Aspen Campground

Aspen Grove Campground is in a pine and aspen forest on a lovely creek. Campsites are separated by trees and have a table, fire pit, and bear box. No potable water. Porta Potties. Near the east entrance of Yosemite, which makes it a good option for camping with day trips to Tuolumne Meadows since Yosemite doesn't have much for boondocking. Still open in October. Not much for a Verizon cell signal.

Great campsite right along the flowing river. Not many bugs and not too wet. Great site and cool campground.

Fall color and camping in the Sierra is what we we were after. This gem of a campground did not disappoint on the color and its location made it easy to explore the Mono Lake area since there's no camping in that area.

• Beautiful aspens with rushing river surrounded by high peaks. Lots of fishers were taking advantage of the river. 

• Sites are very close and pretty small. There were a few sites that accommodated the few Class C and larger travel trailers that came through, but the turns in the loops were tight. Less experienced drivers might be challenged. 

• Many (most) sites are not very level and/or sloped. 

• Super quiet and dark at night. Star gazing was amazing. 

• Bears are very active. One camper had their car window broken and door frame bent because they had left something in the front seat. Another camper told us a bear walked through her site while she was sitting near the campfire but was easily scared off. 

• Not a lot of hiking without getting in your car but the dirt road connecting to the other campground (Big Bend) wasn't busy so served as a good walking trail to exercise our dogs. 

• Good location to access Lee Vining (groceries, fuel, restaurants, laundry) and explore the phenomenal Mono Lake area. 

• Water available but at a central spigot at the entrance. 

• No Verizon cell service but good signals down the road at the Mobil station and excellent free wi-fi at the Mono Lake visitors center both in Lee Vining. 

Nice little first-come campground. It was almost full by 4 pm each night we were there. We'd consider it again but only in shoulder season. Getting a spot in peak season seems challenging.