Coldwater Campground - Inyo NF (CA)
Inyo National Forest, CAColdwater sits high in the pine forest at 8,900 feet, where Coldwater and Mammoth Creeks thread between boulders and campsites. Two loops pack sites fairly close together near the water, making this a social base camp for families tackling the Mammoth Lakes Basin trails or trying their luck with the trout in Lake Mary.
Campground Details
- 💵Fee per Night
- Free
- 📍GPS
- 37.59949, -118.99667
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 🗺️Address
- CA
The Camp
The campground spreads across two loops in a pine forest studded with boulders of all sizes. Sites cluster near Coldwater and Mammoth Creeks — close enough to hear the water, close enough to your neighbors that privacy isn't the selling point here. Each site comes with the standard kit: picnic table, fire ring, and bear-proof food locker. Pressurized water spigots and flush toilets are scattered throughout, a step up from the vault toilet experience you'll find at many high-elevation camps.
The creek access and boulder field give kids plenty to explore, while the 8,900-foot elevation means you'll want extra layers even in summer. Crystal clear Lake Mary sits nearby, one of several lakes that make up the Mammoth Lakes Basin.
Nearby
The 5-mile Duck Pass Trail climbs directly from behind the campground, threading through forest and past several lakes before cresting Duck Pass to meet the John Muir Trail. It's one of several major trailheads that launch from this area into the backcountry.
Lake Mary offers fishing for rainbow, brook, and brown trout — close enough for an evening cast or a morning attempt before the crowds arrive. The John Muir Wilderness stretches 100 miles along the Sierra crest from here, covering glacially-carved terrain that ranges from deep canyons to snow-capped peaks.
The Eastern Sierras support black bear, mountain lions, mule deer, pine marten, and pika. Keep food properly stored and stay alert, especially around dawn and dusk.