Pets allowed
Allowed with Restrictions
Guided tours
No
Backcountry camping
Yes
Lodging
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Located off Highway 395, Horseshoe Meadows Area is a high elevation meadow 24 miles west of Lone Pine, CA. The area is a beautiful place for camping, hiking, and picnicking at high elevation. Horseshoe Meadows Area offers respite from the summer heat as it rises over 6,000 feet above nearby towns. 

Three campgrounds, overnight parking, day use parking, and several trails are available at Horseshoe Meadows Area. Golden Trout Wilderness, Inyo National Forest, and Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park are also accessible through this area. 

CAMPGROUNDS

Cottonwood Lakes Walk-In Campground: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recreation/recarea/?recid=20692&actid=29

Cottonwood Pass Walk-In Campground: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recreation/recarea/?recid=20694&actid=29

Horseshoe Meadows Equestrian Camp: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recreation/recarea/?recid=20696&actid=29 

BACKCOUNTRY PERMITS

Backcountry permits are required for overnight camping in the wilderness areas. Most of the trails from Horseshoe Meadows have quotas that limit the release of daily permits with the exception of the Trail Pass trail which is non-quota. More information about permits can be found at www.recreation.gov

SEASONAL CLOSURES

The road to Horseshoe Meadows is closed from around November to May due to snow. For more information about road closures please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recarea/?recid=20700

ACTIVE BEAR AREA
Horseshoe Meadows Area is home to many animals including bears. If you are leaving a car parked here you must remove all scented items and place them with your food in the bear-proof lockers and/or trash cans located in the parking lot. 

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Fall
Spring
Summer

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

None

Open Year-round

No

Open from

May 01 to November 30

Pros

Scenic Vistas. Trail Access. Pristine Wilderness. Campgrounds.

Cons

Mosquitos in the summer.

Features

Backcountry camping
Waterfalls
Wildlife
Big vistas
Picnic tables
Near lake or river
Wildflowers
Bird watching
Potable water

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Eastern Sierra + White Mountains Area, California
Eastern Sierra + White Mountains Area, California

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