What’s the best climber friendly campground reasonably near Bishop?

Planning my first trip to Bishop area. Where should I camp?

Depends on where/what you'll be climbing and when you're coming...

If you're coming in the cooler months to mainly boulder then camp at the Buttermilks.  Lots of climbers there.  It's not an official campground though.  Plenty of primitive camping on the Buttermilks Rd.  It's quite hot in the summer though and no shade really.  

There's some real campgrounds on HWY 168 up Bishop Creek.  But they won't be packed with climbers.  Just your average campers.  Pine Creek has some primitive camping if that's where you'll be.  Rock Creek Road has a bunch of campgrounds if you're going to be up that way.  

There's lots of options for camping around Bishop.  Most of it is forest service land and you can camp where you want in most places if you're low key.  There are some exceptions.  For instance don't camp on LA DWP land at the ORG.  Be mindful of signage.  

I'd say for the most classic Bishop experience and some nice amenities you'll want The Pit. Fire pits, tables, and toilets all for $2 a night and tons of climbers to meet, just search PV Pit Campground. Or if you want something more remote you can camp in the Tablelands near the Sads upper parking lot for free.

Dan Stirton wrote: I'd say for the most classic Bishop experience and some nice amenities you'll want The Pit. Fire pits, tables, and toilets all for $2 a night and tons of climbers to meet, just search PV Pit Campground. Or if you want something more remote you can camp in the Tablelands near the Sads upper parking lot for free.

It's $5 now.

Sam Cieply wrote:

It's $5 now.

And it is, well,...a pit. 

Thanks for the quick responses!  Appreciate all the help! 

so the real question is when, and where are you climbing?
DO you have transport? Plan on going to town every day?
Many great, free places. Make sure you know the rules. L.A. water, fish and game, Forest Service, sheriff,  all patrol in parts. Need a permit for a stove, etc.

Muscrat wrote:Need a permit for a stove, etc.

What?

grog m aka Greg McKee wrote:

What?

Don't know about these specific areas, but some places require a fire permit, which can include the use of a stove.

California campfire permits are required, no open fires as per
https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/inyo/alerts-notices/?aid=23491
And they do patrol, and ticket. Get the permit!
Permits can be done online here (really goofy, btw!)
http://www.preventwildfireca.org/Campfire-Permit/

I thought that you meant that you needed a permit for a jetboil or white gas stove...that's not what you mean right?

grog m aka Greg McKee wrote: I thought that you meant that you needed a permit for a jetboil or white gas stove...that's not what you mean right?

You do need a permit for a Jetboil, for dispersed camping.  Read the website for info 

LOL california sounds great. 

Ya, ask how many fires are burning here....The Ferguson Fire is scant (~3) miles from Yosemite park boundaries. 35k acres/6% containment. ANd on and on.
I think a little fire/stove thinking is in order. All the permit is is a really simple tutorial, free, how to be safe outside. Duh, but you'd be surprised how _______ people can be. Or not, surprised.
Anywho, small price to pay for taking care of what is left of our forests.
(Can you tell i live in one?!)
HA!
[I will now get down off my soapbox, apologies for the diatribe)

Great to know about the fire permit! I hadn’t jumped that far into my research.
I’d be going probably October or November of this year. Right now, I think we’re going to spend most of our time in Owens River Gorge. We’re going to rent a car while we’re there. 

Get the permit (5 mins long video, answer up to 5 basic questions), print it and leave it on your windshield if you camp in a proximity of a climbing area and you walk to the crag. Every now and then it happens that a ranger comes and leaves a note asking to come to the station to show the permit. The permit is good till Dec 31st, it’s free of charge, and gives you a piece of mind (kinda hard to prove that the burnt wood in a fire ring was not yours, when your car/tent is next to it...)