High Sierra Topix

Greetings. I hope to take my wife and daughters Sierra-ward this summer, but I have been informed that flush toilets are a requirement. From what I've been able to ascertain, that restricts us to state and national park campgrounds, as just about every FS campground seems to have vault toilets. However, are there FS (and thus, perhaps, less populated) campgrounds with working bathrooms that I'm overlooking? I typically look to the west side first, because we are near Santa Rosa and have kids in the car, but I would consider something on the closer side of the east side. Thanks!

I think you need to introduce your wife and kids to vault toilets. They are not all the same. Many are well cleaned. I would rather use a vault toilet in a small well-run FS campground than the gross flush facilities at Camp4 or at Lower Yosemite Falls in Yosemite. Have a car camping setup where it is easy to wash- even solar heated water. A flush toilet does not guarantee warm water.

I do not know what the hesitancy is for your family. But if they will not budge, there are commercial campgrounds along the June Lake Loop. And the FS Campground in Mammoth Lakes may have flush toilets- or at least there are nearby ones in the Visitors Center. You can do plenty of day-hiking to see the Sierra while staying in a motel in Bishop or Mammoth Lakes.

The Four Jeffrey campground on Bishop Creek has flush toiles and great access to trailheads for day hikes. Same with the French Camp campground near Toms Place. I'm sure there are others but I frequent these 2. Both have reservable sites on recreation.gov.

I agree with Wandering Daisy about vault vs flush toilets but if that is what your wife wants

I don't know about the west side but here is a link to all of Inyo NF's campgrounds https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/inyo/r ... 8&actid=29

If you click on an individual link it will give details about the campground (# of sites, reservations, water, and if there are vault vs flush toilets)

Big Trees campground has 1 flush and 1 vault toilet for 16 sites https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/re ... ecid=20330

I also agree with WD about vault versus flush. Along with wsp_scott's suggestion on checking all the Inyo Campgrounds, you might want to consider the upgraded Tuolumne Meadows. It will have new bathrooms. The day hiking opportunities from there are numerous and varied. Tentatively, it's listed as opening in July. If you're interested in that, it might be good to call Yosemite and find out more details.

Sam R wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2025 10:44 am I hope to take my wife and daughters Sierra-ward this summer, but I have been informed that flush toilets are a requirement.

All those crazy stories of guys with secret second families...
...They make sense to me now.

(I hope this joke is received in the spirit intended. I'm sure your family is lovely. Few people like crapping in the woods.)

Hi Sam, fellow Santa Rosan here.
Try, Meadowview campground https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/stanisl ... 7&actid=29 or nearby Pinecrest campground. They both have flush toilets. You can also get ice cream and hotdogs at the snack bar. There is swimming and fishing right there at the lake. It's a very civilized and social scene.
You can access great hiking from the campground or drive to one of the many nearby trailheads. Let me know if you need suggestions for day hikes.

"it's listed as opening in July. If you're interested in that, it might be good to call Yosemite and find out more details."

did a walk-through on Labor Day. don't count on it being open in July.

Wandering Daisy, OutdoorRandy, wsp_scott, LMBSGV, Schleppy, swimjam, mkbgdns: thank you! I'm glad for the tips on new campgrounds to look into, and I appreciate your thoughts.

For my part, I actually agree with WD on vault vs. flush. A cathole is even better. However, though my wife and I agree on many things, in this matter we diverge. And I don't see making a stand on this one accomplishing much, really. They say you've got to pick your battles. If raising the white flag this time will get us all closer to the high country for a while... whoooooosh! (Assuming it works.)

Did a walk through of Tuolumne Campground November 1st. Again, don't count on it opening in July, unless it is a drought year and there is early access for workers.