Alabama Hills Campground Suggestions

I'll be heading up to lone pine next weekend. I know that Alabama hills is BLM camping. I'm just curious if anyone would mind sharing some of their favorite tent sites. Most scenic, sheltered, proximity to best sport lines, or any other factors that have led you to an enjoyable stay. Feel free to join our small group on some climbs or to hang out by the fire in the evening.

Edit: possibly no fires. Due to suggestions of not camping around the rocks, but rather in the tuttle creek campgrounds, I'm not sure a fire would be ideal.
Can anyone elaborate? Should I not camp amongst the rocks? Are fires allowed? I'm looking for more info. What are other climbers doing when visiting alabama hills?

Bump for info

Do you have the Bishop Area Rock Climbs guidebook? I think it's the only guidebook currently available for the Alabama Hills.

You could always stop at the Visitor Center (Multi-agency) in Lone Pine and ask there.

I don't have a book yet, Frank. Planned on buying one local. I was thinking of arriving Friday evening and setting up camp that night. Just wanted to gather any info I could before then. I'm sure I'll go to town Saturday and ask around for further info.
Considering the popularity of this place amongst climbers, I thought there would be a lot of info others would share here on MP. Browsing the internet hasn't given me much help.

Last time I was there, last November, we just stayed in a motel. Camping problem solved. Of course, that's more expensive "camping," too. Have fun.

Over by the Hoodgie Wall (around back from the Tall Wall), there is a big overhanging rock that is a popular campsite. However, the huge black smoke stain up the rock is pretty nasty looking and is one of the reasons why many suggest just camping at Tuttle. Most people are probably not talking about camping in the area since it seems to me that the general consensus is that while it's legal to camp there, people that climb there really prefer to minimize that kind of impact on the area.

Tuttle is a nice campground. It's usually pretty easy to get a campsite with the stream behind your site and it has fire rings, etc.

Hope you have a good trip.

Jason

Joe.... don't burn fires close to the rocks....but you know that.

I like to camp at the Tuttle Creek CG....

or in the rocks by "the candy store" ..... AT&T gets 3 bars, good sun in the AM.

have fun.

Personally I like the USFS Lone Pine Campground. A small creek runs through it, and there's running water spigots. Vault toilets, though. Fire ring and picnic table. Decent but not great cell reception if you're on Verizon (read: slow Internet). You can reserve online, but must do so several days in advance.

The BLM Tuttle Creek Campground is cheaper. No running water. Also has vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables. For my Verizon phone, cell reception was weaker - no calls or Internet, but texting still worked. No advance reservations - walk-up.

Its not unusual for folks to disperse camp among the rocks. Lots of people with RVs and campers and car campers parked out among the rocks and at the end of many of the access roads. If you do that, please pack out everything and leave no trace. The area is popular and has been impacted by the amount of traffic.

There's also a hostel and a few motels back in town.

Wu.... the "fellow climbers" are wrong about the camping.

My understanding was that camping in the hills was ok, so long as you pack everything out. I do wish that more people would just stay in Tuttle creek and other campgrounds to try and minimize the impact on a already heavily damaged ecossytem

Guy Keesee wrote:Wu.... the "fellow climbers" are wrong about the camping.

From what I know, camping is legal, they encourage you to not camp in the hills. Also encouraged is if you do camp, hide your tent out of sight, don't set up in a parking area or turnout and don't set up at the base of a route.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll probably spend a little time driving around an looking for a good spot. Tuttle creek seems pleasant. Of course no fires amongst the rocks Guy, you got me right about my morals. I do my best to not leave a trace anywhere I go.

Lots of great spots among the rocks. Of course leave no trace applies; you should do that everywhere. All the climbers and hikers I know who camp there are entirely more respectful to the area than the hordes of RVers. Luckily we can also get further in without those monster trucks. There's no harm done when you just roll through and camp on the regolith. Aim to camp just on the gravely sand. Such a majestic place and given that you're respectful, so much better than the dinky pay sites.

Anyway, lots of nooks and crannies to explore on the dirt road. I have a favorite, but finding your own is part of the fun. You can always find a cove that protects from the wind gusts that come through.