Go if
You want free Eastern Sierra camping with scenic views, don't need hookups or potable water, and can visit during fall for the best conditions.
Price
$5/night
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
43 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Price
$5/night
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
43 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
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Learn more about alerts →Goodale Creek Campground
Ten miles north of Independence on U.S. Highway 395, then 2 miles west on Aberdeen Road, follow signs to campground.
We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.
Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans
256,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account
Learn more about alerts →You want free Eastern Sierra camping with scenic views, don't need hookups or potable water, and can visit during fall for the best conditions.
You need water on-site, want to avoid vault toilets, or plan a summer visit when ticks and insects are problematic.
Camper Report Card
Rated higher than 75% of graded campgrounds
Graded on what 33 campers actually wrote - graded on 14 things that make or break a trip. Each topic is graded against every other campground on it - A is among the best, C about average. No star ratings.
Strengths
Watch-outs
Each topic is graded against every other campground on it; a topic campers liked never grades below C−. ± shows the 95% confidence range from the sample size.
Context for the broader area surrounding Goodale Creek 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>
Availability, what to pack, similar spots — ask anything and get an instant answer.
Best season: fall. Fall offers the best combination of comfortable daytime temperatures (typically 60–80°F) and crisp, clear nights (30s–40s), producing the golden light photographers crave and excellent hiking conditions without summer heat. Trails, rock-scrambles and viewpoint access are at their peak while Goodale Creek often still trickles for pleasant campsite ambiance and fishing; crowds are moderate—busier on weekends but far quieter than prime summer holidays. Expect stable weather, outstanding visibility— Peak months: October, September, May, April Avoid: July, August
Fall listed as best season: 60–80°F, crisp nights, golden light ideal for photography.
Goodale Creek Campground offers basic amenities such as fire pits, picnic tables, and lantern holders at each of its 43 sites. However, there are no water hookups, potable water, or a dump station on-site. "All sites include a fire pit, picnic table, and lantern holder" (authoritative source). Reviewers have mixed opinions about the facilities, with several noting clean vault toilets but no potable water. "Clean restrooms, it's nice sleeping by the creek" (user review).
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