Palisades Group Campground

About

Palisades Group Campground occupies a shaded position at 8,600 feet in Rock Creek Canyon, tucked into a steep-walled corridor of the eastern Sierra Nevada. The single group site accommodates up to 30 people with a maximum of 5 vehicles (40-foot length limit). Five picnic tables and fire rings are arranged in a private loop, with vault toilets and potable water from a hand pump available on site. Bear boxes are provided and required for all food storage in this active bear area. Rock Creek runs adjacent to the campground, offering brook, brown, rainbow, and stocked Alpers trout. Several hiking trails depart from Rock Creek Canyon, leading to high-elevation alpine lakes where golden trout can be found in the backcountry. The surrounding forest of aspen and lodgepole pine provides ample shade throughout the day. The campground was converted from a small family site to serve as overflow for groups under 25 who cannot secure the larger Rock Creek Lake Group Campground. While less scenic than that facility, it remains well-suited for family reunions and small organizational gatherings seeking a quieter alternative along the creek.

Directions

From US Highway 395, take the Tom's Place exit (13 miles south of Mammoth Lakes or 30 miles north of Bishop). Turn west onto Rock Creek Road (Forest Highway 12) and follow for approximately 6 miles. The campground is on the right.