Category: Campgrounds

Campgrounds are serene havens nestled in natural landscapes, offering a rustic retreat for outdoor enthusiasts and travelers alike. Surrounded by towering trees, babbling brooks, or expansive meadows, campgrounds provide a tranquil setting to pitch tents or park RVs, fostering a connection with nature. Trails for hiking or biking often wind through these sites, leading adventurers to hidden vistas or peaceful lakeshores. Campfire circles crackle with warmth in the evenings, where stories are shared under starlit skies. Facilities may range from basic amenities like fire pits and picnic tables to more modern conveniences such as restrooms with showers and designated cooking areas. Whether for a weekend escape or an extended wilderness adventure, campgrounds offer a refreshing escape from urban life, inviting visitors to unwind and recharge in the great outdoors.

Willow Beach Campground

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Willow Beach Campground is a full service campground located near the eastern shore of the Colorado River, in Mohave County Arizona. Willow Beach is a small boat ramp on the Arizona side of the Colorado. The boat ramp allows launches into the river and access to Lake Mohave, downstream and Hoover Damn looms very large up river.

Willow Beach is a wonderful location to participate in all water sports or just sit by the Colorado River and have a picnic. The location offers a great access points and offers some scenic views of Black Canyon gorge. The campground is located slightly above the river and does offer River views.

The Hoover Damn Bypass Bridge viewed from the Colorado River is accessible from Willow Beach
The Hoover Damn Bypass Bridge viewed from the Colorado River

The campgrounds offers year round enjoyment to the area. The area is known for extreme hot temperatures so be prepared! One trip canoeing below Hoover Damn to Willow Beach we pulled the canoes from the river at 121 F.

Campground Summary

NameWillow Beach Campground
LocationColorado River, Mohave County, Arizona
Longitude, Latitude35.87338834278191, -114.65113899560673
Elevation855
Sites66, 38 RV / Trailer, 37 Campsites
AmenitiesBBQ Grills, Campground Host, Campsite Tables, Drinking Water, Electrical Hookup, Fire Pit, Firewood Available, Rentals, Restrooms (Flush Toilets), RV Hookups, Showers, Vending Machines, WiFi

Willow Beach Campground Map

References

Whitney Portal Campground

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Whitney Portal Campground is the campground in the foothills of the High Sierra, and serves as the gateway for many hikers up Mount Whitney in Inyo County, California. The campground sits at high elevation at over 8100 feet above sea level. It is nestled among pine trees and Lone Pine Creek offers a babbling creek, the rushing waters of which the break the sound of the wind through the pine needles.

Mt Whitney looms large over the High Sierra, out site of Lone Pine, California
Mt Whitney looms large over the High Sierra, out site of Lone Pine, California

The campground is a prime camping place, and located at the base of the tallest peak in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney. Mount Whitney stands at 14,505 feet above sea level and is considered the king of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The campground has 43 sites which allow access to the John Muir Wilderness and its hiking and back packing trails. Each campsite is nestled among the boulders in a mature pine forest.

A rushing Lone Pine Creek near Whitney Portal Campground
A rushing Lone Pine Creek near Whitney Portal Campground

The campground sees heavy use in the late spring and summer months. The elevation helps break the heat from the valley below. Due to its location and popularity, the campground is known to have bear activity. All precautions should be taken with respect to food and trash and bear locker are provided. In addition to Black Bear, mountain lions, mule deer, pine martin and pika are known to be in the area, so keep your eyes open.

Whitney Portal Campground Summary

NameWhitney Portal Campground
LocationLone Pine, Inyo County, California
Latitude, Longitude
Sites43
Elevation8100 ft
AmenitiesWater, Vault Toilets, Bear Lockers, Picnic table, fire ring, no hook-ups

Directions

From Highway 395 in Lone Pine, California turn west (at the stoplight) onto Whitney Portal Road. The campground is 12.5 miles from Lone Pine and about 3400 feet in elevation gain.

Whitney Portal Campground Map

References

Tuttle Creek Campground

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Tuttle Creek Campgound outside of Lone Pine, CA
Tuttle Creek Campgound outside of Lone Pine, CA

Tuttle Creek Campground is a small campground located on the eastern Sierras near Lone Pine, in Inyo County, California. The campground is located just below the foothills of the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Amazing sunrises and sunset greet the camper who choses this place to vacation.

