NFS Campground Review – Oh Ridge, June Lake, CA
A lovely forest service campground at 7,600 feet overlooking June Lake in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains just off Hwy 395.
Link to campground here: Oh Ridge Campground, June Lake, CA
Link to map location here: Oh Ridge Campground, June Lake, CA
- Site Quality = 3.5/5 Site quality is pretty good here with a few dings. All sites are paved back-in with bear-proof containers, picnic table, grill and fire-pit. Mostly open/exposed sites with sparse shade (some have wind shelters) and no hookups. There are 9 small loops arranged along the main road with anywhere from 8 to ~25 sites in each loop, fanned out like spokes of a wheel (looks like THIS). Out of the 9 loops only BEAR (front sites 2-10 ->; very uneven and best suited for smaller campers) and DUCK (front sites 27-30 ->; good, flat, long sites “prime” for bigger rigs) have full lake views. The rest of the loops have open views and smaller slices of lake view (e.g. GULL 158-160, RABBIT 58-61, SQUIRREL 35-36), but not the stunning water views of the other 2 loops. Access is good throughout. Only real dings are ~1/2 sites are too unlevel for bigger rigs and sites are closer than we’d like (with a full campground there’s not much privacy).
- Facilities = 3.5/5 Decent facilities for a forest service campground. Several large flush toilets altho’ not in every loop. Two potable water spigots, one specific for RVs in every single loop (nice touch!). On-site dump station, but it costs $7. No showers, but you can shower next door at the private park (not very nice showers, but you get 7-mins of warm water for $1).
- Location = 5/5 This is a fabulous location. You are right next to the lovely June Lake (with swimming, hiking, fishing), very close to town and within easy driving distance of a bunch of great local sights, including Bodie and Mono Lake.
- Pet Friendliness = 5/5 Another fabulous location for doggie. Although the swim-beach at June Lake does not allow dogs, there is a special “dog beach” right next to it where pooch can splash and swim, plus a nice “hidden” hiking trail along the lake boundary.
Overall Rating = 4.25
BONUS ALERT: Lake views and mountain sunsets right from your campsite!
Summary: This campground came highly recommended from several of our blog readers and it definitely lived up to it’s reputation. Oh Ridge is set up on a hillside overlooking the stunning June Lake. Sites are paved with easy access throughout and two of the loops (BEAR ->; for smaller rigs, and DUCK ->; for larger rigs) have simply stunning lake views. The rest of the sites have no lake views, but lovely open mountain views all around. The campground is exposed and can get windy at times (wind shelters at some sites). Facilities are good with on-site swimming beach, dog beach and local trails around the lake. Location is fabulous, right on the popular June Lake Loop and easy driving distance to Mono Lake, Bodie (1/2 day trip) and a ton of other local attractions. In summer the campground is heavily used and rather crowded, but in the off-season (spring, fall) you’ll get lots of space to yourself. We would definitely come here again!
Extra Info: Full 3G on Verizon (4 bars). Total 146 sites , no hookups. Sites cost $23/night (50% off with senior pass), all reservable on-line (reservations strongly recommended for summer, but not needed in fall)
Extra, Extra Info – Free Camping, Boondocking: There are actually lots of free camping opportunities in the area. Glass Creek forest service campground is just a few miles south from June Lake and only ~1/2 mile from Hwy 395. It is a free campground popular with OHVers (lots of space and easy access for big rigs). Nearby Hartley Springs is a another free forest service campground, but lies further off Hwy 395 and is only recommended for smaller rigs. Also, the forest service allows boondocking within 300 feet of any open forest service road. Most of the roads are too small for bigger rigs, but there are definitely possibilities on the larger dirt roads in the area.
campground.
Enjoy your blog and though I would pass on some information that you may find helpful:
As you poke around in that part of Eastern California and Western Nevada, a website you may find helpful is:http://www.campingguidenevada.com/index.html (I have no association with this site)
Also, as you continue south, check out the Alabama Hills (if you haven’t already already been there) just west of Lone Pine.
Safe travels and Have Fun,
Steve
Bend, Oregon
Cheers for the link. That’s a nice one!
We will definitely be stopping in Lone Pine. We stayed there last year and will stop again this year. It’s great spot!
Nina
Thanks for all the pictures of the campsites. Nice review and good information.
Is this Federal land? I’m guessing yes… Great review. Stay safe out there.
This is public forest service land. So, owned and operated by the US forest service.
Nina
I agree with Donna. Thanks for the pictures and the review. I love it!
Thanks for the great review! We’ll have our dogs with us, so it’s good to know that there is a place for them to splash around!
Awesome! thanks for the info, I’ll just be coming on my own and have booked the BEAR #9 site due to your recommendation of the lake view 🙂 Thanks! 🙂
Hi and thanks for great review. We’re looking at Oh Ridge and new to RV world. We have a 19′ bumper pull Lance trailer. Like the views on Bear Loop sites 8-10 you photographed. Noticed they are listed as 20′ maximum vehicle length. Our 19′ trailer with tongue pushes 25′. Can we the NFS is referring to trailer designated length, not total length? Also a little concerned about the driveway grade being described as “severe,” although they don’t look that severe in your photo. Finally, is there additional space for parking your tow vehicle? Thanks in advance.
Just found this website…….We camped at Oh Ridge in July 2016. Our campsite #8 in Bear loop accomodated our 1995 Lance trailer and Ford 150 truck just fine, although some sites in that loop would not work for us. The views are fantastic, but it was very windy during our 5 day stay. Next time, we will try to camp in Duck Loop.
Thank you so much for this detailed review and the photos. We were lucky enough to stay at June Lake last summer with a last minute booking and got site #6. I loved it! Tried to get site #6 again for the 4th of July this year but it was booked (June Lake Triathlon is that weekend darn). Still wanted a site with a lake view. All of Duck Loop was booked too, but I saw the site #60 and #61 in Squirrel was free and jumped on it. Not as dramatic a view as Bear Loop #6, but better than the other sites; thanks to your photos for being so helpful! I hope there’s a place to hang a hammock or two.Happy tripping!
Thank you so much for reporting back on your experience! Very happy my photos came in handy.
Nina