Pleasant Valley Pit Campground

Pleasant Valley Pit Campground is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bishop Field Office. The campground is a great place to camp during winter months, and it is especially popular with climbers that visit nearby Happy Boulders Climbing Area on Chalk Bluff Road and the world-class bouldering destination, Buttermilks, west of Bishop.

The campground only charges $2 per site per night, though the campsites were free for a long time. Over the years, “The Pit” became so popular that over 14,000 campers used it in one year. This high use gave the BLM more than enough reason to request a fee. The BLM has combined the proceeds with a little help from The Access Fund, and they have been able to install many facilities such as vault toilets, trash and recycling services, picnic tables, fire grills, and law enforcement patrolling. The funding also helps to preserve the wildlife habitat, historical landmarks, and natural and cultural resources of Pleasant Valley and the nearby boulder areas. Enjoy the cheap nightly camping, though do you part to Leave No Trace to keep this campground in good shape for years to come.