Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, CA)

This is a gorgeous place to camp in the eastern Sierra and we will definitely be heading back BUT we had an awful experience dealing with the campground host. I reserved our site 6 months in advance of our trip since this place goes fast. I read previous reviews about sites being given away so I called Bill a few days beforehand and left a message (impossible to actually catch him on the phone) and said we'd be arriving around 7pm on the day our reservation started. When we arrived at dusk I found our campsite occupied by another group who told me their campsite had been given away. I talked to the campground host and he told me I was over 24 hours late and then showed me his spreadsheet and he immediately realized he was wrong. He then told me the ENTIRE campground was fully booked and he had nowhere for us to go and no suggestions. Fortunately when I told him we'd just take a day use site he said that would work. It turned out to be an excellent site except for the lack of bear locker (by chance we had a bear bin with us and a lockable heavy duty cooler). I'm not sure what else I could have possibly done since I booked the site 6 months in advance and called to say I'd be arriving that evening. It was a frustrating experience since what the campground host really needed to do was admit his mistake and tell the people who he'd mistakenly given the campsite that they would have to leave (they drove up with no reservation that day). Again a spectacular lake and I'll certainly be going back, I just hope that the campground host learns from this to pay a little more attention or they get someone capable of managing 26 sites.

This is a gorgeous place to camp in the eastern Sierra and we will definitely be heading back BUT we had an awful experience dealing with the campground host. I reserved our site 6 months in advance of our trip since this place goes fast. I read previous reviews about sites being given away so I called Bill a few days beforehand and left a message (impossible to actually catch him on the phone) and said we'd be arriving around 7pm on the day our reservation started. When we arrived at dusk I found our campsite occupied by another group who told me their campsite had been given away. I talked to the campground host and he told me I was over 24 hours late and then showed me his spreadsheet and he immediately realized he was wrong. He then told me the ENTIRE campground was fully booked and he had nowhere for us to go and no suggestions. Fortunately when I told him we'd just take a day use site he said that would work. It turned out to be an excellent site except for the lack of bear locker (by chance we had a bear bin with us and a lockable heavy duty cooler). I'm not sure what else I could have possibly done since I booked the site 6 months in advance and called to say I'd be arriving that evening. It was a frustrating experience since what the campground host really needed to do was admit his mistake and tell the people who he'd mistakenly given the campsite that they would have to leave (they drove up with no reservation that day). Again a spectacular lake and I'll certainly be going back, I just hope that the campground host learns from this to pay a little more attention or they get someone capable of managing 26 sites.

Beautiful Location, running water, and nice camp sites, with trail heads nearby.

Beautiful Location, running water, and nice camp sites, with trail heads nearby.

A lovely campground next to a lake in a wide valley. Good fishing, hiking, climbing, and more.

A lovely campground next to a lake in a wide valley. Good fishing, hiking, climbing, and more.

Site 8 was compact, pretty and SUPER private, surrounded by aspens. Enjoyed the site and the campground, EXCEPT that only the usable bathroom was the one at the CG entrance. It’s a bit of a hike, especially at night, and with only two pit toilets, you can imagine the line-up of fisherman after their coffee in the morning. There were two other bathrooms in the CG that were both locked with signs stating there was no electricity and to use the one at the entrance. Not sure why electricity is needed for pit toilets or even flushing ones for that matter. Also, campers should be forewarned that the sign is down at the road, so it’s east to miss the entrance. Otherwise, it’s a lovely spot to camp, but the bathroom situation needs to be addressed.

Site 8 was compact, pretty and SUPER private, surrounded by aspens. Enjoyed the site and the campground, EXCEPT that only the usable bathroom was the one at the CG entrance. It’s a bit of a hike, especially at night, and with only two pit toilets, you can imagine the line-up of fisherman after their coffee in the morning. There were two other bathrooms in the CG that were both locked with signs stating there was no electricity and to use the one at the entrance. Not sure why electricity is needed for pit toilets or even flushing ones for that matter. Also, campers should be forewarned that the sign is down at the road, so it’s east to miss the entrance. Otherwise, it’s a lovely spot to camp, but the bathroom situation needs to be addressed.

We had a beautiful and private campsite, however, I noticed there are some that are very public. Also, there are no showers so jump in the lake to get clean.
One note: The altitude is very high here at 9.600 feet so I had a constant slight headache and didn't feel 100% for my hike up to Gem lakes. We made it to Long Lake, just before Chickenfoot lake.
ALSO, bears frequent the camps at night so keep all food and garbage in the containers provided. We left some watermelon rind in the fire pit that didn't quite burn up and a bear sniffed it out. I woke to crunching sound and thought "that is NOT a chipmunk". Once it saw me it ran away and went to the next camp site and tried to get into their locked igloo.
DESPITE ALL THAT it was one of the most beautiful hikes I've ever done! SO WORTH THE SLIGHT HEADACHE AND BEAR!!

We had a beautiful and private campsite, however, I noticed there are some that are very public. Also, there are no showers so jump in the lake to get clean.
One note: The altitude is very high here at 9.600 feet so I had a constant slight headache and didn't feel 100% for my hike up to Gem lakes. We made it to Long Lake, just before Chickenfoot lake.
ALSO, bears frequent the camps at night so keep all food and garbage in the containers provided. We left some watermelon rind in the fire pit that didn't quite burn up and a bear sniffed it out. I woke to crunching sound and thought "that is NOT a chipmunk". Once it saw me it ran away and went to the next camp site and tried to get into their locked igloo.
DESPITE ALL THAT it was one of the most beautiful hikes I've ever done! SO WORTH THE SLIGHT HEADACHE AND BEAR!!