Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca)

Inyo National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: BISHOP, CA, CA

Price: From $35 per night

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (122 reviews)

Season: May through October

The campsites are well-spaced along the lake shore, with several tent-only, walk-in sites overlooking the lake. Boat rentals, educational programs, groceries and showers are all nearby. Firewood is available on-site for a fee.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Showers, Electric Hookups, Bear Boxes, Fishing, Firewood for Sale

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/rock-creek-lake-inyo-national-forest-ca to be notified when sites open up.

Rock Creek Lake offers exceptional trout fishing in the eastern Sierra Nevada with majestic scenery and challenging trails for hiking and mountain biking. Campers praise the clean campground with fantastic walk-in sites and plentiful first-come, first-serve spots.

Wildlife alert: American Black Bear present in area — use bear boxes provided. Also watch for Great Basin Rattlesnake, Great Basin Gopher Snake, and Mojave Patchnose Snake.

Insider tips for Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca): Choose walk-in sites for seclusion — avoid spots directly adjacent to parking areas if privacy is priority. Many first-come, first-serve sites available; arrive early for federal campground. Tamarack Trail trailhead begins in the campground for convenient access to hiking. Electric motors only on the lake — plan water activities accordingly.

Skip Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca) if: You need RV hookups — only suitable for self-contained RVs.. You plan to visit outside May through October — campground is seasonal.. You're sensitive to fishing-related litter — reviewers reported trash issues..

Best time to visit Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca): May through October — Official operating season for the campground..

Nearby campgrounds: Rock Creek Lake Group Camp (Inyo National Forest, Ca) (Bishop, CA), East Fork Campground – Inyo National Forest (Ca) (Bishop, CA), Aspen Group (Inyo) (Bishop, CA), French Camp (Bishop, CA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca)

Cell signal at Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca) (BISHOP, CA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

CamperWatch›CA›Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca)
Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca) — photo 1
Inyo National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca)

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BISHOP, CA, CA★ 4.3 (122 reviews)From $35/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

The campsites are well-spaced along the lake shore, with several tent-only, walk-in sites overlooking the lake. Boat rentals, educational programs, groceries and showers are all nearby. Firewood is available on-site for a fee.

Best for:AnglersHikersBoatersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
Bear boxesYes — at every site
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsElectric HookupsFirewood for Sale
Recreation
Picnic TablesBear Boxes
Family & Pets
ShowersFishing

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups — only suitable for self-contained RVs.✕ You plan to visit outside May through October — campground is seasonal.✕ You're sensitive to fishing-related litter — reviewers reported trash issues.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Choose walk-in sites for seclusion

avoid spots directly adjacent to parking areas if privacy is priority.

Many first-come, first-serve sites available; arrive early for federal campground.

Tamarack Trail trailhead begins in the campground for convenient access to hiking.

Electric motors only on the lake

plan water activities accordingly.

Best: May through October

Official operating season for the campground.

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: American Black Bear present in area — use bear boxes provided. Also watch for Great Basin Rattlesnake, Great Basin Gopher Snake, and Mojave Patchnose Snake.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
760-873-2500· Inyo National Forest
Getting there →

From Mammoth Lakes, California, drive south on Highway 395 for approximately 13 miles. Take the Tom's Place exit and proceed west up the canyon for about 10 miles. At the lake, follow the signs to the family campground.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Inyo National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Inyo National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca) cost per night?+
Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca) costs $35 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca) open?+
Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca) have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca)?+
Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca) is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca)?+
Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca) is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca)?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca) is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca) open, and what are check-in times?+
Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Forest Service Concessionaire
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$35 /night★ 4.3 (122)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca) cost per night?+
What season is Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca) open?+
Does Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, Ca) have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

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