Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp
Trailhead Group Campground is located in the eastern high Sierra Nevada Mountains of California at just over 10,000 feet in elevation. Also known as Saddlebag Lake Group Campground, the facility is adjacent to the scenic lake and provides a quiet mountain getaway for groups of up to 25 people. It is within a two-hour drive of Yosemite National Park and Mono Lake, and lies next to the Hoover Wilderness.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in California · reservable in California · tent only in California · pets allowed in California · group sites in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group tent areas | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Surface | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| 001 | Gravel | 25 / 5 |
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 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 25 ft |
| Equipment | Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
One group area is available for tents only. Flush toilets and picnic tables are provided. The group campground is next to the main Saddlebag Lake Campground, which is a small facility with individual sites available on a first-come, first-served basis. Drinking water is available at the main campground, but not directly in the group camping area. The lake's resort offers a restaurant, camping and fishing supplies and boat rentals.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Inyo National Forest |
| Booking | Reserve online at Trailhead Group, Inyo National Forest - Recreation.gov |
| Fees | $119.00 per night; rate may vary across dates |
| Rules | By reservation only. Active bear area, bear boxes are provided and must be used (typical bear box size 48" x 30" x 36"). |
Weather by month
Getting there
Take U.S. Highway 395 in California to its junction with State Highway 120 west. Take 120 west 10 miles toward Tioga Pass. Turn right on Forest Road 1N04 to Saddlebag Lake. Proceed up 1N04 for 2.4 miles. Take the first right just past the open gate on the road. The campground is on the right, just past the restroom.
| Coordinates | 37.9643° N, 119.2723° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireDome
33 mi from the campground · 6,788 acres · 95% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump Station ↗ | 8.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Mountain Shop & Mountaineering School ↗ | 22.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
The Mono Lake area and Yosemite National Park are great day trips, and hikers can access the spectacular scenery of the Hoover Wilderness via nearby trails. Hoover Wilderness Yosemite National Park
- 8.5 miTuolumne Meadows Visitor Center ↗Visitor center
- 10 miGreen Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miSaddlebag Lake Loop4.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miCarnegie Station0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.1 miGardisky Lake1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.4 mi20 Lakes Basin Loop4.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.6 miShell Lake0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.6 miWarren Fork1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- under 0.1 miSaddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Campground ↗Inyo National Forest
- 2.6 miNunatak Tioga Tarns Trailhead ↗Inyo National Forest
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 Yosemite Wilderness.
- inYosemite Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 704,624 acres
- 6.5 miHoover Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 128,044 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
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
The campground is situated in a high elevation pine forest next to scenic 600-acre Saddlebag Lake, though not directly on the lake shore.
Recreation
Campers might like to relax and unwind by picnicking in the forested camping area or around the lake. The eastern Sierras are well-known for trout fishing, and Saddlebag Lake is no exception. Anglers can access a boat ramp nearby or try their luck for rainbow, brook and brown trout from shore. The lake has a 15 mph speed limit. The majestic scenery and challenging trails are a big draw for hikers. Close by, campers can access the Twenty Lakes Basin Trail, which leads into the Hoover Wilderness.
Guidebooks for Inyo National Forest and California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp?
$119.00 per night; rate may vary across dates
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp have?
1 site, including 1 group tent area.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp?
The longest site here provides 25 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 there showers or a dump station at Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp?
Flush toilets and picnic tables are provided.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp?
Yes, pets are allowed at Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp?
Campers might like to relax and unwind by picnicking in the forested camping area or around the lake. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Sawmill Walk-in Campground (0.7 mi, first-come), Junction Campground (2.1 mi, first-come), and Ellery Lake Campground (2.3 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby