Originally Posted by
sky
This is how I always hit the lakes along I-395.
I leave really early – about 2:00 a.m. on a Wednesday morning, from the Los Angeles area and pull in about 8:00 -8:30 at Rock Creek Lake. I only stay for a couple of hours because I usually get run off by the bears. Once I got stuck in the bathroom for over an hour, while a bear sniffed around outside the door. There is usually no one there on a Wednesday. The road to Rock Creek Lake may be hard on your motor home due to the steep incline.
From Rock Creek Lake, I drive up to Convict Lake, and take a spin around Convict Lake, which is usually taken over by tourist and fishermen, fishing along the shoreline. It is about a 45 minute drive further north from Rock Creek Lake. There’s a walking path around the lake, which is nice to take a short stroll around.
At around 2:00 I head up to Lake Mary in Mammoth Lakes, which is about a 30 minute drive. I always camp at Lake Mary, by the marina. It is convenient if you want to launch your boat, or just walk a few yards to the water, and there’s a bathroom nearby that has flush toilets, and running water. I have seen motor homes camped there so some sites probably have hookups. I camp at Lake Mary on Wednesday and Thursday nights – and check out Lake Mary – Twin Lakes, and Lake Mamie on Thursday. There have been a lot of bears the past few years I have been there.
From there I go to June Lakes early on Friday morning at around 6:00 a.m.. It is a 45 minute drive. I always have reservations for Friday and Saturday nights at June Lake – at the “Oh Ridge” campground. I use June Lakes as my base camp. On Friday I hit June Lake. Saturday I hit Gull and Silver Lakes which are a few miles from June Lake along the June Lake Loop. The last few times I went Grant Lake has been too windy.
Early on Sunday morning, I pack up and go to Lundy Lake further north, about a 45 minute drive. I buzz around the lake. From Lundy Lake, I go to Virginia Lake about 10 miles further north. (I no longer go to Lake Crowley, or Mono Lake.)
I hang out at Virginia Lake until about 3:00 p.m.. There are several small lakes you can take a short hike to also that has a nice walking path, but I personally wouldn’t walk with a stringer of fish in bear territory.
At 3:00 I drive north late Sunday afternoon, for about 1.5 hours, 65 miles, to Twin Lakes in Bridgeport. I stay at the forest service campground on the left I think on S. Twin Lakes Road. It’s just before you reach the first lake on the left. I like to camp right by the river. Usually everyone is leaving on Sunday, so I can find a camping spot pretty easily without reservations. There’s a small grocery store and coin laundry just further up the road a half of a mile on the right hand side. I park across the street from the lake, by the store, and throw my kayak in water.
On Monday and Tuesday morning I play around at Twin lakes, and then I head home at about noon. It takes me about 8 hours from Bridgeport to get back to the Los Angeles area. Its about 400 miles from Bridgeport to L.A.
I have been doing the same trip for about 10 years. Some people prefer to stay at one spot because they bring so much STUFF, it is a big hassle to keep unpacking and setting up camp, but I travel light. Plus, I really like to go to new places…every day actually.