Upper Sage Flat puts you right along Big Pine Creek in a narrow canyon setting, with paved parking aprons and flush toilets making it accessible for families. The creek runs through camp under Jeffrey pines and cottonwoods, stocked annually with trout and deep enough for swimming.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Developed
- 💵Fee per Night
- Free
- 📍GPS
- 37.12583, -118.43389
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 📞Phone
- 760-935-4339
- 🗺️Address
- CA
The Camp
The campground spreads along Big Pine Creek beneath a canopy of Jeffrey pines and cottonwoods, nine miles west of Big Pine. Most parking aprons stretch 40 feet and come paved — a consideration if you're pulling something large. Each site includes the standard picnic table and fire ring setup, with flush toilets and drinking water available throughout the campground.
The creek forms the centerpiece here, running along the base of the narrow canyon and providing both the soundtrack and the main attraction for most campers.
The Water
Big Pine Creek gets stocked annually with rainbow, brown, brook, and alpers trout, making it productive for anglers working the pools and runs through camp. The water runs deep enough for swimming, a relief during hot Eastern Sierra days. If you need more room to spread out on the water, Tinemaha Reservoir sits nearby with additional fishing opportunities and space for power boating.
Access to Wilderness
The Big Pine Creek Trail starts as a 1.5-mile footpath that connects to John Muir Wilderness trails. From here, you can push deeper into the backcountry toward Palisades Glacier — the southernmost glacier in the country. The contrast between developed camping along the creek and wilderness access makes Upper Sage Flat a solid base camp for groups mixing car camping with day hiking.
For facility-specific questions, call (760) 872-4552.