[dompfa ben]

Greetings, all...

Since I was a boy, my family and I have been traveling up the Owens Valley to camp and trout fish. Trouble is, we've been creatures of habit, and have essentially ended up fishing Crowley, the upper Owens, or Gull Lake.

I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a "kid/family friendly" camping/fishing spot in the Eastern Sierra. PM or reply is fine, here's what I'm looking for:

- trees/shade (not "Crowley desert camping" conditions, if possible)
- restrooms and/or shower facilities
- dry camping, with reservations if possible (I know many places are first come first served)
- campfires seasonally permitted
- trout

Thanks, all

[IRPescador]

Have you ever tried Tuolumne in Yosemite?

I have never fish there but I have seen trout in the meadows river area close to the main campsite and also the alpines lakes...beautiful country.
You could also drive down to the valley an fish the Merced river...just an idea

[Sin_Coast]

Near Bridgeport you've got Upper Twin Lake, Virginia Lakes, and the June Lakes Loop (not to mention the east and west Walker). On the east side of Yosemite, there's Saddlebag Lake. And not technically east Sierra but Lake Edison above Fresno is a beautiful spot (or Mono hot springs below the lake). Those are all places I'd love to take my kids fishing.

[muttfishr]

Kennedy meadows, up in the pine trees, had a nice lil'river/large stream flowing through it, caught my first rainbow on a flyrod there, we came up the 395 out of SanDiego, it was several miles off the highway, there is also a road that cuts off of and goes up over the great divide, up at the top is troy meadows, fish creek flows through it, thats where I caught my first Golden trout "they are so beautiful" and I ate it! Well what did you expect from a 12 year old? Altho later I felt kinda bad (they are so beautiful!) and so, I've never kept another, plus they're not very large, native born and all, did I say how beautiful they are? Hope that helps out...mutt.

[maki909]

there are a lot of campsites up in mammoth by mary, twin and george lake. I have stayed at the one by Mary they are very nice but they do not have showers. There are also some nice camp sites by rock creek lake and crock creek itself. The only thing is I don't really know of any place with showers, as for everything else you listed they have those. both those areas are very beautiful with lots of tree. the campsites by mary are rite next to the lake and the camp sites by rock creek are rite next to the creek. also both sites i have stayed at have running water and bathrooms but no showers.

[dkkim]

[spline9]

If camping where there are no showers but you'd like to freshen up some, try these out. I
If camping where there are no showers but you'd like to freshen up some, try these out (see below). I usually camp several times a year and started using these about a year or two ago. I can’t say enough good things about them. It takes the layer of grime off ya and you actually feel like you’ve taken a quick shower (sans washing hair). I actually used them last weekend camping at Peppermint Creek.

Both brands are good but I think I prefer the Fresh Bath just a little more. The instructions say you need to use one wipe per extremity. Unless youre really dirty, I’ve found you can just use one for your upper, one for your lower and tear one in half for your junk and trunk.

Protip: They are ice-cold in the morning so try to warm them up a little before using them. I usually put them under my thigh while sitting in my tent as I get my clothes together in the morning.



http://www.rei.com/product/730067/adventure-medical-kits-fresh-bath-wipes


http://www.rei.com/product/708776/no-rinse-bathing-wipes

[stinkyfingers]

Baby wipes.
Cheaper and available everywhere.

[spline9]

[fishingthebay]

Porcinis going off 4000 ft and higher. Might want to add those to the fishing

[frozendog]

[CRASS]

Bath wipes? baby wipes? say whaaaaa???

Jeremiah Johnson does not approve...

[Fishmom1]

Back on the campground topic.....

I would suggest you look at the Trumbull Lake Campground in the Virginia Lakes complex. Nice shady campsites, reservations possible through the National Forest system, if I remember correctly. You can fish all three (?) Virginia Lakes for rainbows, and some of the Alpers fish are put into Lower Virginia, where the resort is, or at least they used to be. Fishing in Trumbull Lake was good and it's very canoe/kayak friendly. Running water in the campground, no showers, modern chemical toilets. You can hike up into the Hoover Wilderness a bit and catch brookies in the creek and rainbow in the next lake uphill--it's not very far. Many other fishing spots within easy driving distance, as well as Bridgeport if you feel like a meal out.

It's pretty high, uphill from Conway Summit, if that is a concern.

[maki909]