Campground Details - CONVICT LAKE CAMPGROUND, CA - ReserveAmerica

Overview

Convict Lake Campground is situated near Convict Lake amidst the beautiful scenery of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The lake and surrounding national forest provide many opportunities for family fun, outdoor recreation and relaxation.

The campground and nearby resort offer many amenities for a convenient and enjoyable camping experience. The facility is located between Mammoth Lakes and Bishop, California, near Mammoth Airport.

Natural Features:

The campground sits at an elevation of 7,500 ft. and provides gorgeous views of the lake and the dramatic mountain scenery. Convict Creek runs through the campground, and the 167-acre Convict Lake is about 100 yards away. Shrubs and low vegetation fill in the landscape, though tall aspen and cottonwood trees grow along the creek.

The area is abundant with wildlife, including black bears, mountain lions, mule deer, pine marten, pika and many species of fish and birds.

Recreation:

The eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains are known for exceptional trout fishing. Anglers can cast a line for rainbow and brown trout in the creek or lake. Power boats are limited to electric motors on the lake (six horsepower or less).

The area's majestic scenery and variety of trails draw in hikers, mountain bikers and equestrian enthusiasts. The 3.5-mile Lake Trail can be accessed from the campground, and many other trails are in nearby John Muir Wilderness.

Facilities:

This is a fairly large and well-organized facility with both reservable and first-come, first-served campsites. A few sites overlook the lake, while others are a short distance from the shore. Sites are spaced fairly close together.

Flush toilets, drinking water, hot showers and a dump station are provided, as well as food storage lockers for safety from bears.

Campers can purchase firewood on-site. A store, pack station, boat rentals, restaurant, showers and other amenities are just down the road at the Convict Lake Resort.

Nearby Attractions:

Visitors can explore the magnificent John Muir Wilderness, which stretches for 100 miles along the crest of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is a land of lofty snow-capped mountains, deep canyons and vast expanses of glacially-carved terrain, and offers extensive hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails.

Activities and Amenities

Within Facility
Accessible Boat Ramp Accessible Flush Toilets Accessible Sites Accessible Swimming Accessible Trails Amphitheater Bait Shop Biking Birding Boat Rentals Boat Trailer Parking Boating Cabin Rentals Canoeing Drinking Water Dump Station Firewood Fishing Food Storage Locker General Store Grills Hiking Horseback Riding	Host Hunting Ice Machine Kayaking Lake Access Lodging Mountain Biking Parking Area Paved Parking Spurs Paved Roads Pay Phone Picnic Tables Restaurant Rock Climbing Showers Skiing Snowshoeing Swimming Trailheads Trash Collection Vault Toilets Wildlife Viewing
Within 10 Miles
Bike Rentals Fish Hatchery Hospital Laundry Facilities Medical Facilities	Off-Road Vehicle Trails RV Parking Recycling Visitor Center

Know Before You Go

No electricity, water or sewer site hookups
First-come, first-served sites are available
A fee of $7 for extra vehicles will be collected on-site
No ATVs or ORVs allowed in the facility
Convict Lake is a no-wake lake
Generators allowed only during non-quiet hours; three-hour maximum run time and must be attended while running
Day use parking is adjacent to the campground
There is 24-hour access to this facility
Dogs are allowed and must be leashed
This is a high elevation facility; please use caution when traveling from lower elevations; campground usually not clear of snow until late May or early June
Be bear aware; keep all food out of site in approved containers or locked inside your vehicle and remove all food from area after eating; always keep a clean camp and do not feed any wild animals
Inyo National Forest website

Hiking within the Inyo Wilderness requires a special permit for both day and overnight stays. These permits are managed through a limited allocation system. Please CLICK HERE if you are interested in more information on these permits.

Getting There:

GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
37.59889, -118.85083
37°35'56"N, 118°51'3"W

Convict Lake Campground is about 34 miles north of Bishop, California on Highway 395. From Bishop, travel north on 395. The turnoff to the campground is across from Mammoth Yosemite Airport and is well-signed. From Mammoth Lakes, travel on Highway 395 south for 5 miles. Turn west off of Highway 395.