A gravel road curving into a high mountain valley at first light, the peaks catching the sun.

Forest Service campground

Deer Creek

Forest Service campground in Sierra National Forest, Fresno County, California. 6,981 feet. 27.7 miles from Mammoth Lakes.

Managed by
Forest Service Sierra National Forest
Elevation
6,981 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
28 28 standard non-electric
Longest rig
40 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Fresno County

Overview

Deer Creek Campground is located in California Sierra National Forest. The campground is tucked under dense fir and pines along the shore of Huntington Lake and offers scenic lake views, especially during the annual sailboat regatta. Boats can be moored near some of the camp sites. There are two loops to this campground: one is more heavily forested with more sites along the lake, and the other has more open and sunny sites with closer access to the resort community of Lakeshore. All sites have a view of Huntington Lake.

Recreation

There are many hiking trails in the area, including Rancheria Falls, Indian Pools and Black Point. Hikers and horseback riders can access the 12-mile Kaiser Loop Trail, which connects to a network of trails within the Kaiser Wilderness.

Huntington Lake offers many activities, including swimming, sailing, boating, non-motorized boating, fishing and water skiing. Additionally, California Land Management sponsors a variety of interpretive programs and nature walks throughout the summer at several locations in the Huntington Lake area.

Facilities

Each site has a paved parking spur, table, fire ring, and grill. A pay phone, drinking water, flush toilets and accessible flush toilets are provided.

Natural Features

The Sierra National Forest, located on the western slope of the central Sierra Nevada, is known for its spectacular mountain scenery and abundant natural resources.

The terrain includes rolling, oak-covered foothills, heavily forested middle elevation slopes and the starkly beautiful alpine landscape of the High Sierra.

Nearby Attractions

Deer Creek Campground's proximity to the Kaiser Wilderness offers the chance to explore a wide network of hiking trails. This wilderness area is known for its scenic alpine and meadow views.

The Billy Creek Guard Station Museum is adjacent to the campground. It provides historical overviews on Huntington Lake, Native Americans and the Forest Service.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • boating
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • interpretive programs
  • swimming site
  • water sports

The land around Deer Creek

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated March 11, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.