Grays Meadows
Grays Meadows Campground is situated along Independence Creek in the Onion Valley area of the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. Its location on the creek and proximity to the rugged John Muir Wilderness make it a popular hub for hikers, anglers, spring skiers and snowboarders. Opening and closing dates may be dependent on weather conditions.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 31 |
| Host/management | 22 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
31 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | 40 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 003 | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 005 | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 009 | Back-in | 25 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 010 | Back-in | 25 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 012 | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 013 | Back-in | 25 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 014 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Yes |
| 015 | Back-in | 30 | Paved | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 017 | Back-in | 40 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 014, 017, 020, 021 are listed accessible |
The facility consists of an upper and lower campground. The creek borders one side; sites 10, 12, 13, 14, 40, 41, 46 and 51 are closest to the water. Most of the campground is located in a large oak grove, providing shade. The area is frequented by bears so campers must store food in the bear-proof lockers provided on-site. Firewood is available for purchase at the campground.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Grays Meadows is 6 miles west of the town of Independence, California. Take U.S. Highway 395 to Independence. Turn west on Market Street (which turns into Onion Valley Road) and follow for 6 miles. The first gate accesses sites 36-52. The second gate is 0.25 miles up the road and accesses sites 1-35. Campground manager is at site 7.
| Coordinates | 36.7689° N, 118.2950° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireLand
38 mi from the campground · 20 acres
- PrescribedGrant Grove Fall Rx
38 mi from the campground
- PrescribedGrant Grove Rx Spring
39 mi from the campground · 15 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 16.9 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Big Willi Mountaineering Company ↗ | 17.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Grays Meadow Campground Best Campsites - Inyo National Forest, CA
Worth a stop
Campers can enter the John Muir Wilderness, a land of lofty snow-capped mountains, deep canyons and vast expanses of glacially carved terrain, via nearby trails.
- 8.5 miBlock 14 ↗Visitor center
- 8.6 miManzanar Visitor Center ↗Visitor center
Trails nearby
- 0.9 miGray'S Meadow Fisherman0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.1 miSardine Lake ↗6.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.4 miOnion Valley Pack Station0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.5 miRobinson Basin1.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.6 miKearsarge Pass ↗4.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.7 miGolden Trout Lake2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness.
- inSequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 768,222 acres
- 8.9 miInyo Mountains Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 199,208 acres
- 10.8 miAlabama Hills National Scenic Area ↗National Scenic Area · Bureau of Land Management · 18,831 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Inyo County CourthouseBuilding · Independence · 5.8 mi
- Smithsonian Institution ShelterBuilding · Lone Pine · 13 mi
Natural features
Grays Meadows Campground offers a wandering creek, both sunny and shaded campsites and a high-desert landscape. It sits at an elevation 6,100 ft. and is bordered on the west by Mt. Williamson and Mt. Whitney, the highest peaks in the contiguous United States. The area is home to abundant wildlife, including black bear, mountain lions, mule deer, pine marten, pika and many species of fish and birds.
Recreation
Majestic mountain scenery and challenging trails draw campers to the Onion Valley area for hiking and horseback riding. The well-known and demanding Shepherd Pass Trail, which can be reached just west of Grays Meadows Campground, heads up to alpine lakes and the high peaks of the John Muir Wilderness. Independence Creek is regularly stocked with trophy-size rainbow trout. Anglers flock to the creek for its early trout fishing season, which starts the first weekend in March, ahead of much of the area.
Guidebooks for Inyo National Forest and California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Grays Meadows?
Sites at Grays Meadows are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Grays Meadows?
Check-in 0:00 AM, checkout 0:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Grays Meadows have?
53 sites, including 31 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Grays Meadows?
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Grays Meadows?
Yes, pets are allowed at Grays Meadows. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Grays Meadows?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 3 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Grays Meadows?
Sites 014, 017, 020, and 021 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Grays Meadows?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Grays Meadows?
Majestic mountain scenery and challenging trails draw campers to the Onion Valley area for hiking and horseback riding. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Grays Meadows is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Onion Valley (2.8 mi), Whitney Portal (12.9 mi), and Mt. Whitney Trailhead Campground (12.9 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby