Reds Meadow Campground

THIS REVIEW IS FOR REDS MEADOW CAMPGROUND and not Reds Meadow Resort. We've been here in 2010 and camped at campsite #25 then this year at campsite #16. Both stays were a great experience. I remember the last time we were here the bathhouse was still working but that was 11 years ago with very hot showers so what we do back then was we get half a pail of cold water in the creek or water faucet and mix it with that hot water to have a warm water for bath. The bathhouse is closed now but very hot water is still coming out near the creek and they have a small pool of it. This time we dip our filled camping shower bag to the pool until it reaches the desired temperature we want for showers or we get hot water from it for our water container. We always get warm showers or bath at night! The hot water works well too to wash your pots and pans!

Well aside from having hot water available at the campground they also have the cleanest pit toilets. They keep the bear lockers clean as well. It said on the website that they have 4 flush toilet houses but all of them are new solar powered pit toilets now. I'm not sure if they're new but it's so clean and the camp hosts cleans and checks it 2x a day. They were so clean the 6 days we were there even on the days that there were a lot of campers! Thank the camp host for keeping it clean!

This campground have 2 trails to Sotcher Lake and to Reds Meadow Resort. Across the street are the trails to Devils Postpile and Rainbow Falls. It's easily accessible to trails. You can go on those trails at sunrise and before sunset and avoid the crowds. Shuttles come down every 30 minutes full of people plus campers so at least when you're staying at this campground you can just access the trails in your own time with less travelers.
This campground was our first camping experience back in 2010. We had a wonderful experience back then and we've been camping for 11 years now for at least 2x or 3x a year. We actually camped here last minute on July 1-6 because our Shasta Lake camping reservations got cancelled the night of June 30 due to fire! But since we were already packed and ready to go, this campground comes to mind to stay because we knew this would be a better one with no reservations and all and we've been wanting to camped here again and explore the area. We made the right decision in going here unplanned. The camp hosts were so nice and helpful with what else to do and experience in the area. We did go to Lower Falls past Rainbow Falls for the first time and had a chance to swim there. We also got to experience rafting, fishing and picnicking at Starkweather Lake where the water is so clean and we went when no ones there... They recommend places to go and experience and what to do and when to do it to avoid travelers and campers!
If we are going to have that chance again on camping at this campground, we will choose this one again last minute!

NO RESERVATIONS or not reservable, register or reserve at the campground. There are 52 campsites to choose from on a first come, first served basis and some are big or small, shaded or meadow areas of campsites.

We fell inlove with campsite #16. It is just a right size campsite with my family. This campground is perfect place to stay if you're planning to do hiking at Devil's postpile and Rainbow falls which we did. The vault toilet is clean. The camp host is doing a great job to keep the place clean and well, also being a responsible camper will help make this campground keep clean too. We will for sure keep coming back to this campground.

A very nice place to camp and relax. A short walk from several natural attractions.

So beautiful, rainbow falls and devils post pile are a must see. Cindy, the camp host, is so nice and helpful. Just a wonderful time, clean bathrooms with toilet paper.

My friend and I hiked the John Muir Trail in 2016 and were planning to camp in the backpacker's camp at Red's Meadow for a night. By the time we showed up, were we on Day 6 of a 21-day backpacking trip. The previous couple of days were both high milage days on the trail with heavy packs on, so let's just say we were tired and looked a little grubby.

While perusing Red Meadows' general store and relishing being back in semi-civilization, I casually asked them if they had any rooms available (couldn't hurt to ask, right?). To my surprise and delight, the lady jokingly said, "Well we do, but it's a 6-person cabin...too big for just you two gals!". Obviously, this was a sign. I immediately slapped my credit card down on the counter and insisted on renting it for the night, and she obliged. We took showers, did laundry and slept like babies! All was right in the world, and it was just the refresh we needed to tackle the remaining 14 days of our trip down the spine of the Sierras.

I also inhaled a double cheeseburger and a milkshake in their little restaurant that I still think about sometimes. So good!

So much to see and do out here. Horseback riding, hiking, hot springs, fishing, swimming in the awesome lakes.

I had a great time!!! The hosts were amazing, bathroom are cleaned. The spot where I stayed was close to a store, Rainbow Fall and even a small hot Springs. Did I mention there is also a horse back riding and a small Cafe. Reception wise, I did get signal at random spots.

My first camping experience at Reds Meadow was in 1948. I was three years old. My brother was two , my sister was five.
We camped and fished here every summer with parents, and grand parents from the late 40's throughout the 50's into 1962. Each stay was one week to ten days . There was no fee and no guard shack at the entry. (No ski lifts). Campsites were not defined or numbered. Everyone slept in canvass tents. There were no radios , tv's or phones. Flashlights were the only things battery operated. No flush toilets or plumbing . Water for any use was retrieved from the stream in buckets. Cooking was over an open fire.Toilets consisted of a piece of plywood with a hole in the middle under which was a large deep hole . This was encased in a rough wood enclosure maybe 3' by 5'. The smell was memorable. Trout was stocked once a week. Limit of fish was 15 per day. Horse rental was $1.00/hr. Candy bars at the store were 5 cents ea. (A gallon of gas in Mammoth must have been about 15 cents/gal.) The bath house was the same then as today. We drank stream water and soda water (from upper and lower soda springs). When we were old enough we horseback rode to Rainbow Falls every year.
We did a lot of fishing, playing and hiking during those camping trips and It became the highlight of the year for all of us.
Reds Meadow remains one of our most beloved childhood memories.

Great place to disconnect from everyday life with the family, we have been going since 2018 and will continue to go back until I get deported. lol

Very green, clean and nice. No dirt except on car trails. I woke up and walked around the campsite barefoot on nice green grass. I felt like Richard Greer in Pretty Woman. Yup.

A great campground close to the Pacific Crest Trail. The main feature that sets this apart from others is the showers fed by geothermal hot spring water. Available for use with a small fee.

*Braxton makes the Best milkshake on the mtn !

Awesome place to camp! We always see bears!

A hiker paradise. Excellent food. The staff are awesome.

Love being out in nature and this location is great at providing great customer service and overall wonderful nature is around us. Away from mammoth itself. We even seen a 🐻 bear in the campground last night!

Nice spot deep in the forest. Near lakes, rivers and waterfalls...and a few more bonuses if you're lucky.

One of the best places I have cramped

Our kids grew up going to this wonderful place. Now our grandkids are enjoying it too.

Nicely laid out, clean, quiet

We love this place amazing!!