Campground

Coldwater Campground - Inyo NF (CA)

Inyo National Forest · California — managed by USDA Forest Service

Books out fast — 1 of 1 weekends we sampled are sold out
Coldwater Campground - Inyo NF (CA) campground
Photo: Recreation.gov · CLM

Weekend availability at Coldwater Campground - Inyo NF (CA)

Live from Recreation.gov · checked Sep 19, 8:44 AM PT

Sold out 2 of the next 2 weekends — exactly when cancellation alerts earn their keep.

  • Fri, Sep 18
    Sold out
  • Fri, Sep 25
    Sold out

Friday + Saturday nights, sites bookable both nights. Counts come from a rotating sweep and can lag a cancellation by up to a day — alerts watch your exact dates within minutes.

How booked is Coldwater Campground - Inyo NF (CA)?

as of September 19

Weekends book out well ahead here — 1 of the 1 Saturdays we sampled, as far out as Sep, are already sold out. When a site frees up it's gone again within minutes, so people watch Coldwater Campground - Inyo NF (CA) and hear the instant one opens for their dates. Weekdays still have room — for now.

Weekends (Saturday night)

Sep 26Sold out

Weekdays (Wednesday night)

Sep 23Open

Availability checked directly against the reservation system, out to 3 months ahead.

Campsites & amenities

Site-level details from Recreation.gov's official catalog.

Campsites
74
Max rig length
43 ft
Standard No Hookup

About this campground

Overview Coldwater Campground is located high in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains near the town of Mammoth Lakes, California. The surrounding national forest provides many opportunities for family fun, outdoor recreation and relaxation. Hiking, fishing, road cycling and picnicking are just some of the favorite activities available to campers.Recreation Coldwater offers easy access to fishing for rainbow, brook and brown trout in Lake Mary. Major trailheads lead into the backcountry. Several interesting trails offer a variety of hikes, including the 5-mile Duck Pass Trail, which climbs the forested hillside behind the campground and passes several lakes before heading over Duck Pass to join the John Muir Trail.Facilities Campsites are organized into two loops, with sites fairly close together and near either creek. Pressurized water spigots and flush toilets are provided throughout the facility, and there are picnic tables, campfire rings and bear-proof food storage lockers at each campsite.Natural Features This campground sits in a pine forest at an elevation of 8,900 feet. Large and small boulders are strewn about the campground. Coldwater and Mammoth Creeks run alongside the campsites. Crystal clear Lake Mary, one of several lakes in the Mammoth Lakes Basin, is nearby. The Eastern Sierras are abundant with wildlife, including black bear, mountain lions, mule deer, pine marten, pika and many species of fish and birds. Nearby Attractions Visitors can explore the magnificent John Muir Wilderness, which stretches 100 miles along the crest of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, a land of lofty snow-capped mountains, deep canyons and vast expanses of glacially-carved terrain. Hiking and horseback riding trails are abundant.Charges & Cancellations Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.

Getting there

Coldwater Campground is 320 miles north of Los Angeles and 180 miles south of Reno. Follow U.S. Highway 395 to the junction of State Highway 203. Turn west on 203 and drive 7 miles through the town of Mammoth Lakes. Highway 203 becomes Main Street, then Lake Mary Road, which will lead to the Lakes Basin. Continue on Lake Mary Road to the Coldwater Campground cutoff on the left.

Elevation
8,929 ftCold nights, seasonal snow
Contact
760-873-2400
Inyo National Forest office

Activities

  • SWIMMING SITE
  • WILDLIFE VIEWING
  • HORSEBACK RIDING
  • HIKING
  • FISHING
  • CAMPING
  • BOATING
  • BIKING

Nearby federal campgrounds

Never miss an opening at Coldwater Campground - Inyo NF (CA)

Popular California campgrounds book out months ahead — but cancellations happen every day. We watch Coldwater Campground - Inyo NF (CA) around the clock and alert you the moment a sold-out site reopens for your dates, so you don't have to keep refreshing Recreation.gov.

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We'll email you if Coldwater Campground - Inyo NF (CA) opens up for a weekend you pick. No account needed.

Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office or on Recreation.gov before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.