Pine Glen operates as the group camping extension of New Shady Rest, with nine sites arranged around a single loop at 7,800 feet in the Jeffrey pines. It's designed for larger parties who want a base camp for exploring Mammoth Lakes without the scramble for individual sites during peak season.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Group
- 💵Fee per Night
- Free
- 📍GPS
- 37.64891, -118.95801
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 🗺️Address
- CA
The Camp
The sites sit under mature Jeffrey pines that provide genuine shade—a commodity at this elevation. Each of the nine group sites comes with the standard setup: picnic tables, fire rings, and trash service, with flush toilets serving the loop. You can buy firewood on-site rather than hauling it up the mountain.
Being positioned at the end of New Shady Rest means you're connected to that campground's amenities, including a paved trail system that links to other nearby campgrounds and extends to Shady Rest Town Park and Mammoth Lakes proper. Showers and a dump station are within a few miles when you need them.
What to Know
Group reservations follow the standard Recreation.gov rules: once your dates begin, changes aren't happening. Pine Glen fills up during Mammoth's busy summer season, particularly around the Jazz Jubilee in mid-July when the town hosts its annual music festival.
The 7,800-foot elevation means nights stay cool even in summer, and wildlife is common. Black bears know campgrounds equal food opportunities, so proper food storage isn't optional. Mountain lions, mule deer, and smaller mountain residents like pine martens and pikas live in these forests.
Nearby
The eastern Sierra trout fishing reputation is earned, with multiple creeks and lakes within driving distance. Mountain bikers and hikers have access to the trail systems that make Mammoth Lakes a destination, though specific trailheads aren't detailed from this location.
Day trips expand your options considerably: Yosemite National Park, Mono Basin, and Devils Postpile National Monument are all accessible for those willing to drive. The diversity keeps larger groups with varying interests occupied.