Log In | Register
Skip to main content
Topic: Uh Oh, 4th of July Reservation (Read 351 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Uh Oh, 4th of July Reservation
Back in January I booked our summer vacation the second the booking windows opened, including 4th of July in Mammoth at Twin Lakes. It was competitive with the few sites available gone in the 1st minute. Little did I know we would have an epic snow winter wreaking havoc on my  plans! I heard the campground openings in the area were delayed but it looked like Twin Lakes would open just in the nick of time for our trip....Until today when I saw an alert that the campground is closed til July 27!

Panic immediately sets in, it was hard to find a spot to begin with and on a holiday is always harder. All of the campgrounds in the lakes area are closed, old shady rest is full and the other mammoth campgrounds are 1st come 1st serve. So I've booked a spot at Oh Ridge as a back up, but I really want to stay in Mammoth. We've got a 4 year old and they're doing fireworks in the village. What do you think are the odds we can snag a 1st come spot, any suggestions?
98 MB
Re: Uh Oh, 4th of July Reservation
Reply #2 –
My daughter, LazyBones2, snagged one of those prize sites at Twin Lakes only to receive a cancellation e-mail due to snow. Fortunately we were able to get a site at Old Shady Rest. Upon arrival we drove out to Twin Lakes to find that the road to the upper lakes ended there. A lot of folks were very disappointed.

Fear not... there is a lot of dispersed camping all around the area if you know where to look! Several places are off of the Mammoth Scenic Loop (FR3S23)(Dry Creek Rd.), the back road into Mammoth.   ;)
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: Uh Oh, 4th of July Reservation
Reply #3 –
We have stayed at Hartley Springs campground off of Obsidian Dome road off the 395, a little north of Mammoth.  It is dry camping about two or three miles off 395, so it doesn't get much traffic.  It is a few miles north of the cosmopolitan Mammoth Lakes area and you  may not get a good view of the fireworks, but you can drive into town for that.

I like the campground and the peace.  It might be an option for you if you can't find anything else.

Harold
2014 27 MB
Towd: Either the Jeep Wrangler or trailer containing the BMW R1200GS and 2 E-bicycles
Happy wife=Happy life
Re: Uh Oh, 4th of July Reservation
Reply #4 –
"I like the campground and the peace."
----
Hmmm; don't know about "peace". AFAIK, Hartley Springs has become popular with off-roaders, and on a holiday weekend, "peace" might be a bit hard to come by!  ;) I'd check the visitor center/Inyo NF ranger station in Mammoth for information:

Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center, a designated California Welcome Center |...
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Uh Oh, 4th of July Reservation
Reply #5 –
How unfortunate!  When we were there, we were alone except for another camper at the other side of the campground and they were bicyclists.  No close neighbors and no noise.

Things may have changed...  Offroaders can be pretty obnoxious.  Where they are, we are usually elsewhere.
2014 27 MB
Towd: Either the Jeep Wrangler or trailer containing the BMW R1200GS and 2 E-bicycles
Happy wife=Happy life
Re: Uh Oh, 4th of July Reservation
Reply #6 –
I havent received a cancellation email yet but the recreation.gov site says closed til 7/27. New Shady Rest is 1st come 1st serve this year it says, so that's one option. And Sherwin creek has 1st come but I think they've had some flooding too. We're staying at Convict lake until the 4th, so we will be in the area beforehand but we don't pick up our rental car til the 4th so I have no way to scout sites til we actually need one. Thanks for the other options, at least this way we'll have some choices and I booked Oh Ridge as a back up, I know a lot of folks here like it.
98 MB
Re: Uh Oh, 4th of July Reservation
Reply #7 –
"We have stayed at Hartley Springs campground off of Obsidian Dome road off the 395, a little north of Mammoth."

When we were up that way in June, Hartley Springs campground was closed.
If Twin Lakes is saying it won't open till end if July I'd believe it. There's still a lot of snow in the ground in Mammoth 😕 Sorry hope you find a spot to park it. Oh Ridge is a wonderful campground and only 20 miles down the road. Would be easy to see fireworks in Mammoth and drive back to June Lake.
Daughter of the first Lazy Bones
Hitting the road on my own and with a friend 🚐 while reporting back to the Lazy Bones at home 🛋

2 Lazy Bones - Home
Re: Uh Oh, 4th of July Reservation
Reply #8 –
We were found out this afternoon, at the Visitor Center, that the upper campgrounds have not been cleared of snow yet.
There are lower altitude alternatives that are filling fast.

