Inyo National Forest

Thousand Island Lake Backcountry

## Overview

Vermillion Campground is located on the northwest shore of Edison Lake, in a shady stand of Ponderosa pine. Most sites provide lake views. The campground is ideal for tents, as well as small RVs. Visitors can enjoy mountain views of the surrounding John Muir and Ansel Adams Wilderness areas.

## Recreation

Edison Lake has a free public boat launch. Canoeing and kayaking near the shoreline are popular activities. Anglers can fish for rainbow, brown or brook trout. Sandy beaches within the campground provide lake access for swimming.   
  
Campfire programs are offered throughout the summer. Numerous hiking and equestrian trails are in the area.

## Facilities

Each campsite has a picnic table, campfire ring and bear-proof food storage locker, all set off a bit from the parking spur. Some sites are sloped and not suitable for tent camping. Vault toilets are provided. A water spigot is located on-site, but boiling the water is recommended.   
  
Limited supplies and pay showers are available at the Vermillion Valley Resort, which is within walking distance.

## Natural Features

The Sierra National Forest, located on the western slope of the central Sierra Nevada, is known for its spectacular mountain scenery and abundant natural resources.   
  
The terrain includes rolling, oak-covered foothills, heavily forested middle elevation slopes and the starkly beautiful alpine landscape of the High Sierra. 

## Nearby Attractions

Vermillion Campground is an excellent base for exploring the Ansel Adams or John Muir Wilderness Areas. The Vermillion Valley Resort offers ferry rides across the lake to trails within the Ansel Adams Wilderness. 

## contact_info

For facility specific information, please call (559) 893-2308.

Vermillion

## Overview

Mono Creek Campground is located in the High Sierras above Kaiser Pass. This quiet, remote campground is situated in a peaceful meadow near Mono Hot Springs at an elevation of 7,500 feet. Visitors enjoy hiking, fishing, boating and horseback riding.

## Recreation

Most recreational activities are centered around nearby Edison Lake and Mono Hot Springs. Interpretive programs, hiking, trout fishing, boating and horseback riding are popular pastimes. Hot mineral baths can be enjoyed at Mono Hot Springs.

## Facilities

Each campsite has a picnic table, grill and bear-proof food storage locker. No water source is available on-site, but potable water is available at the High Sierra Ranger Station. Accessible vault toilets are provided.

## Natural Features

Campsites are spacious, private and shaded by mature Ponderosa pines within the Sierra National Forest on the western slope of the central Sierra Nevada. The forest is known for its spectacular mountain scenery and abundant natural resources.   
  
The terrain includes rolling, oak-covered foothills, heavily forested middle elevation slopes and the starkly beautiful alpine landscape of the High Sierra. 

## contact_info

For facility specific information, please call (559) 893-2308. 

## Nearby Attractions

The Mono Creek Trail, which can be accessed at Edison Lake, leads hikers and horseback riders to the network of trails within the John Muir Wilderness. This includes the scenic Pacific Crest Trail, which spans from Mexico to Canada.

Mono Creek

Mono Hot Springs Campground sits above Kaiser Pass in the High Sierra, on the South Fork of the San Joaquin River in an area known for its hot mineral baths. The camp is divided into two sections that are separated by Mono Hot Springs Resort, and some sites are shaded by aspen and lodgepole pine. The campground sits at an elevation of 6,700 feet with many cliffs in the area. It makes a great base for exploring the nearby Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness areas or for simply relaxing and enjoying the scenery. Recreation The Mono Hot Springs area provides opportunities for fishing, birding, mountain biking, hiking and relaxing in the hot springs. Interpretive programs are offered at the campground on Friday nights during the summer. Wading is permitted in the San Joaquin River, which is known for its excellent fly fishing. Trailheads in the area include Devil's Table (5 miles) and Doris Lake (2 miles). The Mono Creek Trail connects Mono Hot Springs to Edison Lake, a hike of about 10 miles round-trip. Facilities Each campsite has a picnic table, grill and bear-proof food storage locker. Vault toilets are provided. Drinking water is not available at the camp but can be acquired along with other supplies at the general store at Mono Hot Springs Resort. Natural Features The Sierra National Forest, located on the western slope of the central Sierra Nevada, is known for its spectacular mountain scenery and abundant natural resources. The terrain includes rolling, oak-covered foothills, heavily forested middle elevation slopes and the starkly beautiful alpine landscape of the High Sierra. Nearby Attractions Edison Lake is a popular recreation area nearby offering boating, fishing and horseback riding. From this area, hikers and horseback riders can access the John Muir Wilderness, and the Pacific Crest Trail, which extends from Mexico to Canada. ADA Access: N

Mono Hot Springs

Located along Kaiser Pass Road at Portal Forebay Lake. Sites are shaded by pine and cedar trees and each campsite has a picnic table, grill and bear-proof food storage locker. Vault toilets are provided. Drinking water is not available. Paved and dirt roads provided access to the campground. Large RV's or motorhomes not recommended for travel on Kaiser Pass Road.

Portal Forebay Campground

Located along the Kaiser Pass Road near the High Sierra Ranger Station. Bosillo Creek runs adjacent to campground. There are 3 available first-come, first-serve campsites. The Corbett Lake Trail begins at the end of the campground. Large RV or motorhome not recommended for travel on the Kaiser Pass Road.

Bolsillo Campground

Located near the Kaiser and Ansel Adams Wilderness', Sample Meadow Campground offers 16 campsites located along Kaiser Creek. Vault toilets are provided and each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and bear box. There is trailhead parking outside of campground approximately .5 mile for hikes into the wilderness. Large RV's and motorhomes not recommended. Horse camping is permitted. Water and garbage service not provided.

Sample Meadow Campground

Silver Pass Lake Dispersed

Located on Ward Lake, Ward Lake Campground provide sites with lake views. Sites offer picnic tables, fire rings, bear boxes, and pine and aspen trees provide shade for most campsites. Vault toilets are also provided. Ward Lake offers opportunites for non-motorized boating, fishing, and swimming.

Ward Lake Campground

Lake Virginia Dispersed 

Bear Creek Dispersed

National Recreation Area

We still talk about this backpacking camp often. The views are amazing!! So worth the hike in! Pack a trowel…

Man, what a hike for an amazing view

So far this is the nicest place ive ever camp at from all my backpacking trips. Cant beat lake with the mountain in the background, tranquillity and spacious area. Only con can be mosquitoes. Other than that this place is a must to visit 

Perfect spot

Thousand Island Lake is a trek to get to but once you get there, well you don’t really want to leave. This view is absolutely beautiful, and it changes rapidly with the rising and setting sun so make you have your camera ready for it. This is completely back country so you gotta pack it all in. There are some rules you have to follow while camping at this lake, 30 feet off of the trail and then another 100 feet away from the water. This can be hard to do as your camp may be on a slant or in the wide open, however you have plenty of space to choose from at this location. There is another rule about camping past a certain peninsula but from everyone we talked to they had no idea which peninsula the map was actually referring to, so you just walk past a couple of them and hope you’re in the right spot. The water is very cold but still feels great after a long hike all day.

There are multiple routes to getting to this lake, you can come. The John Muir trail and the PCT lead to this location, also Mammoth California has a trail that leads here as well. We even encountered mule train options on our way in if you prefer that type of transportation. But this is definitely somewhere you want to visit.

Thousand Island Lake Backcountry

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