Coldwater Campground — Hotel in Mammoth Lakes

Coldwater Creek Site 57||This is a first campsite review and I can't follow my typical format but I couldn't find a web page which allows me to review a site in specifics with pictures, even though I thought I found one before making ray eservations. Here goes.||||I LOVE Mammoth Lakes. LOVE being an understatement, and I have been to many parks. This was our first time camping here (of many I hope). Camped 18 July 2018 3 nights during the time of the Yosemite fire. We made our reservation March 21 and there were only 2 spots left here (and not much else anywhere). That surprised us because when we were passing thru 2 years earlier (via hotel) to 'look' the campgrounds were pretty empty. Book Early. A few drive up spots I think, but not worth the risk.||||The campground is huge. Our choices were one on the exiting side half way, and 57, at the very end of the entrance side, by the 3 trailhead parking area. Everything I read said the farther 'up' you go the nicer they are. That said, I seem to think the 'outside' spots are more lush and the center section is higher and more rocky, less coverage from trees. Good and bad I will get to later. I was kind of concerned about being close to trailhead traffic (not a problem, the stream was great 'white noise'), sharing the bathrooms with trailhead (there was one closer. Camper bathrooms were cleaner, although the same. Toilet, sink, small shelf), Also of a concern was being so close to the flow of traffic with our stuff unattended. We were so far back I think we weren't at any risk of being seen. Besides, it takes a nutty outdoors person to want to raid another campers stuff, right? ||||Anyway, when we saw our sight we immediately thought 'this is the BEST spot!” How did we get so lucy, or what don’t we know???. No 'neighbors on either side or behind and across was a respectable distance. There was a nice creek 15’ away which lulled us to sleep, only about 6" deep by 3' across, so safe for kids but so COLD they wouldn't play in it anyway. Skeeters weren't an issue but I think they could be. Water access was a few sights over. Huge bear box, lots of trees, and actually 2 big 'tent' spots with space between. Did I say Huge lot? Everything was so wonderful. I even had 2 hammocks up. Occasionally someone would wander past the back creek looking for wood or at the flowers...still, most campgrounds have tents that close together. We didn't track down the remote showers... :} (but went to the hot springs the first morning). Everything was great. Hosts passed by regularly. ||||Camping is getting to be one with nature, right? Well in mid July we got an opportunity to test the design of our fairly new (unbaptized) tent. Two days of downpour mid afternoon. We returned from a hike the first day and found our tent floating. Water was between the tarp and tent floor, like a waterbed. We took heavy things out (REI basecamp 6 fyi) and lifted the tent and scooted it over to let the water run away, dry the tarp and tent bottom, and used a piece of firewood to try to make a guiding trench. When all was ok we put the tent back. (all good inside!) The second day we were caught in a hailstorm and then downpour. We came back from our outing to find our tent in a river. The stream had overflowed and was swirling around the picnic table and site and back to the stream. The rush of water coming from the trailhead, parking lot, down the campground road detoured right into our car parking space and ran right under our tent (swirling around the fire pit). In the rain we emptied the tent again (things got wet this time) into our car, moved the tent temporarily to the only dry spot 2' from the fire pit, and stared down at the snow of hail that had accumulated under the tent. The water was 3" deep. The 'other tent space' had a river from the road right to it, it was filled 4" and trickling out toward the stream but really not going anywhere. It was a wading pool. Oh the joys of camping. ||||We debated what to do as we stood in the rain (I had gotten my rain gear on, hubby jeans didn't fare so well). After awhile the rain stopped, the water dispersed. 3 more days of possible rain but we were leaving in the morning for LA anyway....we left the tent where it was moved, pinecones and all and we did just fine for the night. The only downside was that we never had a fire. ||||We waited until the tent dried more the next day before packing it all in, then set it all up again at home to let it dry. (actually we were asked to babysit the young grandkids for the night and had already decided to 'camp' in our yard so it worked out. )||||Now the good and the bad...you have no idea what the weather will be when you make a reservation. Central high ground didn't flood. Many outside tent sites did. RV's didn't notice anything unless they had an extra tent up. If you have a site on either side by the stream, or downhill from the road, be prepared. Then again, you get far more trees and shade. Would I do it again? Yes. Because we were lucky our tent stayed dry thru all that. Would I use the designated site? not necessarily. I would look for the ‘high ground’. Would I bring a shovel to...

Coldwater is a nice campground for both R.V.'s and tent campers. Finding the right sight for your equipment is key here. There are some nice flat sites for R.V's and trailers and some that are really only suitable for tent camping or small tent trailers.||If you can get one of the sights on one side or the other of the campground, there are creeks running on both sides. If you're in one of those outer sites, you can hear the creeks run and you'll also have to open space behind you.||There are a few things to note: First off, there are NO hook-ups and the dump station is all the way down at the visitors center near town. Second, there are no pull-off's to fill an R.V. water tank so do that in advance. There are water spigots here and there but you'll be blocking the road and there is a trailhead at the end of the campground and hikers (some very impatient) don't care that you have no place else to fill your water tank, they just want you to MOVE. ||Bathrooms are sing and toilet only. No hot water but they are flush toilets. ||Some of the sites are hard to get a trailer in to due to the angles and large rocks situated alongside the road. Also, though the posted speed limit is 5 or 10 mph, the campground being so long, people at the trailhead get impatient and many don't adhere. If you have small children, just be very diligent of the speeding drivers. ||This campground is very peaceful and quiet on non-holiday...

Pros -Located near Lake Mary. Like bike distance to fish and swim the lake -2 creeks run along the campground. August 28 stay, current was strong and creek was still full of life -flush toilets. Acceptably okay to use quieter campground -Informative host and personnel warning about the male bear

Cons -some sites are on slope. Our site is no. 10 . Behind the campground host, near bathroom and potable water and creek but on a slope. -no general store or showers in area. Have to go to twin lakes general store for a shower -mosquitos are hungry! We used repellant, citronella and UV lamp but to no use. Nothing repels them! -can’t eat at peace due to bear actively roaming the area. Encountered the big guy. The camp host has warned us about it. Was excited and scared at same time. Heard the horn around 545 pm just right after cooking salmon. We were inside the tent and we rushed out like boys scout on a mission to hurriedly put all our food inside the bear proof storage. Camp hosts warning everyone and checked our picnic table if there’s any food. The 500 lbs brown bear rummage thru our table and was disappointed- no food for him. We were hiding in the car when he tried to open it. Good thing we locked it. The host distracted it so big bear went on to next site. Hubby so scared we ended up leaving the next day instead of spending...