Big Pine Creek Campground - Big Pine, California

TERESA ?. S. R.

Big Pine Lakes is a beautiful trail. It's well marked and clean. The trail is considered hard. around June or July, the trail is covered with lush vegetation and wild flowers. Being out in nature and being mesmerized by mother nature beauty the trek becomes more bearable. Especially once you reach the lakes, the long challenging trek is well worth it. It's about 15 miles to all the 7 lakes and 8-10 hours, depending on your pace.

Michael H.

Beautiful campground very close to an amazing trailhead and on Big Pine Creek. Pit toilets and no water, so come prepared. This was campsite #14. It was nestled in a nice patch of trees that felt very private, with a short walk to the creek.

Erik B.

A great campground, clean and nicely laid out. Very good spots for vehicles with tents, and several very suitable for small trailers or RVs.

Notably, when you enter the driveway you are actually entering a separate RV trailer campground. Drive through that, heading back East, and you will find a Park Service sign indicating you've come to the correct part and correct campground.

Tracy T.

Beautiful, special place next to a river. Hiking access to some of the best views around with the Big Pine Lakes and the glacier. Non smelly pit toilets and I think the store is open now. Sleeping at 7700' MSL. Store is open. Update: no bears have been seen yet this year at the campground per host. showers are $7 at lodge - you bring the supplies. New photo.

Jamie B.

Absolutely gorgeous campsite. Wanted to get away from the chaos of the city and this is certainly the place! Camping is in a first come, first serve basis. There is a kiosk when you arrive with envelopes to insert the nightly fee (bring cash!). The campground manager lives on site in an RV near the front. Each site also comes with a firepit that includes a removable grill for cooking. There is a creek the runs right next to the campsite and our site was a minute walk from it. The sites gather into the campground are nicely spread apart, so you are not right next to your neighbor. There is a great hiking trail about a 5 minute walk from the grounds. The photos surreal for themselves. Will definitely be visiting again. Oh and speaking of away from the city- this place is definitely off the grid. No cell service!

Merrill H.

This is our secret getaway, stay out! 😉 Also, I'm not sure why anybody comes here because... (enjoy!)...

No running water. No flushing toilets. No electricity. No dump. No propane. Difficult, narrow, broken-down, pot-holed, roadway through camp with large bumps from tree roots which will toss around the insides of your RV and test your suspension. The road is a great place for your kids to lose skin. There is no space between tree trunks and the road through camp, and the scars on the sides of the trees serve as evidence. New RV driving not advisable. Extra-long rigs also not advisable. Your engine will overheat on the way up the mountain. Your brakes will smoke on the way down the mountain. It may be only a 7 mi road from 395, but plan on it taking 45 minutes or more in an RV... you will need to stop 1+ times to cool something off.

The pit toilets with questionable locking mechanisms, and scenic hole-in-the-ground charm, may also waft in your direction from time to time. Bears may attack your campsite, so use the bear boxes with intention. The bugs will get you. The chipmunks will throw things at you. The birds will steal your meal if you're not watching closely. Something new for this year, we were confronted by a 2-in diameter beetle, which we discovered in the dark around the campfire when it walked on my son's foot! According to him, the thing flew there.

Somehow, it's a little too hot in the sun to be comfortable during the day, and a little too cold at night to get a good night's rest.

Campers: It has rained here every single year I have visited this campground... including June, July, August, and now, September. Somehow, it's still dusty and dry.

The Creek, at this altitude, is about 2° above ice's melting point. After all, that's how the water got there.

Most of the best views are obscured by trees.

You can still see, hear, and smell your neighbor (well, at least their smokey campfire) from your campsite.

All things considered, $24/night is sorely overpriced. $8/bundle (5 pcs) for wood is a little steep too, but at least I didn't have to drag my own up the hill.

Get an oil change, coolant top off, and brake inspection before you visit this place.

Each individual site is unique in its own special way, and nature abounds.

Still beats dry, dusty, and hot Sage Flats at just ~1 mile earlier turnoff.

Lastly, I did not embellish, lie, or exaggerate about a single thing.

Michelle C.

Might be one of my favorite campgrounds now. An “Off the Grid” campground. There is zero cell service. There is also no potable water... BUT, there is river, so if you have a filtration system, it’s perfect. The campsite itself seams almost so far off the grid they have forgot about it. The paved roads are pretty bad, but we didn’t mind because the campground was still so awesome! The bathrooms were very clean. We went in early October so it was very quiet and also very cold at night. You are at the bottom of the Big Pine Lakes trail, so that’s easy to get to. They are a dog friendly campground and did allow camp fires. Keep in mind the spots are small, we have a travel trailer so we fit in the most spots easy!

James

One of my favorite campgrounds in the entire country! Great fishing and hiking, and just all around peaceful. Hike up to the lakes if you are in shape, you won't be sorry! I've done both the North and South fork trails, and both are spectacular! This area is truley a Gem. Both times I stayed here the campgrounds were very clean and maintained, and the campground staff was helpful and chill. Just a heads up, it gets pretty cold at night up there in the mountains!