French Camp

Inyo National Forest

French Camp lies in the Rock Creek area of the scenic Sierra Nevada Mountains, near Tom's Place and midway between Bishop and Mammoth Lakes, California. Its ideal location makes this campground a good stop for travelers on U.S. Highway 395 to rest overnight.

Hiking opportunities are vast, and the creekside campground is convenient for fishing. The facility is large and inviting, with forest and mountain views and several amenities.

Opening and closing dates for the season are dependent on weather.

French Camp is a large facility with a variety of settings for tents and small to medium RVs (no hookups available). A few campsites can accommodate medium to large RVs and trailers.

Sites are organized in one large loop, with some along the banks of the creek. Each has a picnic table and campfire ring.

Firewood is available on-site for purchase, and nearby Tom's Place offers additional supplies and fee showers.

Need to Know

• Trailers/RVs over 35ft not recommended

• Changing campsites in this campground is prohibited.
• This is a high elevation facility; please use caution when traveling from lower elevations.
• 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.

• Two pets per site allowed. 

• Please Note: One RV with tow vehicle per single site or one vehicle per tent site. Most sites can accommodate 1 extra vehicle that is not included with the reservation fee. Extra vehicle will be charged a per night fee and collected at the campground. 

• Fire Restrictions: Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed. 

• Reserved Sites will be held until check out time (NOON) the day following your arrival date. Sites must be occupied by the checkout time of that following day to hold a reservation or the site will be forfeited and released to other guests. Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.

• Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.

• Click here for more information about Inyo National Forest.

Natural Features

Campers will experience the beauty of pines and fragrant junipers that have come to represent Inyo National Forest. The campground sits among aspens, pinyon and ponderosa and Jeffrey pines at an elevation of 7,500 ft.

The clear, cold and cascading Rock Creek, which originates in the John Muir Wilderness, runs alongside it. Brushy landscape and ample boulders in the area are fun to explore and traverse.

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

Nearby Attractions

For campers interested in local events, Mule Days are held in nearby Bishop over Memorial Day weekend, and the Mammoth Jazz Jubilee is hosted in Mammoth in mid-July.

Recreation

Rock Creek and other waterways in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains are known for their exceptional trout fishing. A catch from the creek may includ brook, brown, rainbow and stocked Alpers trout.

The area's majestic scenery and challenging trails are an obvious draw for hikers and mountain bikers.

Because of the region's interesting geology, rockhounding is also popular.

Contact Information

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INYO CA

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: 760-935-4825

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

From Bishop or Mammoth Lakes, California, follow U.S. Highway 395 (about 30 miles north of Bishop). Take the Tom's Place exit and go 1 mile on Rock Creek Road.

Available Campsites

• Site 085, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 041, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 020, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 079, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 046, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 067, Loop FREN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 071, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 065, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 037, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 050, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 006, Loop FREN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 057, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 017, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 044, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 015, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 008, Loop FREN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 032, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 029, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 058, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 024, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 052, Loop FREN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 070, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 053, Loop FREN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 075, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 080, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 059, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 069, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 007, Loop FREN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 013, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 060, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 039, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 062, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 034, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 028, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 051, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 009, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 040, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 021, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 056, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 084, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 064, Loop FREN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 036, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 011, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 072, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 038, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 078, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 063, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 003, Loop FREN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 025, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 033, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 083, Loop FREN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 023, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 045, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 005, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 042, Loop FREN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 074, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 043, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 054, Loop FREN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 031, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 055, Loop FREN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 022, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 010, Loop FREN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 081, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 048, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 068, Loop FREN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 002, Loop FREN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 004, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 061, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 073, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 077, Loop FREN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 026, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 012, Loop FREN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 018, Loop FREN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 066, Loop FREN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 016, Loop FREN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 049, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 047, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 030, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 001, Loop FREN, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 027, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 014, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 019, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 035, Loop FREN, Type Standard Nonelectric

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