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

Forest Service group campground

Pumice Flat Group Camp

Forest Service group campground in Inyo National Forest, Madera County, California. 7,663 feet. 4.9 miles from Mammoth Lakes.

Managed by
Forest Service Inyo National Forest
Elevation
7,663 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
4 4 group standard non-electric
Longest rig
40 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Madera County

Overview

Pumice Flat Group Camp is located in the Red's Meadows and Devils Postpile section of the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, just west of the full-service community of Mammoth Lakes, California.

This group camping facility provides access to some of the most spectacular wilderness in the Sierras and many outdoor activities such as horseback riding, fishing, hiking, photography and geologic study of the dramatic landscape. Devils Postpile National Monument and the famous Ansel Adams Wilderness are nearby for campers to explore.

Recreation

This campground is a great base camp for hiking the area's many trails. Within a few miles, campers will find trailheads to the Ansel Adams Wilderness, Pacific Crest Trail and John Muir Trails. There is a mandatory shuttle that takes hikers to nearby trailheads.

Fishing enthusiasts can try for trout in the lake or the North Fork of the San Joaquin River.

Facilities

The group camp is within the main Pumice Flat Campground, which offers first-come, first-served individual sites. The group area consists of four group campsites, spaced well apart and located fairly close to either creek. Picnic tables, campfire rings and food storage lockers are provided.

The road to the facility is narrow, single-lane and only accessible in summer.

Natural Features

The campground sits in a lodgepole pine forest surrounded by high mountain peaks and adjacent to two creeks. The elevation is 7,700 feet.

The area boasts some very interesting geologic features, including numerous lakes and rugged mountains, which lend themselves well to photography.

Many species of wildlife call the mountains home, such as black bear, mountain lions, mule deer, pine marten, pika, fish and birds.

Nearby Attractions

The Red's Meadow Pack Station and Resort are about 2.5 miles away at the end of Red's Meadow Road. A general store and cafe are available. The trailhead for Rainbow Falls also begins here.

The area is very close to Devils Postpile National Monument and the Ansel Adams Wilderness. Both areas have numerous trails and unparalleled photographic opportunities.

Devils Postpile National Monument

Ansel Adams Wilderness

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

What people do here

  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking

The land around Pumice Flat Group Camp

The ringed pin is this group 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.