanic Tableland, while others mention watching for goatheads that can puncture shoes and paws.

Consider camping weather timing: Seasonal considerations impact comfort. "It would be hard to access with anything over 22ft" notes Thomas K. about Crab Cooker Hotsprings, adding that there was "Only one bar of service" which may affect families needing connectivity.

Tips from RVers

Size limitations exist: Many dispersed sites have physical constraints. "The road along the back side of the stone 'wall' has gotten worse since we were here last. Parts of it are really rutted and washed out. Hopefully they are fixed at some point, not sure I'd feel comfortable driving our class C on it as it is now," cautions Laura M. about Scenic Loop Dispersed Camping - Eastside.

Boondocking preparation: No amenities means bringing everything needed. "There are no amenities here so pack in and pack out and bring water," reminds Laura M. about camping in Volcanic Tableland.

RV-friendly spots are concentrated: Certain areas better accommodate larger vehicles. "Easy access to all vehicles except some areas that may need a little higher clearance. Nicely secluded but not many great open views in the area since it is in the Forest among the trees," reports Tim W. from Scenic Loop Dispersed Camping - Eastside.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Swall Meadows, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Swall Meadows, CA is Volcanic Tableland BLM Dispersed Camping with a 4.7-star rating from 13 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Swall Meadows, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 54 dispersed camping locations near Swall Meadows, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.