Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp

Inyo National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: Lee Vining, CA, CA

Price: From $125 per night

Rating: 3.2 out of 5 (5 reviews)

Season: May through October

Trailhead Group Campground is located in the eastern high Sierra Nevada Mountains of California at just over 10,000 feet in elevation. Also known as Saddlebag Lake Group Campground, the facility is adjacent to the scenic lake and provides a quiet mountain getaway for groups of up to 25 people. It is within a two-hour drive of Yosemite National Park and Mono Lake, and lies next to the Hoover Wilderness.One group area is available for tents only.

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Fishing, Boat Launch

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/saddlebag-lake-trailhead-group-camp to be notified when sites open up.

High-elevation alpine lake campground in the eastern Sierra Nevada at over 10,000 feet, offering a scenic mountain retreat adjacent to Saddlebag Lake with hiking, fishing, and boating opportunities. Google reviewers consistently praise the pristine facilities and helpful camp host.

Wildlife alert: American Pika, Yellow-bellied Marmot, Alpine Chipmunk, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Burrowing Owl, and Bald Eagle documented in the area. Bear boxes available at site.

Insider tips for Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp: This is a group camp for up to 25 people—book early as it is a federal campground with high demand Camp host Mark maintains spotless restrooms and facilities; follow posted rules to maintain this standard Site accommodates multiple medium tents with room to spare and includes bear boxes, picnic tables, and grills

Skip Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp if: You need hookups—no hookups available. You prefer single-site camping—this is a group campground with 1 site for groups only. You're visiting outside May-October—seasonal operations only.

Best time to visit Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp: May-October — Official seasonal operations window.

Nearby campgrounds: Trumbull Lake (BRIDGEPORT, CA), Tuolumne Meadows Campground (Yosemite National Park, CA (High Country)), Green Creek Group (BRIDGEPORT, CA), Crags Campground (BRIDGEPORT, CA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp

Cell signal at Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp (Lee Vining, 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
CamperWatch›CA›Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp
Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp — photo 1
Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp — photo 2
Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp — photo 3
Inyo National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp

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Lee Vining, CA, CA★ 3.2 (5 reviews)From $125/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Trailhead Group Campground is located in the eastern high Sierra Nevada Mountains of California at just over 10,000 feet in elevation. Also known as Saddlebag Lake Group Campground, the facility is adjacent to the scenic lake and provides a quiet mountain getaway for groups of up to 25 people. It is within a two-hour drive of Yosemite National Park and Mono Lake, and lies next to the Hoover Wilderness.One group area is available for tents only.

Best for:AnglersHikersBoatersFamiliesSites:Tent
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
Max RV25 ft
HookupsNo hookups.
PetsAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDrinking Water
Recreation
Picnic TablesFishing
Family & Pets
Flush ToiletsBoat Launch

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 hookups—no hookups available✕ You prefer single-site camping—this is a group campground with 1 site for groups only✕ You're visiting outside May-October—seasonal operations only

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

This is a group camp for up to 25 people

book early as it is a federal campground with high demand

Camp host Mark maintains spotless restrooms and facilities; follow posted rules to maintain this standard

Site accommodates multiple medium tents with room to spare and includes bear boxes, picnic tables, and grills

Best: May-October

Official seasonal operations window

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 Pika, Yellow-bellied Marmot, Alpine Chipmunk, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Burrowing Owl, and Bald Eagle documented in the area. Bear boxes available at site.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
760-873-2400· Inyo National Forest
Getting there →

Take U.S. Highway 395 in California to its junction with State Highway 120 west. Take 120 west 10 miles toward Tioga Pass. Turn right on Forest Road 1N04 to Saddlebag Lake. Proceed up 1N04 for 2.4 miles. Take the first right just past the open gate on the road. The campground is on the right, just past the restroom.

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 Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp cost per night?+
Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp costs $125 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp open?+
Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp?+
Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp can accommodate RVs up to 25 feet.
How do I make reservations at Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp?+
Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp 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 Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp open, and what are check-in times?+
Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Vista Recreation
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●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.

$125 /night★ 3.2 (5)
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 Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp cost per night?+
What season is Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp open?+
Does Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Trumbull Lake

BRIDGEPORT, CA

From $34/night

Tuolumne Meadows Campground

Yosemite National Park, CA (High Country)

From $36/night

Green Creek Group

BRIDGEPORT, CA

From $97.75/night

Crags Campground

BRIDGEPORT, CA

From $30/night

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