CP Campground Review – Baker Creek, Big Pine, CA
A pretty, but somewhat mixed-quality county park ~1 mile from Big Pine, CA on Hwy 395 in Eastern CA.
Link to campground here: Baker Creek, Big Pine, CA
Link to map location here: Baker Creek, Big Pine, CA
- Site Quality = 2/5
Very, very mixed site quality here. Up-front I would say this is a campground better suited for smaller rigs (30-foot or less), trucks or tenters, although there are a few nice sites for bigger rigs. The campground is an elongated shape, located on Baker Creek and has several semi-separated (fenced-in) areas which each contain between 5-15 sites. Mostly it’s a dirt-based campground intermixed with trees and water. All sites are basic cleared-out areas next to the creek (back-in or pull-in) with no hookups, but they vary significantly in size, levelness and separation. A select few sites are large and spacious enough to fit a 40-foot RV, whereas other sites are extremely unlevel, heavily tree’d and/or are barely big enough to fit a car. A few sites have decent separation, whereas others are directly next to each other with no separation at all. Most sites have fire-pit, grill and picnic table (but not all), plus interior roads are rather bumpy and trees are not trimmed or maintained (big rigs need to be careful). The positive side is that a FEW sites are really quite nice, plus they are all located next to the running creek and trees, so the surroundings are quite pretty. If you can nab one of the “prime” sites it’s nice, otherwise it’s quite a squeeze. - Facilities = 2/5
Very basic facilities here, just pit toilets and nothing else. The pit toilets are kept nicely clean and there are several dispersed around the campground. Also on-site trash, but NO water or dump. - Location = 5/5
Location is really the best thing about this campground. You are located right on Baker Creek, amongst trees with a view of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background. Big Pine is only ~1 mile away, yet the campground feels incredibly quiet and relaxed. You are also very close to the drive to Big Pine Lakes for hiking in the mountains. - Pet Friendliness = 5/5
Excellent location for doggie & paws. The campground is entirely dog-friendly and surrounded by LOTS of open land for hiking. There are rough trails to the south of Site #13 and a bridge over the creek by site #24 which leads to a large, open space (and small mountain) behind the campground.
Overall Rating =3.5
BONUS ALERT = Camp next to running water!
Summary: So, we chose this campground mostly for location and for that purpose it worked out. It’s only ~1 mile from Big Pine (a place we wanted to go hiking, and try the BBQ) and contains 40 or so camping spaces loosely spaced around Baker Creek. On the positive side the setting is really nice. Almost every site has water running next to it, with lots of trees around and views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background. So far so good. The bad news is that site quality is VERY inconsistent. They are all dirt, no hookups and a mix of pull-in or back-in. A few sites are nicely large and spacious, but many are very uneven and/or only large enough to fit a car. Some have good separation, whereas others are right next to one another and have no privacy at all. Interior roads are also rather bumpy and trees are not maintained or trimmed. For this reason it’s a tough place for big rigs. We found ~4 sites that could comfortably fit us whereas the rest were better-suited for 30-foot or smaller campers (trailers, truckers or tenters). Also, my understanding is that this is a popular fishing campground so it’s highly utilized during the fishing season, plus the fact that it has lots of trees and shade would make it very popular in summer. Given that sites are very close together in some areas this would result in very tight quarters when it’s full. Since we came here in the off-season (there were only a few other campers in the entire campground) and we were able to nab one of the largest, nicest sites around (#13) we had a very pleasant stay. Our site was very private, our view was nice, we had the sound of running water in the background, we were next to a small lake and almost no-one else was around. However given the mixed site quality and layout, I am certain our experience would have been very different (if we could even get a site?) in high season. Also, given how many other camping options there are in the area this does not make my top list. Bottom line, we might stop here again in low season, but would avoid it in high season.
Extra Info: Decent/stable cell signal -> 2 bars of Verizon LTE and 2 bars of ATT. Camping sites cost $10/night (NO hookups). 40 sites all first-come-first-serve (no reservations). Separate walk-in tent camping area. Several on-site pit toilets but NO water, shower or dump.
We absolutely love the detail you provide in your campsite reviews!!
What an invaluable resource for us other big rig types.
Question – how do you keep you rig from getting dirty on the inside when camping in these types of campgrounds?
It’s always something we struggle with but love the big open spaces these types of campgrounds provide.
No real secrets to it…just lots of vacuuming and sweeping. We do put out a “welcome mat” and sometimes we put down a bigger outdoor seating mat (underneath our chairs) which helps to keep some of the dirt down, but there’s really no way to avoid it entirely.
