Lee Vining Creek, CA

[bpounds]

This is one of our favorite Sierra destinations. Very primitive, and not for the largest of rigs, although a few sites can handle most anything. One water tap at the entrance only. Very shady in almost all the sites. This was Aspen Grove campground. There are several other campgrounds along the creek.

[Naio]

Thanks, bpounds 🙂

[bpounds]

Naio wrote:
Thanks for posting this! I see there are a bunch of turnouts off the FS road, along the creek. Is dispersed camping allowed?

Not really. Like most areas with campgrounds, they have a sign saying "camping and campfires in developed campgrounds only". There is plenty of dispersed camping opportunities in the area though. Just not along that road.

That road services Poole Power Plant, if anyone cares to look that up. And of course the main road is CA120, which goes up into Yosemite.

One thing we like about that area, other than the outstanding fishing, is that the campgrounds are used mostly by folks overnighting on their way into, or down from, Yosemite NP. So the campsite turnover is frequent and if you work the timing right you have a good selection of campsites. It also gets a high volume of foreign tourists on their way to the NP, which makes for some interesting conversation and observation.

[2oldman]

bpounds wrote:
The roads are very narrow and grown over. Which is why I would not recommend it for larger fivers

Thanks. I'm 12'8" tall, and I hate to think I have to stop every 25' and get on the roof with a chain saw. Tree-trimming is one maintenance chore that seems to be at the bottom of the list for many CG's... which is weird because if you can't get in, it's awfully hard to camp.

[Naio]

Thanks for posting this! I see there are a bunch of turnouts off the FS road, along the creek. Is dispersed camping allowed?

[bpounds]

And there is also Big Bend, which is a little more developed and better clearance. Just a couple miles up the road. Harder to get a site though.

[Tiger4x4RV]

Clearance is better at Lower Lee Vining. As said above, there are several other campgrounds in this area.

[bpounds]

The roads are very narrow and grown over. Which is why I would not recommend it for larger fivers, even though many sites are quite large. Definitely have to be careful about clearance.

No reservations available here. First-come-first-serve.

[2oldman]

Any nasty tree branches on your way in?