Facility Details - TWIN LAKES CAMPGROUND, CA

Overview

Twin Lakes Campground is located in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains near the town of Mammoth Lakes, California. It offers lakeside camping with breathtaking scenery and many outdoor activities. The lake is a great base for fishing, boating, viewing waterfalls and hiking, and offers close proximity to the town's amenities.

Natural Features:

The campground is forested with lodgepole pine, providing partial shade and a private setting. It sits at an elevation of 8,600 feet at the base of snow-capped, 11,059' Mammoth Mountain, a popular skiing destination. A cascading waterfall flows into one of the lakes.

The mountains are abundant with wildlife, including black bear, mountain lions, mule deer, pine marten, pika and many species of fish and birds.

Recreation:

The eastern Sierras are known for great trout fishing, and the 108-acre lakes are a prime location for it. Anglers can cast for rainbow, brook and brown trout while watching a waterfall tumble into the lake. The calm waters are also inviting for canoes and kayaks. Power boats must have electric motors.

Several trails offer a variety of hikes nearby, including a 4-mile trail on Mammoth Mountain and two shorter nature trails along the lakes.

Families enjoy attending educational programs scheduled throughout the summer.

Facilities:

This is a large facility with campsites split into two sections on either side of Twin Lakes. Sections 1 and 2 are on the west side, closer to the shore. Section 3 is set upon a hill. Picnic tables, campfire rings, flush toilets and drinking water are provided.

Campers can walk to the facility's general store for boat rentals, camping supplies and showers.

Nearby Attractions:

Mammoth Lakes Basin contains several additional popular lakes to explore for fishing and boating, and Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort offers year-round recreation.

Visitors can also access the magnificent John Muir Wilderness nearby, which stretches 100 miles along the crest of the Sierra Nevadas, a land of lofty snow-capped mountains, deep canyons and vast expanses of glacially-carved terrain. Abundant hiking and horseback riding trails are available.

Activities and Amenities

Within Facility
Boat Ramp Campfire Rings Drinking Water Dump Station Fee Station Firewood Fishing Fishing Pier Flush Toilets Food Storage Locker	General Store Host Parking Paved Roads Pets Allowed Propane Fuel Available Restroom Showers Trash Collection
Within 10 Miles
Biking Hiking	Horseback Riding Mountain Biking

Know Before You Go

In accordance with standard industry practices, Inyo Recreation will assess an additional $5 vehicle fee for the "second vehicle" in each single family campsite, and on the "third and fourth vehicle" in any double family campsite, provided these vehicles are not joined to the first vehicle by a hitch and towed onto the site. In the case of motorcycles, the first two are considered one vehicle, and the third and fourth motorcycle are also considered one vehicle. No additional vehicle fees are collected for bicycles.
First-come, first-served sites available through Oct. 30
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 sight 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

This facility is operated by Inyo Recreation, doing business as California Land Management. Comments are appreciated; see campground hosts or access comment forms online.

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 for more information.

Getting There:

GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
37.61583, -119.00694
37°36'57"N, 119°0'25"W

The campground is 320 miles north of Los Angeles and 180 miles south of Reno, Nevada. Follow U.S. Highway 395 to the junction of State Highway 203. Turn west on 203 and drive 7 miles through the town of Mammoth Lakes. Highway 203 becomes Main Street, and then becomes Lake Mary Road, which leads to the Lakes Basin. Continue on Lake Mary Road to the Twin Lakes cutoff.