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Coldwater Campground is located high in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains near the town of Mammoth Lakes, California. The surrounding national forest provides many opportunities for family fun, outdoor recreation and relaxation. Hiking, fishing, road cycling and picnicking are just some of the favorite activities available to campers. Recreation Coldwater offers easy access to fishing for rainbow, brook and brown trout in Lake Mary. Major trailheads lead into the backcountry. Several interesting trails offer a variety of hikes, including the 5-mile Duck Pass Trail, which climbs the forested hillside behind the campground and passes several lakes before heading over Duck Pass to join the John Muir Trail. Facilities Campsites are organized into two loops, with sites fairly close together and near either creek. Pressurized water spigots and flush toilets are provided throughout the facility, and there are picnic tables, campfire rings and bear-proof food storage lockers at each campsite. Natural Features This campground sits in a pine forest at an elevation of 8,900 feet. Large and small boulders are strewn about the campground. Coldwater and Mammoth Creeks run alongside the campsites. Crystal clear Lake Mary, one of several lakes in the Mammoth Lakes Basin, is nearby. The Eastern Sierras are abundant with wildlife, including black bear, mountain lions, mule deer, pine marten, pika and many species of fish and birds. Nearby Attractions Visitors can explore the magnificent John Muir Wilderness, which stretches 100 miles along the crest of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, a land of lofty snow-capped mountains, deep canyons and vast expanses of glacially-carved terrain. Hiking and horseback riding trails are abundant. ADA Access: N
Coldwater Campground is 320 miles north of Los Angeles and 180 miles south of Reno. Follow U.S. Highway 395 to the junction of State Highway 203. Turn west on 203 and drive 7 miles through the town of Mammoth Lakes. Highway 203 becomes Main Street, then Lake Mary Road, which will lead to the Lakes Basin. Continue on Lake Mary Road to the Coldwater Campground cutoff on the left.
Beautiful, shaded and clean campground. Close to town, the lake and hiking trails. Spotless facilities. And the host (Eric and Tina) were the greatest! Welcoming friendly, the kind of people you just want to have around! Hope to be back soon!!!
(Tip: first loop campsites appeared to be small, ideal for one tent. If you have the opportunity, chose the sites higher up; much larger and shaded, some bordered by the stream passing along side the campground)
Nice small campground. Camp host super great and friendly and helpful. We reserved sit #9. It is really sloped so we could not stay there in our camper. It is a nice site, but not good for RV Tent camp 👍. Host helped us and we moved to 14. Sites good for RV are 8, 12, 14, 17. The campground is on a hillside. Beautiful spot.
Pros:This is an amazing campground with two creeks running by on each side and in close proximity to hiking trails. Trees offered shade, but it also made it very cold in early morning or later during the day.
Cons: It can be difficult to pitch a larger tent at many sites because of the strong slopes and dense trees. Site 16 offered loads of space, but was not as nice as the ones next to creeks. I was disappointed that this place was completely booked in June, but many people did not show up and their sites stayed empty. Obviously bears are present and there are no showers or flush toilets. That is the case for all the campgrounds in this area though.
Pros
-Located near Lake Mary. Like bike distance to fish and swim the lake
-2 creeks run along the campground. August 28 stay, current was strong and creek was still full of life
-flush toilets. Acceptably okay to use
- quieter campground
-Informative host and personnel warning about the male bear
Cons
-some sites are on slope. Our site is no. 10 . Behind the campground host, near bathroom and potable water and creek but on a slope.
-no general store or showers in area. Have to go to twin lakes general store for a shower
-mosquitos are hungry! We used repellant, citronella and UV lamp but to no use. Nothing repels them!
-can’t eat at peace due to bear actively roaming the area. Encountered the big guy. The camp host has warned us about it. Was excited and scared at same time. Heard the horn around 545 pm just right after cooking salmon. We were inside the tent and we rushed out like boys scout on a mission to hurriedly put all our food inside the bear proof storage. Camp hosts warning everyone and checked our picnic table if there’s any food. The 500 lbs brown bear rummage thru our table and was disappointed- no food for him. We were hiding in the car when he tried to open it. Good thing we locked it. The host distracted it so big bear went on to next site. Hubby so scared we ended up leaving the next day instead of spending another night.
Camp host enables local bear(s) to visit, jeopardizing safety of human visitors and bears. Upon arrival, the campground host let us know there was a bear that liked to visit the campgrounds (through our campsite) especially around dinner time or when people cook. She encouraged us us to “let the bear do its thing” should we see it headed our way. This is wrong and endangers both human and bear. It is known that is it best to scare a bear away upon spotting them. Sure enough, this bear is learning to get into cars and guess what happens to bears that cause enough destruction? They end up hurting humans or getting put down. This camp host is negligent….
