U.S. Forest Service · Inyo National Forest · California

Iris Meadow Campground

Against aspens and willows, the 14 campsites at this family campground surround a small meadow, while wild irises bloom in the late spring. Known for it's peaceful nature, some campsites are located along the rushing sounds of Rock Creek.

More like this: first-come in California · tent only in California

Iris Meadow Campground
Photo from the area. Tom Hilton (CC BY 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
Fees$33.00 per night

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
ForestInyo National Forest
Fees$33.00 per night
RulesMax RV length 26'. Dogs on leash only. Max stay 14 days. Active bear area. All food must be secured overnight and when not attended; bear boxes are provided and must be used (typical bear box size 48" x 30" x 36"). Always keep a clean camp and do not feed wildlife.

Inyo National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Iris Meadow Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 4.20 inches of precipitationFebruary: 3.77 inches of precipitationMarch: 3.28 inches of precipitationApril: 1.54 inches of precipitationMay: 1.49 inches of precipitationJune: 0.47 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.51 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.49 inches of precipitationSeptember: 0.47 inches of precipitationOctober: 1.43 inches of precipitationNovember: 2.00 inches of precipitationDecember: 4.07 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 28.9°F averageFebruary: 29.4°F averageMarch: 33.8°F averageApril: 39.1°F averageMay: 47.4°F averageJune: 56.2°F averageJuly: 63.4°F averageAugust: 62.4°F averageSeptember: 55.5°F averageOctober: 45.5°F averageNovember: 36.2°F averageDecember: 29.2°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Mammoth Lakes RS, 16 miles from the campground at 7,804 feet, station USC00045280 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 24 inches a year.

Getting there

Coordinates37.5193° N, 118.7107° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Three Creeks Rx/Support Season

    21 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Cy26 Snf Rx Support

    38 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Prog Bodie Hills Bridgeport Val Rx/Support Season

    47 mi from the campground

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗3.2 mi
Outdoor gearMac's Sporting Goods ↗20.3 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Big Meadow Campground Tour | Hidden Gem in Rock Creek, Inyo National Forest

  • 1.8 mi
    East Fork/Mosquito Flat Ski ↗
    4.7 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
  • 1.8 mi
    East Fork Ski Loop
    1 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
  • 1.9 mi
    Upper Rock Creek Canyon
    4.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.2 mi
    Wheeler Crest Trail
    4.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 2.4 mi
    East Fork Outhouse Ski
    1.3 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
  • 2.5 mi
    West Wicher Trail
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Inyo National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

Guidebooks for Inyo National Forest and California

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Inyo National Forest, California
    United States Forest Service, 2010
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Moon California Camping
    Tom Stienstra, 2022
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Camping Northern California
    Linda Parker Hamilton, 2016
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Iris Meadow Campground?

No. Iris Meadow Campground is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Iris Meadow Campground?

$33.00 per night

Source: Forest Service

Is Iris Meadow Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 26, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Iris Meadow Campground have?

14 sites.

Source: Forest Service

Can I bring an RV to Iris Meadow Campground?

Iris Meadow Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

What if Iris Meadow Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Aspen Group (Inyo) (0.3 mi), East Fork Campground (2.5 mi, partly first-come), and Palisades Group Campground (2.5 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby