Coldwater Campground - Inyo Nf (CA)

Inyo National Forest

Coldwater Campground is located high in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains near the town of Mammoth Lakes, California. The surrounding national forest provides many opportunities for family fun, outdoor recreation and relaxation. Hiking, fishing, road cycling and picnicking are just some of the favorite activities available to campers.

Campsites are organized into two loops, with sites fairly close together and near either creek. Pressurized water spigots and flush toilets are provided throughout the facility, and there are picnic tables, campfire rings and bear-proof food storage lockers at each campsite.

Need to Know

• Please Note: One RV with tow 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. 

• No showers or electric hookups available
• 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

• Only two pets per site allowed.

• Reserved Sites will be held until checkout time (NOON) the day following your arrival date. Sites must be occupied by the checkout time of the second day to hold a reservation or the site will be forfeited and released to other guests. Please call the office at 760-934-5795 if you need to inform the campground of an arrival time greater than 24 hours after your arrival date, or if you will not use your reservation whatsoever.

• Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.

• 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. For current fire conditions or weather closures contact the Mammoth Lakes Visitor Center, (760) 924-5500, or the Mono Lakes Visitor Center, (760) 647-3044.

• Refunds: Refund requests made through www.recreation.gov will be charged a $10 processing fee. This fee is retained by the reservation service contractor along with the non-refundable reservation fee. All requests for the return of the non-refundable reservation fee and the cancellation fee will be declined by the campground concessionaire as they did not receive these fees (these are the fees retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).

• 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.
• Inyo National Forest website

Natural Features

This campground sits in a pine forest at an elevation of 8,900 feet. Large and small boulders are strewn about the campground. Coldwater and Mammoth Creeks run alongside the campsites. Crystal clear Lake Mary, one of several lakes in the Mammoth Lakes Basin, is nearby.

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

Nearby Attractions

Visitors can explore the magnificent John Muir Wilderness, which stretches 100 miles along the crest of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, a land of lofty snow-capped mountains, deep canyons and vast expanses of glacially-carved terrain. Hiking and horseback riding trails are abundant.

Recreation

Coldwater offers easy access to fishing for rainbow, brook and brown trout in Lake Mary. Major trailheads lead into the backcountry. Several interesting trails offer a variety of hikes, including the 5-mile Duck Pass Trail, which climbs the forested hillside behind the campground and passes several lakes before heading over Duck Pass to join the John Muir Trail.

Changes & Cancellations

Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.

Contact Information

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CA

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

Coldwater Campground is 320 miles north of Los Angeles and 180 miles south of Reno. 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, then Lake Mary Road, which will lead to the Lakes Basin. Continue on Lake Mary Road to the Coldwater Campground cutoff on the left.

Available Campsites

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

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