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Inyo/East Fork
Overview
East Fork Campground, situated within the Inyo National Forest near Bishop, CA, offers a quintessential High Sierra camping experience. Positioned at an elevation of approximately 9,000 feet, this facility provides a serene escape into the mountains. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, it serves as a rugged mountain retreat rather than a modern resort. RV travelers come here to immerse themselves in nature, trading paved luxury for the scent of pine needles and the sound of rushing water. It is a seasonal destination, typically welcoming visitors from late spring through early autumn when the alpine passes are clear of snow.
Location & Surroundings
The campground is nestled in the stunning Rock Creek Canyon, located between Bishop and Mammoth Lakes. The surrounding landscape is dominated by towering granite peaks and dense stands of Jeffrey pines and quaking aspens. The location is particularly famous for its autumn foliage, which draws photographers from across the country. Rock Creek itself flows nearby, providing a constant natural soundtrack. Because of its high-altitude setting, the air remains crisp even in mid-summer, offering a refreshing break from the heat of the Owens Valley floor below.
Amenities & Park Features
As a forest service site, the amenities at East Fork focus on the essentials of outdoor living. The park features spacious campsites equipped with heavy-duty bear boxes, which are required for food storage in this active wildlife area. While there are no electric, water, or sewer hookups for RVs, the campground provides vault toilets and potable water spigots at various points throughout the loops. Most sites include a fire ring and a picnic table. It is important to note that while RVs and trailers are permitted, there are length restrictions, and the roads within the canyon are winding and steep.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
The primary draw for visitors is the incredible access to the Little Lakes Valley. A short drive up the canyon leads to the trailhead, widely considered one of the best high-alpine hiking destinations in the Sierra Nevada. Anglers will find plenty of opportunities for blue-ribbon trout fishing in Rock Creek or at nearby Rock Creek Lake. For those who prefer a slower pace, the Rock Creek Lakes Resort nearby offers a small general store and a famous pie shop, providing a sweet reward after a day of exploring the rugged backcountry trails.
Who This Park Is Best For
East Fork is best suited for self-contained RVers who value scenery and outdoor recreation over amenities like Wi-Fi or cable TV. It is a paradise for trout fishermen, hikers, and those seeking a quiet, rustic atmosphere. Because it can accommodate mid-sized trailers and motorhomes, it is a favorite for adventure-seeking families wanting to teach their children about the wilderness. If you enjoy fall colors, mountain photography, and falling asleep to the sound of a creek, this Inyo National Forest gem is an ideal addition to your California road trip itinerary.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Frank
Camp host our awesome. Very well run and restrooms clean. My favorite place to camp.
Robert Smentkowski
Clean Flush toilets & Clean sinks in the restrooms. Several Camp Hosts who do an excellent job maintaining the campground. Campsites are raked & cleaned after every departure. There are over a dozen campsites on beautiful Rock Creek that has excellent fishing. All campsites are within walking distance of the creek. It's at 9,300 ft approximately, so daytime temperatures are in the '60s and '70s which is perfect for the mountains. Overnight lows inj June were in the mid thirties, so pack appropriately for cold nights. I prefer this campground to the one on Rock Creek lake.
Joseph Zaragoza
The campground was washed out last season with the high waters but they are bringing it back to life. Rock Creek canyon is a beautiful place. Nearby Rock Creek was awesome. Enjoyed taking our trailer here. Our dogs love it as well.
Bob McManus
During a recent motorcycle camping and fishing trip to Rock Creek Lake, I discovered the East Fork Campground - what a perfect gem! Camp hosts Dennis & Terri were great! The campsites are far enough away from each other that you can enjoy peace and solitude, all while listening to the running water from the adjacent Rock Creek. The campsites are kept clean and the bathrooms are exceptional! I will definitely be back!
Jessica
We loved camping at East Fork! The camp managers were friendly, and they are posted throughout the campgrounds for everyone's convenience. Our closest camp manager, Jeff Cleveland, was most helpful. He even let us charge our phones when our charger failed to last the weekend. He gave us lots of tips on hiking and fishing in the area. Beautiful, well kept grounds with the creek running right behind a good number of sites. We were able to get a great spot without reservations, on Labor day weekend. They can accommodate Rvs and tents, as the sites vary in size. Bathrooms were very clean, with flushing toilets. Great place to pull off the 395 for camping, fishing, and hiking. Small resort up the road with great lunch. Overall great campgrounds, highly recommended.
Dave Kukreja
Arrived on a Friday morning at around 10am and found an amazing spot at site #86. The site was right along the rushing creek and had a nice flat spot for my large tent and the perfect amount of tress for shade and hammock setup. It felt very private even within a very busy campground. The restrooms were unbelievably clean and easily accessible. Falling asleep to the sound of the creek was amazing but it does get a bit cold next to the water at night and being at 9K ft, the temp really drops. The fact that you can burn firewood in the summer was a pleasant surprise and just a few miles up rock creek road, you have access to the trailhead of one of the most spectacular hikes in the Sierras known as Little Lakes Valley. I can't wait to go back with some friends and family and show them this place
Nicole Ridgely
Admittedly I was conflicted on how to rate this campground. We reserved three nights over Memorial Day Weekend and there was an extreme wind event the whole time which made it rather cold. That’s certainly not the fault of the campground. It’s a rather large campground and every site widely varies as far as privacy and shade. We were at site 123 which we thought would be great because there’s no neighbor on one side. However, we felt the RV party at 122 encroached on our spot which made it feel less private and we only had a few trees separating us. They were nice people which made the experience better. Our site had a trail to the creek which was really lovely. There are two spots to purchase firewood within the campground which was super convenient. Some sites had no trees at all and experienced the brunt of the wind and their tents were hit hard. Keep in mind that this campground is settled in a valley so our site in particular did not get hit with the sun until 8am (but sunrise is at 530) and the sun was gone by 6pm ( but sunset is at 730). Be sure to drive down to the Little Lakes hike at the end of the main road but get there early in the AM because it was packed in the afternoon. So it wasn’t my favorite campground but I think the site you choose and the time of year you stay will make all the difference.