Hwy 120 is scheduled to open Thursday morning at 8:00 am. Never been over Tioga Pass on opening day, it should be interesting.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Uh Oh, 4th of July Reservation
Reply #9 –
The history chart of Tioga closing/opening dates is interesting; June 29 is the latest opening since July 1 in 1998:

Tioga and Glacier Point Roads Opening & Closing Dates - Yosemite National...

Yes, driving Tioga on its opening day, particularly before a long holiday weekend, should be a whole lot of fun!  ;) 
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Uh Oh, 4th of July Reservation
Reply #10 –
Quote from: JCT  - 
Yes, driving Tioga on its opening day, particularly before a long holiday weekend, should be a whole lot of fun!  ;) 

Think I found a photo of Tioga for you, Larry.  :D  Have a great trip!


Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Uh Oh, 4th of July Reservation
Reply #11 –
Wow the universe really wants to screw with me, today I got the expected cancellation notice for Twin Lakes followed shortly by a cancellation notice for my replacement site at Oh Ridge! After 45 minutes waiting to speak with a human and find out what's going on they told me the site I booked yesterday is non reservable and is a camp host site? Strange that would change overnight. I booked a different site, who knows if they'll cancel that one on me too!
98 MB
Re: Uh Oh, 4th of July Reservation
Reply #12 –
3Bostons what site did you book this time? Just curious 🤔
Sorry you're having troubles with snow and holiday combined ❄️🇺🇸

Cynthia
Daughter of the first Lazy Bones
Hitting the road on my own and with a friend 🚐 while reporting back to the Lazy Bones at home 🛋

2 Lazy Bones - Home
Re: Uh Oh, 4th of July Reservation
Reply #13 –
We went to the Visitor Center today to buy my wife a senior pass before the price increase.
The clerk told us that the Mammoth campgrounds are all full.
The campgrounds around the lakes are closed and not expected to open until late July.

Disbursed camping is all that is available locally

So happy we showed yesterday when sites were still available.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Uh Oh, 4th of July Reservation
Reply #14 –
I got a different site at Oh Ridge, but it wasn't my top pick of what was left to reserve. I use campsite photos and the campground maps to pick what site I want so I know how close the neighbors are, if it's shaded or open etc. Per Larry's report I may have trouble finding a first come first serve site in Mammoth so I'm glad to have it. In many years of camping ive never had a reservation cancelled on me so back to back was unexpected. It turns out the village fireworks are on the 3rd and the 4th it's down at Crowley lake so we'd have a drive either way.
98 MB
Re: Uh Oh, 4th of July Reservation
Reply #15 –
"We went to the Visitor Center today to buy my wife a senior pass before the price increase."
----
 Good thing she made the cut before the price jump!  :D

If both qualify, I think it's a good idea that each person in a couple get his/her own senior pass; for example, the pass is not transferable, can't be replaced if lost or stolen (have to buy another one), one pass can't be applied for separate vehicle entries into a federal facility (for example, two carloads of people and one pass; non-pass holder pays the entry fee or buys the pass if s/he qualifies). The pass price is currently very low, and is a great bargain for the return!

America the Beautiful Passes (U.S. National Park Service)
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Uh Oh, 4th of July Reservation
Reply #16 –
Thanks for the reminder.  Just applied to get the Senior Pass for DW.
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
 
Re: Uh Oh, 4th of July Reservation
Reply #17 –
Quote from: JCT  - 


If both qualify, I think it's a good idea that each person in a couple get his/her own senior pass; ...

America the Beautiful Passes (U.S. National Park Service)
I am doing just that.  Because I'm a senior, and will somehow forget where one is.  Oh wait a minute...where did I put the other.....
Currently: 2008 36' Tiffin Open Road
Previously: 2007 Mid Bath