Tuttle Creek is located just five miles away from Lone Pine and the Alabama hills are even closer. There is a group camp available and also two horse corrals are available.

Tuttle Creek is a great place to camp when exploring up or down the beautiful 395 highway. It offers a jumping off place to travel into Death Valley or up to Mt. Whitney. The tranquility and scenery may want to stay the full 14 day limit, and yet, the Eastern Sierra light will entice you to leave and further explore.

Campground Summary

NameTuttle Creek Campground
LocationLone Pine, Inyo County, California
Latitude, Longitude36.5649341,-118.1261991
Number of Sites83
Elevation4658 ft
Amenitiesvault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings and lantern holders, seasonal water

Directions


From Highway 395, drive 3.5 miles west of Lone Pine on Whitney Portal Road, then 1.5 miles south on Horseshow Meadow Road, follow signs to the campground.

Tuttle Creek Campground Map

References

Boulder Beach Campground

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Boulder Beach Campground is locate on Lake Mead
Lake Mead NRA

Located within 45 minutes to the Las Vegas strip, Boulder Beach Campground offers a camping opportunity near the shore of beautiful Lake Mead. The campground is located on a bluff overlooking the shoreline and Lake Mead. The campground offers views of the lake and amazing sailing, boating, fishing, swimming, fishing and hiking trails.

This is a year round campground which offers group camps, tent and RV Accommodations. During the summer moths the desert heat can be a factor, so be sure to plan ahead. Each site is equipped with fire rings and tables and palm trees may offer a break from the sun. Due to the location of the campground and the lower lake levels, the beach is located a bit further than normal.

Boulder Beach provides quick access to Hoover Damn, the Hoover Damn Bypass Bridge, the Visitor Center. The River Mountains Loop Trail and the Historic Railroad Trail provide are quick hikes which are also located near by.

The weather can vary from freezing temperatures in the winter months with summer heat the temperature of easily capable of over 110 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a first come first serve campground

Campground Summary

NameBoulder Beach Campground
LocationLead Mead, Clark County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude36.036901,-114.802604
Elevation1,280 feet
Sites154
AmmenitiesTables, Fire Rings, Water, Bathrooms,

Campground Map

Resources

French Camp Campground

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Camping in the High Sierras is not as easy as it once was, however this fact offers one the ability to explore and remove oneself from their comfort zone.  French Camp campground was the result of just this fact for me and as result, I found a little gem in the High Sierra.  

French Camp Campground is located along Rock Creek in the Inyo National Forest
French Camp Campground is located along Rock Creek in the Inyo National Forest

On our last trip, we planned on visiting and exploring the High Sierra.  Immediately, we planned on returning to Convict Lake.  Perhaps Lake Mary or Twin Lakes Campground in Mammoth Mountain however all of these campgrounds where sold out for our time period. I did not want to relocate our campsite during the course of our trip.

Each campsite had quite a bit of room and the undergrowth was such that you did have a bit of privacy. There was a lot of trees to offer shade on a warm June day. Each location had a table and fire ring. The soil is sanding and this old campground has quiet a bit of soot and charcoal mixed into to it from years of fires. This could mean an interesting and frequent clean up period with children.

The flush bathrooms were centrally located and cleaned on a regulate basis. Rock creek ran along the northern side of the campground and allowed for easy creek access for fishing.

French Camp , like many High Sierra Campgrounds does have California Black Bear from time to time. During our stay, there was bear activity. One report had a bear come into camp while a family was having dinner. This bear apparently helped itself to several rolls while the family looked on.

French Camp Campground is just one a string the campgrounds along Rock Creek. The campground host at French Camp was a very personable man, who did a great job keeping the place clean and greeting the campers.

Directions

From Bishop go north on Hwy 395 approximately 23 miles to Tom’s Place.  Turn southwest on Rock Creek Road and go approximately one mile to the campground on the right.

Campground Summary

Campground NameFrench Camp
Latitude, Longitude37.552500, -118.679167
Sites86
Elevation7200 ft
AmmenitiesBear Boxes, Fire rings, Table, Flust Toilets, Shower, Water, Camp host

French Camp Trail Map