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You want affordable alpine camping with lake access and don't mind vault toilets or uneven terrain at some sites.
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Price
$10/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
47 campsites
Season
Open season runs fro...
Cell
Has Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
$10/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
47 campsites
Season
Open season runs fro...
Cell
Has Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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You want affordable alpine camping with lake access and don't mind vault toilets or uneven terrain at some sites.
You need flush toilets, supplied toilet paper, or guaranteed level sites for your RV setup.
Context for the broader area surrounding Crowley Lake Campground, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.
<p><strong>6/15/2023 - Many roads in the surrounding area are closed due to flooding. Please check the latest road conditions at <a href="https://www.inyocounty.us/services/public-works/news/inyo-county-road-openclosed-status" rel="nofollow">https://www.inyocounty.us/services/public-works/news/inyo-county-road-openclosed-status</a>.</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>The Alabama Hills are a formation of rounded rocks and eroded hills set at the base of the jagged peaks of the Sierra Nevada. Both geologic features were shaped by the same uplifting occurring 100 million years ago.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>Visitors enjoy touring film sites, photography, rock climbing, exploring natural arches, and viewing the swaths of wildflowers that bloom every spring. Horseback riding and mountain biking are popular activities.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blm.gov%2Fvisit%2Falabama-hills-national-scenic-area&data=04%7C01%7Cslisius%40blm.gov%7C6d1f06582c644e239ab208d9c4b4a274%7C0693b5ba4b184d7b9341f32f400a5494%7C0%7C0%7C637757102366827282%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=qVdJJb65URsvPMU2txEwxrVVnI8bkm1VQr6PTDTvfac%3D&reserved=0" rel="nofollow"><span><span>Please visit the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area page for more information about the activities and history of the Alabama Hills.</span></span></a></span></span></span></span></p> <dl> <dt> <h2>Camping in The Alabama Hills</h2> </dt> <dd> <h3><strong>Campgrounds</strong></h3> <p>The best place to camp when you visit the Alabama Hills is at the nearby campgrounds, all within a few miles of Movie Road. This includes the <a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blm.gov%2Fvisit%2Ftuttle-creek-campground-0&data=04%7C01%7Cslisius%40blm.gov%7C6d1f06582c644e239ab208d9c4b4a274%7C0693b5ba4b184d7b9341f32f400a5494%7C0%7C0%7C637757102366837241%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=U7V2Y2t%2B3ior7TxHp6BfZUy1Ccec1K9wzpAD8MQOBdg%3D&reserved=0" rel="nofollow">BLM Tuttle Creek Campground</a>, the Inyo National Forest <a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fs.usda.gov%2Frecarea%2Finyo%2Frecarea%2F%3Frecid%3D20686&data=04%7C01%7Cslisius%40blm.gov%7C6d1f06582c644e239ab208d9c4b4a274%7C0693b5ba4b184d7b9341f32f400a5494%7C0%7C0%7C637757102366837241%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=xRx6TkWnfMwyo9G1iQJODhf4%2BCBrnwxT8o3MHRWRo3w%3D&reserved=0" rel="nofollow">Lone Pine Campground</a>, and the Inyo County <a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.inyocounty.us%2Fservices%2Fparks-recreation%2Fportuguese-joe&data=04%7C01%7Cslisius%40blm.gov%7C6d1f06582c644e239ab208d9c4b4a274%7C0693b5ba4b184d7b9341f32f400a5494%7C0%7C0%7C637757102366847202%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=l1u6AMk7PXnvPbz9o%2BGsFNsUqeE%2BqrxuWJ2lza6EWYA%3D&reserved=0" rel="nofollow">Portuguese Joe Campground</a>. There are bathrooms, picnic tables and big sites for RVs and trailers.</p> <p><a href="https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2023-02/AH_Camp_Map_508.pdf" rel="nofollow">View a map of campsites in the Alabama Hills.</a></p> <h3><b>Designated Campsites</b></h3> <p>Camping outside of a campground in designated campsites requires extra time and preparation to make sure impacts are minimal to this special place. A great source for tips to reduce your impact when dispersed camping is <a href="https://www.essrp.org/camping" rel="nofollow">ESSRP.org/camping</a>.</p> <h3>FAQ</h3> </dd> <dt>Where Can I Use the Restroom?</dt> <dd> <p>To control human waste, six porta potties have been placed in the Alabama Hills. Please either use these restrooms or pack out your solid human waste using a portable waste system (RV toilet, wag bag, portable toilet, etc.).</p> <p>The porta potties are located at the Mobius Arch trailhead and across from the Shark Fin parking area.</p> </dd> <dt>How Can I Have a Campfire?</dt> <dd> <p><a href="https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/california/fire-restrictions#Bishop" rel="nofollow">Check for current restrictions that may be in place</a>.</p> <p>California campfire permit are required on BLM managed lands within California. California. Campfire permits are available free online at <a href="https://www.readyforwildfire.org/permits/campfire-permit/" rel="nofollow">https://www.readyforwildfire.org/permits/campfire-permit/</a> or at all BLM, U.S. Forest Service and Cal Fire offices.</p> <p>Use existing fire rings in an existing campsite. Extinguish fires with water, not dirt. Be sure to have shovels, adequate water, and fire extinguishers. Do not build fires next to rock outcrops where the black scars will remain for many years. Do not cut down brush to fuel your fire.</p> </dd> <dt>How Long Can I Stay?</dt> <dd> <p>Maximum of 7 days in a 28 day period, and not to exceed 14 days in a calendar year. Please note: Dispersed camping is limited to 14 days per year within the Bishop Field Office boundaries.</p> </dd> <dt>Permits: Coming Soon!</dt> <dd> <p>Free Permits</p> <p>Soon a permit will be required to dispersed camp in the Alabama Hills. The permit will be free and will be an acknowledgement that you understand the rules and guidance for dispersed camping. The permit will be found online or at the information kiosks. The permit will not be a reservation of a site.</p> </dd> </dl> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><i><span><span>The desert vegetation is fragile and likely older than you, so please Don’t Crush the Brush! </span></span></i></span></span></span></p>
<p>Take Hwy 395 to Lone Pine. Turn west at the stoplight onto Whitney Portal Road, drive 2.5 miles to Movie Road, turn right.</p>
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Best season: fall. Fall offers the best combination of stable weather, striking alpine color, and lighter crowds — days are crisp and clear (typically highs in the 50s–60s°F, cooling into the 20s–30s°F at night) which makes hiking, shoreline fishing, and photography excellent. Aspens and high-elevation shrubs turn gold in September and October, the winds that can plague summer boating often ease up, and most summer tourists have departed by mid-September. Expect moderate crowds on holiday weekends but generally a— Peak months: September, October, July, June Avoid: November, December, January, February
Fall noted as best: cooler temps, aspens turn gold, winds ease, crowds thin after mid‑Sept.
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Crowley Lake Campground features 47 RV/tent sites, with maximum recommended RV length being 30 feet. All sites include a fire pit, picnic table, and a lantern holder. There are no hookups available, but potable water is provided, and a dump station is available for $10. Closest amenities are 2 miles south in Crowley or 10 miles north in Mammoth Lakes. "Nice clean bathroom, open camping area with minimal people here," one user review states, while another highlights, "Potable water, pit toilets, and fire pits" as valuable amenities. However, reviewers have noted some issues with vault restroom maintenance, such as, "There wasn’t toilet paper in the bathroom."
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Pulled from per-site mentions in 92 reviews.
Site 37 was noted to accommodate a 32 ft. 5th wheel and two additional vehicles.
Site 5 offers views of Crowley Lake.
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