Camping Near Mono Lake & Eastern Yosemite: The Ultimate Guide
Discover the Best Camping in the Mono Basin
The Mono Basin and the eastern gateway to Yosemite offer some of the most breathtaking and diverse camping options in the Sierra Nevada. Whether you’re looking for lakeside retreats, high-elevation campgrounds, or easy access to Yosemite’s high country, this guide will help you choose the perfect campsite for your adventure.
Best Camping Regions & Sites
1. June Lake Loop: A Scenic Alpine Retreat
Best for: Lakeside camping, fishing, and family-friendly stays
- Oh! Ridge Campground – Stunning views over June Lake, beach access
- Silver Lake Campground – Great for fishing and hiking the Rush Creek Trail
- Reversed Creek Campground – Shady, quieter alternative
- June Lake Campground – Close to town, ideal for water activities
- Big Springs Campground
- Bloody Canyon Trailhead
- Deadman Campground, Upper and Lower
- Glass Creek Campground
- Gull Lake Campground
- Hartley Springs Campground
Local Tip: Visit in fall for peak aspen colors!
2. Lee Vining & Mono Lake: Gateway to Yosemite
Best for: Yosemite access, unique landscapes, and stargazing
- Aspen Campground – Small, quiet, and picturesque in fall
- Lower Lee Vining Campground – Near Lee Vining Creek, great for anglers
- Saddlebag Lake Campground – 10,000 ft elevation, access to Hoover Wilderness
- Tioga Lake Campground – Near Yosemite’s eastern entrance, first-come, first-served
- Big Bend Campground
- Ellery Lake Campground
- Junction Campground
- Lundy Canyon Campground
- Moraine Campground
- Sawmill Walk-in Campground
Local Tip: Tioga Lake and Saddlebag Lake are great alternatives if Tuolumne Meadows is full.
3. Virginia Lakes to Sonora Pass & Bridgeport: Remote Wilderness
Best for: High-altitude camping, fishing, and hiking
- Trumbull Lake Campground – Excellent for Virginia Lakes hiking
- Green Creek Campground – Remote with beautiful fishing spots
- Buckeye Campground – Near Buckeye Hot Springs
- Robinson Creek Campgrounds (North/South) – Close to Twin Lakes, great for anglers
- Bootleg Campground
- Chris Flat Campground
- Crags Campground
- Desert Creek Campground
- Honeymoon Flat Campground
- Leavitt Meadows Campground
- Lower Twin Lake Campground
- Lower Virginia Creek Primitive Campground
- Obsidian Campground
- Paha Campground
- Sonora Bridge Campground
- Upper Virginia Creek Primitive Campground
Local Tip: Bring bug spray in early summer—mosquitoes love high-elevation lakes!
Top Hikes & Fishing Spots in the Mono Basin
Top Hikes:
- Rush Creek Trail – Stunning waterfalls and alpine lakes
- Parker Lake Trail – Short but rewarding hike to a pristine lake
- Saddlebag Lake to Conness Lakes – High-altitude alpine paradise
- Lundy Canyon Trail – Waterfalls, wildflowers, and old mining ruins
Best Fishing Spots:
- June Lake Loop – Silver Lake and Gull Lake are fishing favorites
- Virginia Lakes – Beautiful alpine fishing, ideal for trout
- Twin Lakes (Bridgeport) – One of the best trout fishing locations in the Sierra
- Green Creek – Remote fishing with breathtaking scenery
Essential Gear for Your Mono Basin Camping Trip
To make the most of your camping experience, ensure you have the right gear. Check out these Cabela’s essentials for your trip:
Camping Must-Haves:
- Tents: Shop durable tents at Cabela’s
- Sleeping Bags: Find cold-weather sleeping bags
- Camping Stoves: Lightweight and efficient options
- Bear Canisters: Essential for food storage in bear country
- Hiking Gear: Trekking poles, backpacks, and more
- Fishing Gear: Don’t forget your fishing gear if camping in this region. epic fishing awaits
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Key Tips for Camping in the Mono Basin
✅ Seasonal Closures: Campgrounds are open from late spring to early fall; snowpack may delay openings.
✅ Reservations: Many sites require reservations on Recreation.gov. Some operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
✅ Bear Safety: Store food properly—bear-proof containers are required in many areas.
✅ High-Altitude Camping: Be prepared for cold nights and potential altitude sickness.
✅ Dispersed Camping: Allowed in some National Forest areas—always follow Leave No Trace principles.
Dispersed Camping– Lundy Canyon & Crestview
In general, the area from Mono Lake south towards the Crestview area and east of Hwy 395 is open to dispersed camping. Be aware, however, that forest service roads wind throughout Bureau of Land Management, National Forest, and privately-owned lands and that the latter are off limits to camping. Areas open to dispersed camping have a 28-day stay limit per six-month period and are free of charge. Some sites—such as Sagehen Meadows, Crooked Meadows, Taylor Canyon, Sawmill Meadows, and Bald Mountain Springs—are equipped with pit toilets and picnic tables. Within the Lee Vining and Lundy Canyon areas as well as the June Lake Loop, dispersed camping is illegal and campers must stay within developed campgrounds.
MONO LAKE
Camping around Mono Lake and its shore is allowed but you must select a site that is above the 1941 shoreline (roughly where the brushy vegetation begins). For those individuals wanting to camp at the eastern shore of the lake, be advised that the 4-wheel drive route that circumvents the lake is primitive at best and incredibly sandy; only experienced 4-wheel drivers with high clearance vehicles should attempt it. At the South Tufa Reserve, Navy Beach, Mono Mills, Mono County Park, Old Marina, and Panum Crater parking lot, camping is prohibited. In addition, private property is also off-limits to dispersed camping. Check with the staff at the Mono Basin Visitor Center for more information about where you can and cannot camp.
CAMPFIRES
Should you decide to have a campfire, barbecue, or to use a stove not contained within an RV/camper, you must possess a valid California State Campfire Permit. You can obtain these free of charge at any Forest Service, BLM, or California Department of Forestry office or on-line at www.preventwildfireca.org. When fire restrictions are in effect, campfires are not permitted but the use of gas-operated cook stoves is allowable. Since fire regulations and restrictions can change at any time, it is best to contact the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center for current conditions at (760) 647-3044.
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