Convict Lake Campground

Inyo National Forest · California · 48 sites

A mountain lake as seen from a campground
Convict Lake Campground

Photos: USDA Forest Service via Recreation.gov

Overview

Convict Lake Campground is a USDA Forest Service campground in Inyo National Forest, California, with 48 sites. No shade: open sky at every site. T-Mobile at 34 of 48, Verizon at 14 of 48, AT&T at 4 of 48.

ShadeNo shade

0 of 48 sites shaded

SunFull sun

48 of 48 sites in full sun

StarlinkEasy

48 of 48 sites with clear sky

Find your site in Roam

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 Convict Lake Campground are the shadiest?

    None. Convict Lake Campground is open sky — bring your own shade.

    See the tree canopy in Roam

    Which sites at Convict Lake Campground get the most sun?

    Plenty. All 48 sites are open to the south and the sky — easy for solar panels, and warm on cool mornings.

    See the tree canopy in Roam

    Which sites at Convict Lake Campground are the most level?

    None of the 48 sites is flat, and 9 have a gentle slope most RVs can level with blocks; 39 are steeper, better for tents. Sites that take RVs or trailers fit rigs up to 55 ft.

    See the slope at each site in Roam

    Does Convict Lake Campground have cell service?

    Patchy. T-Mobile at 34 of 48; Verizon at 14 of 48; AT&T at 4 of 48. 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 Roam

    What’s the weather like at Convict Lake Campground in October?

    In October, expect highs around 58°F and lows around 28°F, with about 0.9 inches of rain over the month and 1 inch of snow. Every month’s averages are in Roam Premium.

    Open Convict Lake in Roam

    Campground facts

    Sites
    48
    Kinds
    37 for RVs or trailers · 11 tent-only
    Hookups
    None
    Longest rig
    55 ft
    Accessible
    8 sites
    Elevation
    7,502–7,635 ft
    Amenities
    Food storage lockers
    Every site
    Pets allowed · Campfires allowed · Check-in 2 PM, check-out 11 AM
    Managed by
    USDA Forest Service
    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: “This is a fairly large and well-organized facility with both reservable and first-come, first-served campsites. A few sites overlook the lake, while others are a short distance from the shore. Sites are spaced fairly close together. Flush toilets, drinking water, and a dump station are provided, as well as food storage lockers for safety from bears. Campers can purchase firewood on-site. A store, pack station, boat rentals, restaurant, and other amenities are just down the road at the Convict Lake Resort. The campground sits at an elevation of 7,500 ft. and provides gorgeous views of the lake and the dramatic mountain scenery. Convict Creek runs through the campground, and the 167-acre Convict Lake is about 100 yards away. Shrubs and low vegetation fill in the landscape, though tall aspen and cottonwood trees grow along the creek. The area is abundant with wildlife, including black bears, 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.

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