Off-road camping in Sierras

Hoping to take the truck camping somewhere in the Sierras before the snow comes. Anyone know of a good location that I can go? Looking for a spot that I can fish at. I have a 2003 4wd with 3in 5100s/eibach lift on 265/75r16. Somewhere my truck can make it. Also beginner at offroading.

 

I'd like to know also. Doing my annual Yosemite trip this weekend, but next year might take up some 4x4 trails up there instead of going to Yosemite.

 

Laurel Lake, near Mammoth Lakes, is a fun 4x4 trail with trout fishing and a couple of nice camp spots. Secluded and free! The trail is not difficult but good tires are recommended due to the rocks, lots of rocks, mostly small but some are sharp enough to cut older tires.. There is a great camp spot right on the shore (the site is on the area that looks like and island at the bottom of the lake picture below). Also a few spots about halfway up the trail, in some trees and alongside the small creek.

 

Yes, I was looking into Laurel Lake. My friend has a double cab tundra. Are the roads really narrow where his car may not fit?

 

Depends on how many scratches he wants on his truck. I mean it is a truck and they are made to get scratched and banged up but if he's not comfortable and thinks a bush is gunna stop him from hitting the trail I don't recommend him bringing it

 

Think mainly just worried whether or not he has enough space for the turns on the switch back. Read that it would be tight but wasn't sure how tight. Think Hankook dynapro atm will be fine against those sharp rocks? Tires are fairly new.

 

Those dynopros aren't bad tires at all maybe bring a spare or 2 if you have a buddy that wants to loan you his spare for the weekend just in case and the tundra will make it more places than my dclb will as far as turns go if it's tight go slow and know your trucks limits he will be fine

 

Thanks! just gotta see if I can talk him into going now.

 

X2 ! Great trail with fantastic views . FYI you could only fish with a certain kind of bait . I don't exactly remember what kind since its been a while since I've been there but look into it so you don't get fined

 

FYI my friend did this trail in his stock frontier with no issues at all .

 

Yes, I read that it has special regulations. I will look into it. Thanks!

 

June lake loop, convict lake, carson river, northfork/southfork river near Lee Vining,. theres a bunch, Topaz lake, owens valley near mnt whitney

 

On my last visit to Laurel Lake there was a double cab Tundra that made it all the way to the end of the trail, right to the waters edge. The Tundra wasn't lifted nor did it have any additional off-road equipment other than stock 4x4 (the non-Off Road version) but it did have BFG AT tires. On his way out it took him a few extra minutes to navigate the hard left turn at the first major switchback near the lake. He took his time, made a few turn adjustments and didn't have issues. That is really the only turn that would require any extra efforts to manuver a longer wheelbased vehicle. On your way in, just before you get to the end of the trail there are a couple of spots where you can pull off the road and walk the rest of the trail to the lake if you wanted to check it out before making the last few hundred yards, this would let you see the switchback-tight turn before commiting. Lots of guys just park their trucks in these turnouts and walk down.

As far as fishing: fly fishing with barbless flies or if spinning use artificial lures, barbless. If a ranger shows up, and they do at times, they will most likley ask for fishing license and will check your bait. On one visit I saw a guy get a ticket for throwing a barbed treble hooked lure, cost him pleny as it was an infraction for each of the barbed hooks on his lure! The Game warden said he might be looking at a $750 fine. The Game Warden also said that normally he would have only written the guy up for one barbed hook infraction but the fisherman was being a dick to the Warden and also had a bunch of trash all around his fishing spot (discarded fishing line and lure wrappers and food bags).

On your way in you'll see a creek that runs down below you (to your right as you climb up to the lake), it has some small Goldens. You will see a big grove of trees on your right about half way up the trail, it has a cool camp spot with the creek running right next to it. There is an easy road that drops down to that camp spot. If it's hot out and the water feels warm it's not good to fish (here or anywhere else really) as the fish will be stressed out from the warm water/lack of oxygen and will probably not survive a catch and release.

Photo below showing: The tight turn as you're leaving the Lake to head back to the 395..the road comes up from the lake, to the hard left of the back of this Jeep. I took this shot from the turn around spot which you'll probably use to make a bunch of small turns to make that hard and rocky left turn easier. Don't be impatient with this turn, it is tighter, steeper and rockier than it looks here.

Another view of the turn:


The creek is down in that valley, the 395 way off in the distance.

 

This is great info Surfnmoto2! Thanks. I have a fly rod but have never fly fish before in my life. Got it as a gift. Is this a good place to learn? It sounds like a great place. Most people have recommended this lake.

 

The creek would be a tough place to learn, the lake would be much easier. Just a few miles away from here are the many Mammoth Lakes which will provide some good practicing locations. Also, the Owens River is just a few minutes away and can be a lot of fun to fly fish. Rock Creek Lake is another.... and then there's Convict Lake... oh boy, choices! Enjoy the trip!

Rock Creek Lake:

 

Great thread! I went up laurel lakes and had a blast. Trail looks short from the trailhead/sign but it's like 6 miles back into the sherwin range. I brought my fly rod and was unsuccessful at hooking the big goldens but hooked the small goldenseal in the creek. If you go this time of year it's empty. I made the mistake of going a couple years ago on 4th of July and was greeted by about a half dozen land rovers on the trail. Good camping at sherwin creek campground as well. If you are a beginner, you can wade out into the lake at certain spots and try your luck. I also recommend a float tube for the lakes basin (lots of room and no snags...just wind knots) on a lake! Definitely 4x4 trail. I aired down when I went up as well (not totally necessary) but it made the bumps much nicer

 

Surfnmoto2 great pics! That trail is super scenic

 

There is a ton of places you can get out and camp and wheel around here. Even throughout the winter, there are easy to access lakes and river with plenty of dirt roads and 4 wheel drive fun. From about Lone Pine to Bridgeport along the 395, you can find tons of BLM land to camp, and plenty of open Forest Service camp spots. Depends if you want facilities or not. My Instagram has tons of photos of the area, feel free to look through for ideas in the Eastern Sierra!

As for the Laurel Lakes road, it does just come down to sharp rocks and sharp turns. The road gets pretty beat up and is currently covered in snow.