Hartley Springs Campground | Free Camping Near June and Mammoth Lakes

Heading north on the US 395 there are many boondocking opportunities as well as several free Forest Service campgrounds available. We usually boondock but we thought we’d give one of these free campgrounds a try. We were pleasantly surprised! Hartley Springs Campground is a spacious campground nestled in a beautiful pine forest with just the right amount of amenities. Conveniently located between two beautiful mountain towns, Mammoth Lakes and June Lake, the campground itself is a great destination and its proximity to nearby adventures was a major perk! Find out what to expect at Hartley Springs Campground, when to go and what to do nearby!

Quick Info: Hartley Springs Campground

Ownership: Forest Service; 21 day limit

Cost: Free

Directions: As you’re travelling along US-395, turn west at the sign for Obsidian Dome Road/Hartley Springs Road. Continue straight for 0.9 miles until the road splits. Here you’ll branch left towards Hartley Springs for 0.8 miles and then the campground entrance will be on the right.

Road Conditions: After you turn off of US-395 you’ll be on a dirt road with some bumpy rocks but nothing too big. Eventually the road roughly transitions to a paved section. Once you take the road right, towards the campground, it transitions back to a dirt road. It’s a bit dusty and bumpy with some sandy parts but 4WD/high clearance isn’t necessary if you drive with care.

Miles from Town: About 6.5 miles to June Lake and about 16 miles to Mammoth Lakes.

Cell Service: Spotty; the road in has service and some spots in Hartley Springs Campground had service but ours did not.

Solar: Limited; there are a couple of camp spots out in the open but the majority are surrounded by trees and in the shade for part of the day.

Water: There is a rest area about 6 miles south from Hartley Springs Campground on the west side of US 395 that has water spigots and restrooms.

Best Time to Go

Hartley Springs Campground is located at an elevation of 8,400 feet. That being said, snow and winter conditions tend to stick around awhile. According to the Forest Service website, the campground is closed in winter and opens mid-May (depending on conditions). The snow melt can create flooded conditions as well. Overall, the days typically warm up nicely between May and October though the nights stay pretty chilly. We camped here in mid August (2019) and the weather was great.

Our Experience at Hartley Springs Campground

When we arrived at Hartley Springs Campground we were immediately impressed. The sites were huge, spread out and there were 25 of them. Not only that, but there was only one other camper here with the exception of the camphost! Mid-August in this amazingly beautiful area of California that is not what we expected! Since we had so many sites to choose from we got out and walked around the campground to check out the site. We found our favorite spot and then we made it home.

There are some amenities at the free Hartley Springs Campground that we aren’t used to having while we’re out boondocking! Restrooms – there are two restroom buildings in the campground each with two vault toilets. And each site has a picnic table, a large bear box and a fire pit. There is a sign regarding improper food storage resulting in a citation so be sure to protect the bears and use the supplied bear boxes!

Camp Here Later – Pin It Now!

The campsites are set among a pretty forest of tall pines with soft dirt/sand underfoot. When it was windy, things did get a bit dusty.

During our stay, it was extremely peaceful and still had a wilderness feel to it. Though most of the wildlife consisted of adorable chipmunks and annoying flies that hung out around the bathrooms. But we were lucky enough to see a coyote! And we were thrilled that there were virtually no mosquitoes here during our stay.

Hartley Springs is a known off road vehicle destination as there are many designated roads and trails around to explore. So as far as traffic, the weekdays saw very limited use. And then on weekends the campground would actually fill up with lots of campers with their off road toys. We don’t have one yet but this area looks like a great place for them! So on weekends there was more traffic, noise and dust but everyone was respectful and there were no issues.

We had a great time camping at Hartley Springs Campground. Besides being a great spot to camp in the woods for free, the proximity to the endless opportunity for adventure in the area was great!

Things to Do While Staying at Hartley Springs Campground

The location of the campground is perfect for accessing the abundance of recreation opportunities in the area! Here are a few things to do nearby while staying at Hartley Springs Campground (though barely scratching the surface).

• First of all, without even leaving the campground there are forest roads and trails to explore. We followed a couple trails while we were here and they were peaceful, wooded and sometimes steep.

• About 2 miles away from Hartley Springs Campground is the amazing and unique Obsidian Dome! This volcanic feature is a destination in itself. Climb up the massive pile of volcanic rock and take in the otherworldly sight and beautiful surrounding views.

Check out our Obsidian Dome article here!

• June Lake is about 6 miles away is definitely something to see. A quaint mountain town with several sparkling blue lakes nestled among the forested granite basin. Check out the charming mountain town, drive the June Lake Loop Scenic Drive, enjoy one of the pristine lakes in the area, or set off on one of the many hiking trails in the area.

• About a half hour north, just past Lee Vining is the iconic Mono Lake. This isn’t just any lake but an ancient saline lake that is extremely beautiful with stunning tufa formations. Pick a viewpoint, walk a trail, kayak or canoe, bird watch and take in the beauty!

• Then about a half hour south is Mammoth Lakes where there is an infinite amount of things to do. Spend the day hiking, mountain biking or skiing in the Sierra Nevadas. Don’t miss the seriously awesome Volcom Brothers Skatepark – our favorite, hands down.

• Being in an area of volcanic activity, there are also a number of free natural hot springs in this area. Just google hot springs near Mammoth and you should have a decent number to choose from.

• And lastly, drive Tioga Pass and beyond to Yosemite National Park. Again, endless options for getting out and exploring the areas’ jaw dropping beauty.

Thanks for Your Support!

As you can see, there is no shortage of adventure in the area near Hartley Springs Campground. Thanks for reading our article about free camping at Hartley Springs Campground. We hope you enjoy this truly special destination and the immense beauty of the recreation opportunities nearby.

Thanks for reading! If you would like to see more articles about some our favorite camping experiences check out the articles below:

• Camping and Exploring Fossil Falls
• Boondocking at Trona Pinnacles
• Camping Near Badlands National Park

Check out some of the adventures we went on nearby:

• Hilton Lakes Trail
• Breathtaking Hike: Twenty Lakes Basin
• Hiking to Fern Lake
• Mammoth Skatepark
• Backpacking Peeler Lake Loop
• Longboarding Rock Creek Road
• Little Lakes Valley Trail

Feel free to leave a comment below – say hi, tell us your favorite backpacking destination, or let us know about somewhere that you love to camp, climb or hike!

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