USDA Forest Service · California
Sawmill Walk-in Campground
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 9,797 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- SAWMILL CG PARKING (NFSR 01N04B) · asphalt · suitable for passenger cars
- Nearest town
- Lee Vining, CA
About
US Forest Service campground. Located near the boundary of the Hoover Wilderness at an elevation of 9800 feet, Sawmill Campground is suited to backpack style camping as you will walk more than a quarter mile on a dirt trail to reach the 12 campsites. Each site has a table, fire ring, and a food storage locker. Most sites have shade and room for up to two tents. Nearby Lee Vining Creek is the only water source, there is no piped water. Trash must be packed out. Two vault toilets are located between sites 8 and 9. There are 15 overnight parking spaces at the campground entrance from Saddlebag Road. Hiking beyond the campground is day use only as you will enter into a research area. The Harvey Monroe Hall Natural Area has historical records to compare to current research for effects of climate change at high elevation. Please leave no trace and minimize impacts by staying on trails. Not reservable through Recreation.gov, so plan on first-come, first-served; check with the ranger district for current conditions and fees.
Fees
Overnight Use:
Single Site: $25 per night
Additional Vehicle Fee: $10 per vehicle per night
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30° | 17° | 1° | 44° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 29° | 14° | -1° | 45° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 31° | 17° | 1° | 56° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 36° | 22° | 2° | 50° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 47° | 28° | 12° | 59° | 11 of 11 |
| June | 61° | 39° | 20° | 73° | 6 of 11 |
| July | 72° | 49° | 38° | 79° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 69° | 48° | 39° | 77° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 61° | 42° | 29° | 69° | 3 of 11 |
| October | 53° | 33° | 11° | 68° | 7 of 10 |
| November | 40° | 26° | 7° | 61° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 31° | 15° | 0° | 49° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Saddlebag Lake Trailhead Group Camp · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 1 sites
- Junction Campground · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi
- Ellery Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi
- Tioga Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi
- Warren Fork Trailhead Campground · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2025-10-02. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.