Rock Creek Lake (Inyo National Forest, CA)

When I arrived at my campsite it was assigned to someone else. I made this reservation months ago. The camp host wasn’t around so I waited an hour. I drove 6 hours to get there and a thunder storm was getting ready to hit so I had no choice but to look for another campground before it started raining. The lake was beautiful. I was so frustrated and disappointed. I’ve read other reviews with the same problem of campsites being assigned to other people. I will not go back. There is an issue that needs to be fixed. I’ve stayed at many campgrounds using the online registration and never had a problem. Waiting to get my refund.

When we arrived, someone was camping in the site we reserved. They wouldn't move. Fortunately, the campground host offered us a walk-in site that was much nicer. However, the campground was supposedly full, but I guess some people do not show up and don't cancel.

When we arrived, someone was camping in the site we reserved. They wouldn't move. Fortunately, the campground host offered us a walk-in site that was much nicer. However, the campground was supposedly full, but I guess some people do not show up and don't cancel.

Love this campground! It definitely gets busy with lots of day use visitors but it's so beautiful... And a great way to experience high elevation camping without backpacking. Our particular Site 26 was very private which we liked a lot since we were there with our 3 month old baby and two pups. The site was the perfect size for us and away from the busy-ness of the lake. Most of the sites at this campground require you to park in the parking lot in a designated parking spot and hike in, including site 26. There were a few wheelbarrows available to use to transport gear from car to site which was helpful but they were a hot commodity on Sunday morning. Booking a site ahead of time was a bit confusing because there isn't an accurate campground map and not all the hike in sites are identified as so. It'd be awesome to see an updated map of the campground available at Recreation.gov since we're paying up the wazoo to camp here. But overall, we really liked this site and the campground!

Love this campground! It definitely gets busy with lots of day use visitors but it's so beautiful... And a great way to experience high elevation camping without backpacking. Our particular Site 26 was very private which we liked a lot since we were there with our 3 month old baby and two pups. The site was the perfect size for us and away from the busy-ness of the lake. Most of the sites at this campground require you to park in the parking lot in a designated parking spot and hike in, including site 26. There were a few wheelbarrows available to use to transport gear from car to site which was helpful but they were a hot commodity on Sunday morning. Booking a site ahead of time was a bit confusing because there isn't an accurate campground map and not all the hike in sites are identified as so. It'd be awesome to see an updated map of the campground available at Recreation.gov since we're paying up the wazoo to camp here. But overall, we really liked this site and the campground!

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.