Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Joshua Tree National Park is an unusual place. It is a large park that caters mostly to rock climbers, hikers, and photographers. It is a great place to go if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city life.

There are hiking trails throughout the park. Some of the landscape I encountered looked like something from another planet.
You can find water at Joshua Tree. This picture was taken on the trail to Barker Dam.
I recommend making the trip to Keys View. It's a bit of a drive, but well worth it. The view is spectacular and the weather conditions can be quite windy.
From Keys View, you can see Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.
The campground at Jumbo Rocks is a favorite among many park visitors.
This was one of my campsites at Indian Cove Campground. It is located outside of the park, but is a great place to camp and climb around on some awesome rocks.
Photo Gallery: D. Smith Photography

Camping in Mammoth Lakes, CA

Personally, I have only camped in three campgrounds in the Mammoth Lakes area: New and Old Shady Rest, and the Mammoth RV Resort. All of these campgrounds are located in the town of Mammoth Lakes which has its advantages and disadvantages.

On the positive side, the beauty is all around you when being anywhere in Mammoth. The "in-town" campgrounds are not what I would label as "urban" campgrounds. As a matter of fact, you can camp on the edges of New Shady Rest and feel very much out in the wilderness. Both Shady Rest campgrounds are run by the National Forest Service and offer running water and flush toilets. The Mammoth RV Park is the only campground around that has full hookups. Also, being as close as you are to town affords you the ability to pick-up supplies easily and enjoy the amenities offered by various establishments around town.

New Shady Rest Campground:

On the negative side, you are camping in town and not next to a lake or river. Also, you can hear traffic from Highway 203.

Obviously, if you really want to get into the most beautiful parts of the area, you will want to camp at the lakes or Reds Meadow regions.

Twin Lakes Campground:

Red's Meadow Shuttle Basin

Photo Gallery: dsmithphotography.smugmug.com

Reflections:

This area is serviced by a mandatory shuttle unless you are camping in the basin, or you drive in before the shuttle begins operating . The hike from Devil's Postpile to Rainbow Falls (above photo) is a favorite for many.

Tip of the Trip:

The hike around Sotcher Lake is beautiful. There is also a hike that begins near the Minaret Vista Panorama. It is a downhill trail that ends near Starkweather Lake.

Question:
Has anyone camped in this area? If so, what do you think of the campgrounds? Do you have a favorite?

Website:

http://www.visitmammoth.com/static/index.cfm?action=group&contentID=755