Coldwater Campground
Inyo National Forest · California · 74 sites
Photos: Recreation.gov
Overview
Coldwater Campground is a USDA Forest Service campground in Inyo National Forest, California, with 74 sites. Mostly shady: most sites have good shade. T-Mobile and AT&T report coverage at every site; Verizon reports none.
55 of 74 sites shaded
3 of 74 sites in full sun
12 of 74 sites with clear sky
Map of the campground
Every site from the Recreation.gov listing. Choose a layer to see it across the campground; tap a site to open it in Roam.
Layers
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Questions
Which sites at Coldwater Campground are the shadiest?
Most of them. 55 of 74 sites have good shade, much of it from the afternoon sun; the other 19 are more open.
See the tree canopy in RoamWhich sites at Coldwater Campground get the most sun?
Only a few. 3 of 74 sites are truly sunny and 14 more get some sun; the rest are shaded.
See the tree canopy in RoamWill Starlink work at Coldwater Campground?
Only at a few. About 12 of 74 sites have a clear gap in the trees for Starlink and 31 a partial one; most sit under tall trees. Satellite texting on a phone needs less open sky, but still works best from the most open spot you can find. This is our estimate from tree heights — check with the Starlink app's obstruction check when you arrive.
See the tree canopy in RoamWhich sites at Coldwater Campground are the most level?
6 of 74 sites are flat, and 9 more have a gentle slope most RVs can level with blocks; 59 are steeper, better for tents. Sites that take RVs or trailers fit rigs up to 43 ft.
See the slope at each site in RoamDoes Coldwater Campground have cell service?
Mostly. T-Mobile and AT&T report coverage at every site; Verizon reports none. That's the coverage each carrier reports to the FCC, not a measured signal, so under trees or below a ridge it can be weaker.
See the coverage map in RoamWhat’s the weather like at Coldwater Campground in October?
In October, expect highs around 53°F and lows around 27°F, with about 1.4 inches of rain over the month and 1 inch of snow. Every month’s averages are in Roam Premium.
Open Coldwater in RoamCampground facts
- Sites
- 74
- Kinds
- 74 for RVs or trailers
- Hookups
- None
- Longest rig
- 43 ft
- Elevation
- 8,945–9,082 ft
- Amenities
- Food storage lockers
- Every site
- Drive-in · Picnic table · Fire ring · Pets allowed · Campfires allowed · Check-in 2 PM, check-out 12 PM
- Managed by
- USDA Forest Service
- Booking
- Reserve on Recreation.gov
How we know Sources and limits
Shade, sun and Starlink are our estimates from Meta and the World Resources Institute’s canopy-height model (about 2 m pixels, from satellite imagery calibrated with space lidar; CC BY 4.0). From 2 m above each site we trace 72 lines out to 60 m and note the tallest tree in each direction. Shade counts trees overhead, the canopy within 30 m and how much of the afternoon sky is blocked. Sun counts how open the southern sky is. Starlink needs open sky above 35°, with the northern half counted twice because US dishes tilt north, and we keep the best spot within 8 m of the site’s post. The model sees tree heights only, not trunks, buildings or hills, so check with the Starlink app when you arrive.
Slope is the ground at each site’s post over about 4 m, from USGS 3DEP 1 m lidar: level under 2%, gentle to 4% (most rigs level on blocks), sloped to 8% (fine for a tent), steep beyond.
Cell coverage is from the FCC Broadband Data Collection (carrier filings as downloaded May 2026): each site is tested against each carrier’s modelled outdoor 4G/5G coverage. It is what the carriers report, not a measured signal.
Weather is NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for the campground. Sites and facts are from Recreation.gov’s open data (July 2026). Map imagery: USGS The National Map. Photos: Recreation.gov.
From the campground’s Recreation.gov listing: “Campsites are organized into two loops, with sites fairly close together and near either creek. Pressurized water spigots and flush toilets are provided throughout the facility, and there are picnic tables, campfire rings and bear-proof food storage lockers at each campsite. This campground sits in a pine forest at an elevation of 8,900 feet. Large and small boulders are strewn about the campground. Coldwater and Mammoth Creeks run alongside the campsites. Crystal clear Lake Mary, one of several lakes in the Mammoth Lakes Basin, is nearby. The Eastern Sierras are abundant with wildlife, including black bear, mountain lions, mule deer, pine marten, pika and many species of fish and birds.”
Page data as of October 15, 2026. Full source notes are in each layer’s info in the app.