Camping near Mammoth, CA

[Superdawg]

I have a camping trip planned to Devil's Postpile area near Mammoth Ca the first week of August. The fire west of Yosemite is about 40 miles to the west. Does anyone know if the smoke is drifting over the Mammoth area?



I'll also take suggestions on other places to camp nearby. My boys love to fish for trout. I don't like to make reservations and I will be up there midweek.

 

[Grey Wolf]

How about the June Lake area?



Silver Lake Resort - Since 1916 - Premier Eastern Sierra Fishing Paradise

 

[surfbeetle]

There's a campground called Browns Town in Bishop Ca. They have water and electric, no sewer. You can dump in Bishop at one of the gas stations free with a fill up. I've always heard that the fishing is good around Bishop.

 

[RamStud139419850]

I'll be at Mono Village just outside Bridgeport about noon on 8/8/08, leaving Vegas at 4:00 am. It's a nice place, has boat rentals on both upper and lower lakes. 4th year in a row for me, worth the drive.

 

[SierraRam]

Most of the smoke is staying in the San Joaquin Valley and west of the Pacific Crest.

 

[fmj]

You can call the Mammoth Chamber of Commerce or the Ranger Station to get an update. The only problem with going down to the campgrounds below postpile is if fire comes that way it will be a bear to get out. I talked to a friend in Bishop yesterday and she said that it was still nice there. Bishop has some great fishing on lower Owens, Pleasant Valley, etc. You might also give a try at Convict Lake, although the size of your 5er might be tight. Browns also has a rv site on Owens by Bentons Bridge, but it is really bare down there with no trees. Don't make reservations at the Mammoth RV Park as they DON'T give refunds. Mid week you can still get in. If you call the ranger station ask about access and length of sites in town next to their information center. Have fun.

 

[jray]

I'll be at Mono Village just outside Bridgeport about noon on 8/8/08, leaving Vegas at 4:00 am. It's a nice place, has boat rentals on both upper and lower lakes. 4th year in a row for me, worth the drive.

You just had to open your mouth and ruin it. Now it'll be overflowing with tourists just like Yosemite. Been going there since I was a kid in the early 70's. Now my kids love it.

 

[Best]

Lee Vinning is a good place to stay, nice camp ground. You can go to a lot of nice places from this little town.

 

[FYarcho]

I lived in that area from Bishop to Mammoth most of my life growing up as a kid. Camping and fishing oportunities are abundunt. You could spend a month there and still not visit them all. You really can't go wrong with any of them. I would suggest checking the Fish and Game web site look at their fish stocking schedule should give your kids a better chance at good fishing.

 

[RamStud139419850]

You just had to open your mouth and ruin it. Now it'll be overflowing with tourists just like Yosemite. Been going there since I was a kid in the early 70's. Now my kids love it.

So, I'll see ya there next week? For the last 4 years it's been overflowing, the more the merrier for me, everyone is friendly, sometimes hard to find a spot for a large house though! :-laf

 

[Superdawg]

thanks for all the suggestions, they sound great. I've driven by most of the suggested locations but have not stayed at them. We are going to try to stay at the Upper Soda Springs campground in the Postpile area. I've heard it has more room than the others for longer trailers (I'm at 28. 5). I will be up there from the 4th through the 8th, look for the kids running amok.

 

[ed9824v]

thanks for all the suggestions, they sound great. I've driven by most of the suggested locations but have not stayed at them. We are going to try to stay at the Upper Soda Springs campground in the Postpile area. I've heard it has more room than the others for longer trailers (I'm at 28. 5). I will be up there from the 4th through the 8th, look for the kids running amok.

\

i have seen the postpile area closed many times I was in Mamoth but a differant time of the yerar. Give a check.

 

[Superdawg]

Well, the trip was fantastic. We stayed at Upper Soda Springs. Our site was about 100' from the creek, 2-3 fish per day w/ minimal effort. Bear tracks on the dirt in the morning, coyotes running through during the day. Plenty of hikes (Devil's Postpile, Rainbow Falls) and fishing. I hooked one rainbow? at Starkweather lake that jumped 3 times (4-5 feet out of the water, twisting) great aerobatics, only to break off near shore. He was maybe 15" long, but funny thing is, he gets bigger every day. After he broke off, I looked at my two boys and said, Do you want to see a grown man cry? Serves me right, I usually hook the fish and let my boys reel them in.

On a side note, for those w/ kids. I put a steel kiddie gate just inside the front door of the trailer, keeps my 1 1/2 y/o daughter from falling down the stairs if she pushes open the screen. A must have.

We went to Mammoth one day and rode the gondola up to the top, 11053'. The entire place is family and dog friendly. My Aussie rode w/ us in the gondola and accompanied us everywhere there.

Mileage-From Orange County CA to Lone Pine, towing 28' fiver, 11. 8 hand calculated. Mileage went down to about 9 from Lone Pine to Mammoth, mountain driving and back to Bishop. I estimate the whole setup is about 17-18k. I really tried to drive on cruise 67 or so mph. Keeps me at about 1800 rpm. My normal towing mileage is about 10. 5.

Does anyone want to give a Smarty Jr. to a good home?

 

[fmj]

Glad you all had a great time. Theres a lot of places to fish up there. Wife and I are heading up mid September to do a little fishing with float tube. I like that time of year as it quiets down a little and is really laid back.

 

[Matt400]

Was it hard finding a spot with no reservations? Seems many are always booked up.

 

[Superdawg]

We pulled in on Sunday at about noon. Upper Soda Springs was only half full. We managed to get the best spot for my rig, lucky I guess. Monday we looked at the rest of the campgrounds in the valley. The rest were full or almost full, my rig wouldnt of made it in the spaces that were left. By Wednesday and through Friday, all the campgrounds were full. I just hate making reservations, if I dont like a spot I will move.

 

[101st ABN]

we tried to find a spot last thursday and there was not a spot open in all of the devils postpile area. All of the mammoth lakes campgrounds were full too, had to go to my secret spot with no amenities.

 

[Matt400]

we tried to find a spot last thursday and there was not a spot open in all of the devils postpile area. All of the mammoth lakes campgrounds were full too.

Thats what we are afraid of with no reservations. I think we will wait till spring or fall next year when school is still in for this place.

 

[Superdawg]

I'm sorry to hear that. We left Friday morning, you could have taken our spot. It was a great trip, but once we got home, everyone got sick.