Nina
thanks for posting. I remember this campground from when I first moved back to Indian Wells Valley and needed my Sierra fix with my dog. But it was the nite before hunting season and the place was TEEMING with dogs. I didn’t understand it was hunting season till about 5am when all hell broke loose in the woods where I was just up the creek where I set up my tent. Gunfire like crazy, rustling in the trees like a herd of buffalo as the “stealthy” hunters set out–bird hunters as it turned out. There were cows nearby too which sent my dog over the deep end with mystified glee. I ended up heading back over to my personal favorite place across the valley from Manzanar. There are actually concrete pads from long-gone structures at the base of the Reward/Brown Monster Mines. Lots of weird structures to explore at valley floor level as well as up in the mines. The external mining structures actually make for great photos. The remains of old narrow gage tracks and other structures hugging the steep incline are good foreground as you look out over the Owens Valley and Manazar off in the distance. Sadly, as I understand it, this was a mine where some of the prisoners would work. But I’ve camped there in my various trailers and love the level pads. All you can hear over there is the sound of eagles wings, the dragon flies from nearby owens creek.
Check it out sometime.
tina
I can certainly imagine this place being a ZOO when it’s full!! Cheers very much for the info on that mining area. I had no clue about it, so that’ll be a new, interesting area to check it.
Nina
You nailed it, nicely. Stay there on the way in/out of Death Valley. The shade and water are much appreciated. The dead cottonwood tree 100yds from the entrance, is it still a rookery for turkey vultures?
I must’ve missed that tree? Or just didn’t pay attention. I have to admit the trees and water at the campground were lovely. It’s not often you get to camp next to the sound of a running creek. Very soothing.
Nina
Thanks for the review, great to keep handy if we are ever in the area.
Polly has a huge smile on her face!
Polly is just loving it here!! She’s a great hiker too, and all the trails are dog friendly, so she’s very happy indeed.
Nina
Camped in that very spot a couple of years ago……………
Sweet! Out of all the sites in the campground this was hands down my favorite. We were lucky to nab it.
Nina
I’m glad to hear there is water in the creek! We are headed that way in June and remain hopeful there will be water in the lakes and streams 🙂 Ditto on Wendy’s comment about how helpful your reviews are – both for rig and doggy!
Hope the water lasts! There is lots flowing now, but the snowpack in unusually thin. With a bit of luck they’ll get a few more snows here to beef it up before the weather turns hot.
Nina
I was once greeted by a huge bobcat one morning in that campground while tent camping. I retreated, rather than try to pet him. Must have been the bacon and eggs I was cooking for breakfast that cold morning in November.
Whoah! Of course I might have been at your tent with that smell too….bacon and eggs…droool!
Nina
Another 5* review, especially the dog friendly tips! I’m not quite a “full timer”, more like ” a lot” timer and you save me so much time with the details, maps and handy suggestions. You’re the best travel agent EVER!
Thanks! I started writing these reviews for myself initially (just so I could remember), but I’m glad they’ve become useful to others too!
Nina
Thank you for posting this review, it is helpful.
I really enjoy reading your blog. I enjoy all the posts, the ones about locations and about your thoughts. It’s very brave to post the intimate details of your life and I know that a lot of people benefit from them. We travel in a class B for up to six weeks at a time and are doing more and more boondocking. Thank you so much for being willing to share the locations you like. You have inspired me to try some California camping, something we have not done yet. And to thank you I have been using your Amazon link for quite a few purchases lately. We moved recently and there are always things you need to buy for the new home.
Thanks for the kind words and the purchases Cathy. We sure appreciate both!
Nina
A brief search through your archives didn’t turn up anything on highway 168, S. Lake Rd, or Tyee Lakes Trail, so I tho’t I’d drop a note. Beautiful views similar to those you’ve had the past few days, great hiking and, perhaps, “camping.” There are two campgrounds on S Lake Rd that might take The Beast…although that’s mere speculation.
Forks C.G. is at the junction of 168 and S. Lake Rd; Four Jeffrey C.G. is about a mile or so further. Tyee Lakes Trail is almost to South Lake.
http://newmexnomad.blogspot.com/2013/06/tyree-lakes-trail-california.html
(Not sure how Tyee got misspelled in URL)
and….
http://newmexnomad.blogspot.com/2013/06/memorial-hoozah.html
Happy Travels!!
Thank you! We’ve been once to that area (a few years ago), but didn’t make it very far on the trail due to excess snow. I asked the ranger this time around about conditions and he said the lake area was closed a few miles before the trailhead. So, we didn’t make it out this time around either. I am definitely interested in going back and getting one of those hikes in!!
Nina