Think fresh air, crystal clear waters, and wildlife in it’s true habitat. Reds Meadow is a campground located in the Inyo National Forest in Mammoth Lakes, California. It is one of seven campgrounds that are on the other side of Mammoth Mountain. Many will describe it as God’s country. Sitting at 7,500 feet in elevation, and filled with endless hiking trails, a plethora of streams and lakes, and clear blue skies as far as the eye can see, you will find yourself in a fisher’s paradise. We love coming to this area – relaxing around a crackling fire, catching native trout, and hiking to waterfalls are just a few of the things that we look forward to.
Native Lodgepole Chipmunks are the cutest! 
🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 
Troy catching and releasing a native Trout! 
Here fishy fishy… 
We had a bear in our camp! 🐻 
These cuties were blocking us from leaving! 
Remington loves camping with us!
Some of the attractions near this campground that are definitely worth visiting are:
~ Red’s Meadow Resort & Pack Station – Here you find a general store and the Mule House Café where you can grab a drink, have a sandwich, schedule a horseback ride, or pick up some needed essentials that you forgot when packing. It’s a bit overpriced, but super convenient. Cool off from the heat with one of their delicious milkshakes!
~ Devils Postpile – This is a sight to see! This extraordinary rock formation was declared a national monument in 1911 by President William Howard Taft. Prior to his declaration, the land was at risk of being demolished to create a dam, but thanks to many Californians, including the one and only John Muir, this beautiful creation still lives on. The postpile is a series of columnar basalt that were formed less than 100,000 years ago when lava cracked through the columns and cooled. As the lava cooled, the columns turned into molten rock, which is what we see today. This incredible view, however, is nothing like what the area looked like at that time. The Eastern California area was a shallow sea and these columns once stood even taller, but as time goes on, they break down. This is a must see when in the area!
~ Rainbow Falls – This spot provides for another insane photo opportunity. Also located within the boundaries of Devils Postpile National Monument lies this 101-foot waterfall. Watch the water cascade down into the San Joaquin River below. Climb to the bottom of the falls and cool off from the mist as it hits your face. If you’re lucky and the sun is out, see the rainbows that appear in the water’s mist. Be aware, the hike to Rainbow falls is awesome; it’s downhill, and easy, but the trek back is a tough one. Between the lack of oxygen and the elevation gain, you will likely have to put in some effort. It’s a magnificent sight, but you do have to work for it.
~ Minaret Falls – Yet another beautiful waterfall to see. This hike is about 3 miles out and back and is moderately trafficked. Unlike Rainbow Falls, you will see these waters tumble from gorge to gorge as it travels to the base of the falls, instead of plunging straight down. If you like fishing, this is the spot!! Trout are EVERYWHERE!
~ Sotcher Lake – A spring fed lake that is roughly 1.5 miles roundtrip. This lake is the closet attraction from the campsite. At the lake, you can fish, swim, sunbathe, or use any unmotorized watercraft AKA a raft or paddleboard. If you want to fish, bring weights because the fish are hanging out a ways beneath the surface. This is an easy walk and well worth it!
~Starkweather Lake – This is also a spring fed lake but is significantly smaller in size compared to Sotcher. It is very shallow but features sandy beaches, so it is a very popular spot. This is by far one of our favorite spots for picture taking, as the trees reflect perfectly over the still waters.
~ Earthquake Fault – An earthquake around 600 years ago created this large fissure. Both incredible and terrifying at the same time, this hard volcanic rock was split right down the center. Guests can capture photos, explore both around and inside the split going roughly 60-feet down. This area gives humans a glimpse at just how strong Mother Earth is. While awesome to explore, you don’t want to get stuck in the crack during an earthquake!
Ignore the random hand…we had company! 😂
We try to get to Mammoth at least a couple times of year. This area is serene, stunning, and far from the city! (Thank Goodness!!!) The hustle and bustle of city life gets old, and it feels good be away from smog, traffic lights, and concrete buildings! We were planning to spend Labor Day weekend in Mammoth, but the Forest Service unexpectedly shut down the parks for fire risk and firefighter relief TWO DAYS before our trip. 😢😢😢With that said, we still wanted to share this remarkable place with you and share some pictures from our trip to the area three weeks ago.
We are hoping to get back before the season ends in October, but if not, as soon as the winter snow melts, we will be back down in Reds!
Hoping for campfires, dirty tires, and no forest fires,
TnT