Palisades Group Campground sits in a shaded pocket of Rock Creek Canyon at 8,800 feet, designed for groups who want the eastern Sierra experience without the competition for individual sites. With five tables and fire rings arranged in a private loop, it handles large families or serves as overflow when Rock Creek Lake Group is booked.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Group
- 💵Fee per Night
- Free
- 📍GPS
- 37.48333, -118.71667
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 📞Phone
- 760-935-4825
- 🗺️Address
- CA
The Camp
The campground occupies the canyon bottom alongside Rock Creek, sheltered by aspen and lodgepole pine that provide solid shade at this elevation. Five picnic tables and fire rings sit within a single loop, giving groups space to spread out while staying together. At 8,800 feet, expect cool nights even in summer and the thin air that comes with high-elevation camping.
The setting puts you directly in the drainage that feeds some of the Sierra's best alpine fishing and hiking country. Rock Creek runs right past camp, and the steep canyon walls rising on both sides make clear you're in serious mountain terrain.
What to Know
This is group camping, designed for parties too large for standard sites. The facility doubles as overflow for the nearby Rock Creek Lake Group site when that's unavailable, accommodating groups of 25 or fewer. Call (760) 935-4824 for reservations and group size requirements.
Wildlife is active here — black bears, mountain lions, mule deer, and pine martens all move through the area. Store food properly and keep camp clean, especially with the creek attracting animals for water.
Nearby
Rock Creek offers brook, brown, rainbow, and stocked Alpers trout right from camp, with golden trout possible in backcountry waters accessible by trail. Several hiking routes lead from the canyon to high-elevation alpine lakes, putting serious Sierra Nevada terrain within reach.
The campground sits between two mountain towns with distinct personalities. Bishop hosts Mule Days over Memorial Day weekend, while Mammoth Lakes runs its Jazz Jubilee in mid-July. Both provide resupply options and a break from camp life when needed.