Camping in the Alabama Hills?

Have you ever taken your first sip of coffee on a nice chilly morning and instantly knew you had to..errr… go? If you were to ask us, the best thing about CAMPING AT A CAMPGROUND is the restrooms. No need to hold it, drive to the nearest porta potty, or grab a WAG bag. Let’s be real – pooping in nature is a chore. Kick back, relax, and enjoy the conveniences of a campground.

Arriving in the Alabama Hills after dark? Campgrounds are great because they are easy to navigate and knowing where you’re allowed to camp is obvious.

Plus, do you really want to store trash in your vehicle? No? We don’t blame you. Campgrounds come equipped with dumpsters; one less thing to worry about!

Tuttle Creek Campground

Tuttle Creek Campground is conveniently located 10 minutes from Movie Road. There is typically plenty of space with many amenities.

  • First-come, first-serve
  • 83 RV/tent sites
  • Fire ring, picnic table, and lantern holder available per campsite
  • Bathrooms available
  • Dumpsters for trash
  • A fee dump station for RVs and trailers

Water and dump stations are closed in the winter months.

Sites cost $10/night. There is one group campsite ($30/night) that can accommodate up to 15 people. Two-horse corrals are also available for $10.00 per night, including the associated site. Weed-free hay is required.

 

Designated Campsites in the Alabama Hills

If you choose to forego using campgrounds, please read the guidelines below.

What you need to know

—Camping throughout the Alabama Hills is ONLY PERMITTED IN DESIGNATED CAMPSITES, which are marked with this symbol. All other areas are day-use only. 

— Stop at the INFORMATION KIOSK where the green toilets are. You can take a photo of the DESIGNATED CAMPSITES MAP.

— There are approximately 50 dispersed campsites. Trailer and RV sites are extremely limited.

—The designated campsites map shows mile markers and designated campsites. Those will help you find a potential campsite. You’ll notice the mile markers on the brown rectangle posts along the road. All sites are first-come, first-serve.

— We recommend arriving before dark or staying at Tuttle Creek Campground. NAVIGATING to a designated campsite can be difficult to find at night.

— Weekends and holidays are incredibly busy in the Hills. We recommend staying in campgrounds during those times.

Group Campsites

There are an extremely limited number of campsites that can accommodate groups (3+ vehicles, 4+ tents, or 10+ people). We recommend making a reservation at Tuttle Creek Campground (BLM) or at Diaz Lake (Inyo County Campground). If you choose to forgo the campground and find a designated campsite, please read and follow the Minimal Impact Camping Guidelines below.  

The Tuttle Creek Group Campsite is $30/night and about the size of four sites combined, with six picnic tables and four fire pits. Tent camping will accommodate up to 15 people comfortably. RV and trailer space within the group site is limited to approximately four. Adjacent sites may be rented upon arrival: first-come, first-serve. Please call for group site reservations at (760) 872-5000. 

Diaz Lake has three group sites available for reservation HERE  starting at $35/night. This Inyo County campground features toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, a  fishable and swimmable lake, picnic, tables, play equipment, and space for large RVs.  

Minimum Impact Camping

— Don’t crush the brush! Tents, vehicles, kitchens, and other camping equipment should be placed on bare ground and not on plants.

— Campfires are only allowed in designated campsites with a valid fire permit. Fires may be prohibited at any time of the year. For fire restriction information, click HERE or call (760) 872-5000. No live or down vegetation may be burned. Free campfire permits are required for propane stoves, grills, and campfires. To get a fire permit, click HERE.

— Use one of the six porta potties in the Alabama Hills or pack out solid human waste and toilet paper using a portable waste system (RV toilet, WAG bag, etc.). 

— Pack it in, pack it out! This includes trash, recycling, dog waste, and human waste. Free dumpsters and a dump station (fee) are located at Tuttle Creek Campground.

— Stay limit is 14 days in a calendar year within the Bishop BLM Field Office boundaries. Click HERE for a Bishop Field Office Interactive Map.

— Please be considerate of other visitors and reduce noise and light pollution at night.

Camping Permit Required

Camping permits are now required for designated camping in the Alabama Hills. Permits are free and do not guarantee a campsite- all camping is first come, first serve. This is an acknowledgment that you understand the rules and guidance for designated camping in the Hills. To get a permit, please click the green button below. 
Get Camping Permit Here!

We Care Where You Go

Why pack out your poop?

  • It minimizes the impact on the fragile desert environment. Poop doesn’t break down.
  • Digging is hard. The ground in the Alabama Hills is rugged, making digging a six-to-eight-inch hole difficult. Finding a secluded spot with good digging far from your site is hard to do. 
  • Popular campsites end up with a concentration of poop near the site. Not fun for you or the next visitor.  Bacteria, protozoans, and viruses can be present in human poop that are capable of spreading illness.

Have you ever been to the outdoors where a bathroom isn’t present and seen human waste or toilet paper stuck in bushes? Help protect this beautiful place and pack out all waste. 

Good, Better, and Best Options

Best

Drive to the nearest established bathroom facilities. You can find the bathroom facilites on the map below. There is also one at the information kiosk.

Better

Wag bags have been created as a toilet to-go when bathrooms aren’t nearby. They are sanitary, easy-to-use, double-bag systems that include waste treatment powder, toilet paper, and a hand sanitizer towelette. They are available at outdoor stores, or you can make your own. See video to understand how to use a wag bag.

Good

If you cannot travel to the nearest bathroom and are not prepared with an easy-to-use wag bag, the last option is to dig a hole. Using a trowel, dig a hole that is six to eight inches deep and a similar width, go to the bathroom, bury the hole, and pack out ALL trash, including toilet paper. This option should be viewed as a last resort. It is no longer sustainable in the Alabama Hills to dig catholes.

Wag bag locations in Lone Pine

-ESIA bookstore at the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center

-Big Willi Mountaineering

-Lone Pine Sporting Goods

-Elevation Sierra Adventure

-Gardner’s True Value Hardware

Other Campgrounds in the Alabama Hills Area

Portuguese Joe Campground

Inyo County, year-round. Water, picnic table, fire ring, toilets, dumpsters. 15 sites, 5 first-come first-serve. $14/night. 3,800 ft elevation.

Lone Pine Campground

Inyo National Forest, year-round (free Oct 1st-mid April.) Picnic Table, Fire ring, food storage locker. Water-summer only. $26/night. 6,000 ft elevation.

Diaz Lake Campground

Inyo County, 100 tree-covered sites. Fishing, water-skiing and swimming. Boat ramp, concession stand. 15 day stay limit. Piped water. $14/night 3,700 ft elevation. 

Whitney Portal Campground

Inyo National Forest, May – October. 43 sites. 8,000 ft. elevation. 7-day stay limit. Located on Whitney Portal Rd. $28/night. 

For more accommodations, check HERE for the Lone Pine chamber website.

To see a map of other campgrounds in the Eastern Sierra, click HERE

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