Convict Lake

For many years, my husband Garth and I have traveled the western states in our little 24-foot motorhome, along with our golden retriever Chase (and occasionally our cat!). In this and subsequent RVCYOB articles, I’ll share with you our experiences, our opinions on the best campsites to reserve, clever camping gear and gizmos, tried-and-true hacks, secret hikes, camp recipes, camping with pets and kids, things to avoid, and things you won’t want to miss. I hope you’ll enjoy traveling with us.

This is my first article chronicling our “Lakes Trip” when we camped at Convict Lake, Gull Lake, June Lake and Silver Lake off Hwy 395 on the backside of the Sierras—one of our all-time favorite trips!

How many times have you driven up Hwy 395 and flown past the sign to Convict Lake? Maybe you actually saw the sign and shuddered. “Sounds ominous,” you said, picturing the bodies of convicts at the bottom of a lake. Fear not. The shootout of 1871 (for which the lake was named) was long ago resolved and luckily didn’t involve you. So, next time you’re driving up 395, turn west for two miles and make Convict Lake your destination.

There aren’t many unspoiled alpine lakes at 7800’ that you can simply drive to—where you can fill your lungs with fresh mountain air, where you actually have to acclimate to the profound quiet, where the trout are jumping and the stars light up a dark black sky. Find time this year to camp at Convict Lake. It’s well worth the drive, especially if you can camp for 4+ days. It’ll likely become your favorite camp spot in the eastern Sierras.

Next to the picnic table where I’m writing, the Aspens are fluttering their spring-green leaves. To my right, deep blue Convict Lake is tucked into its narrow U-shaped glacial valley at the base of towering granite mountains that are literally pieces of artwork in warped, colored stone. Behind me, a little creek burbles through cottonwoods filled with bird song. This is camping at Convict Lake. Serenity.

For this kind of beauty, sometimes you have to sacrifice a little. While most of the 88 campsites are generous, none have hookups and most need some leveling. Cell service is weak. Humidity is low and occasionally there’s some snow.

But, there are clean bathrooms with flush toilets and hot showers, two RV water fill-up stations, a dump station (free at the time of this writing), a super nice camp host, and just down the road you can drive or walk to a grocery, restaurant, boat rentals, and pack station at the Convict Lake Resort.

Hiking: We daily hike the 3.5 mile trail around the lake, seeing something different every day. It takes about an hour unless you stop to absorb the scenery or let your golden retriever swim. Additionally, there are more trails in the John Muir Wilderness nearby.

Kids and dogs: Great for both! Two leashed dogs allowed. No limit on leashed kids.

Horseback riding: Check if the pack station is open for renting a trail horse.

Are you a plein air painter? There’s a new painting everywhere you look.

Writer? No better place to immerse yourself in your writing. I know!

Star gazer? Book your trip during a new moon. And take a lounge chair. You’ll be blown away.

Fishing and boating? Yes to both! Rainbow and brown trout abound. Garth, the fisherman of the family, stops every angler we pass and asks, “Did you catch anything?” Yesterday, we stopped to chat with a couple getting out of their rental boat at dusk. Boy, did they have a whopper of a tale about the trout they caught. But when they showed us their bag, lo and behold, they were right. They had caught a whopper—a three-pound, 24” trout. Fish-talk often leads to serendipities. The woman noticed Garth’s Cayucos ball cap. She, in turn, mentioned that they just sold their house in Cayucos on Pacific Street, but that she always thinks fondly of the little town and loves wearing her sea glass jewelry from the Cayucos Sea Glass Festival. Garth then mentioned that I was a member of the Sea Glass Committee that started the event in 2011. And then we cheerfully devolved into “Do you know so-and-so.” Small world, and isn’t that lovely?

Extended dry camping at Convict Lake is easy. If your waste tanks get full, just go dump and top off your freshwater tank. Then return to your site for several more days. It helps to book a flat site so you won’t need to relevel when you return. With solar panels, LED lights, and judicious use of electricity, you should be able to camp at Convict Lake for many, many days.

Reservations: Open mid-April through mid-October. There’s a rolling 6-month window on www.recreation.gov.  Nightly rate: only $33! Check pad lengths for your rig. Go to www.campsitephotos.com to view photos of each campsite. If you’d like a copy of my campsite rating sheet, please visit www.debbienobleblack.com/rv-camping-in-your-own-backyard  and send a request on my contact page.

Check your calendars now to see when you can book your trip to Convict Lake! Maybe add on Gull Lake, June Lake, and Silver Lake for your own “Lakes Trip.” We’ll probably see you there—Happy Camping!