Rock Creek Canyon Campgrounds

04/17/2025

Vista Recreation is now ExplorUS. Visit the website below for info about our campgrounds as well as a link to apply for a job as a host at our campgrounds.

Stretching from the towering summit of Mt. Whitney to the alpine beauty of Mammoth Lakes, the Inyo National Forest offers a stunning variety of campgrounds and recreational opportunities for every kind of outdoor enthusiast. Campgrounds range from developed sites with amenities like those at Lone Pi...

07/05/2024

Please have some respect and don't do this. Painted rocks and cairns aren't cool anymore.

07/20/2023

Attention Rock Creek Lake campers. If you look up Rock Creek Campground on the Forest Service web site and see a caution banner about the water system in the campground, you're looking at the wrong Rock Creek Campground.
The campground that has that banner is Rock Creek campground in the Deschutes National Forest, not our beloved Rock Creek Lake Campground in the Inyo. I've answered like 15 calls in the last week about this subject, including one from the Forest Service 🤣

06/30/2023

Finally! Rock Creek Lake campground is open.
Pine Grove and Upper Pine Grove campgrounds are also both open.
Iris Meadow and Big Meadow will probably remain closed this season due to high water levels in the creek.

06/14/2023

Good tips for campers.

Hike in groups. Bears like to have options.

Don’t we all? Your safety is your responsibility while hiking in national parks. Planning is an important step in being prepared for any adventure. Although it’s generally safer to hike with a companion, if you prefer to go solo, take a few extra measures, like leaving a trip plan with a trusted friend or family member.

If you’re hiking in bear country alone or with a group, making noise on the trail can alert a bear, or other wildlife, to your presence before you surprise it. Talk to your partners (keep it light, Carol) and occasionally sing loudly. Yell “hello!” You can add in “it's me” if you’re feelin’ it. You can also clap your hands (if you’re happy and you know it) to let any bears know you're coming through. Wow. That’s not even on a beat. Doesn’t matter. Moving on.

Bear pepper spray can be an important thing to carry when exploring the back country. It’s used defensively to stop an aggressive, charging, or attacking bear. Bear pepper spray and human pepper spray are not the same. Also, it’s not like bug spray or intended to spice up your campfire meal. That’s a spicy meatball. Always check park rules and regulations to see if bear pepper spray is recommended or allowed for the activities you have planned. In conclusion, have fun, be safe, and hike smart.

Find more tips at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/safety.htm

Image: Screenshot of National Park Service tweet that reads, “Hike in groups. Bears like to have options.”

06/03/2023

Be on the lookout...

CDFW has confirmed that multiple sightings of what is believed to be the same wolverine occurred in May in the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains

05/31/2023

Hi Rock Creek campers. Although we had to cancel the reservations at Tuff campground due to the water blocking off the back half of the campground the front 17 sites are open on a first come first serve basis. If you can't find a spot anywhere, give Tuff a try. Off Owens Gorge Road across 395 from Tom's Place. Come on down, my host is lonely!

05/29/2023

Please be careful. We don't need anything else like this to happen.

On Saturday, May 27, 2023, at about 2:50p.m. Inyo County Sheriff's Office received a call of a 58 year old female who fell into Bishop Creek east of Aspendell. The female was reportedly unconscious and stuck in the water on a log. Inyo County Sheriff Deputies, CAL-Fire, Forest Service, Aspendell Volunteer Fire Department, Bishop Volunteer Fire Department, Coast to Coast Ambulance Service, along with Riverside City Fire Department, Cal-Oes Swift Water Rescue Team #6, who is currently on standby in Inyo County responded.

The victim’s son attempted to rescue his mother but was also swept away due to the fast-moving water. The son self rescued himself and summoned emergency personnel. The Swift Water Team was able to reach the victim after multiple attempts of entering the dangerous conditions and recovered the deceased victim.

We would like to remind everyone with run off increasing daily the waterways in the area have become a safety hazard causing several areas to be closed. We urge everyone not attempt to stand near or cross the fast moving water. One slip on the unstable banks or rocks can lead to a life threatening situation.

05/25/2023

After many long hours and much hard work by our crews I'm excited to announce that Tuff Campground and French Camp Campground will open today. Potable water and flush toilets available as normal. It's been an eventful spring after a hard winter, but we're ready to go.

Campgrounds further up the canyon are not open yet due to the remaining snowpack and extensive avalanche damage that occurred over the winter, but you can be assured that we will be working with our partners in the Forest Service to get as many campgrounds as we can open as soon as possible.

05/17/2023

04/13/2023

The first 2 weeks of reservations for Convict Lake, McGee Creek, Tuff, and French Camp campgrounds have been cancelled. Anywhere from 4' to 8' of snow remaining in all campgrounds. Looks like all the campgounds in the Rock Creek drainage will be late in opening also.