Quick Facts:
- Campground: Pine Cliff, formerly Pine Cliff Resort
- Location: June Lake Loop, Inyo National Forest, California
- Size: Reported around 13 acres on the north shore of June Lake
- Status: Phased reopening planned, pending U.S. Forest Service approval
- Reopening stages: Store and showers, then dry camping, then full RV hookups
- Closed since: Several years, after the death of the longtime leaseholder
- Nearest hub: June Lake village, 20 minutes north of Mammoth Lakes
- Best for: Eastern Sierra anglers, paddlers, and RV campers
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In This Guide
June Lake Campground Update: What Is Reopening
The June Lake campground at Pine Cliff is preparing to return after years offline. Campers in the June Lake Loop Facebook group recently shared an operator email outlining a staged comeback, pending approval from the U.S. Forest Service. For me, the news lands personally. Over two decades, I have camped across the Eastern Sierra, from Lone Pine up through the June Lake Loop, and Pine Cliff sat near the top of my list to get back to.
The operator email describes a phased return. Specifically, the plan starts small and builds toward full RV service over time. Because the timeline depends on agency sign-off, no firm dates exist yet. Still, the direction is clear, and the operators expect more updates soon.
For Eastern Sierra travelers, this news matters. June Lake sits in a glacier-carved valley locals nickname California’s Little Switzerland. The lakeside campground gives you direct water access, alpine views, and a quiet base away from the Mammoth crowds. If you have driven the Loop, you already know why returning campers are watching this closely.
The Pine Cliff Phased Reopening Plan
Locals still know the site as Pine Cliff Resort, June Lake’s lakeside RV institution for decades. The operator email lays out three stages. Each stage adds services as approvals and infrastructure come together. For clarity, here is how the rollout breaks down.
First, Phase 1 brings back the general store and the shower house. Notably, these amenities restore the basics for day visitors and nearby campers. In addition, Phase 1 signals the site is staffed and active again, even before overnight camping resumes.
Next, Phase 2 opens dry camping only. Dry camping means no hookups for water, sewer, or electricity. Instead, you bring your own power and water, and you pack out what you pack in. For tent campers and self-contained rigs, this stage is the first real chance to sleep at Pine Cliff again.
Finally, Phase 3 restores full hookup RV sites. Consequently, this stage returns Pine Cliff to its former role as a June Lake RV campground for big rigs. Because hookups require the most permitting and utility work, Phase 3 will likely take the longest to arrive. Once it lands, June Lake campground reservations for RV sites should open back up.
The operators have not finalized a schedule for any stage. Therefore, treat the phases as a sequence rather than a calendar. As the U.S. Forest Service reviews each step, expect the rollout to move in pieces through the season.
Why the June Lake Campground Closed
Pine Cliff has sat closed for several years. The shutdown followed the death of the campground’s longtime leaseholder, which left the operation without an active permit holder. Like many concession campgrounds on federal land, Pine Cliff runs under a U.S. Forest Service permit, and a gap there stops operations cold.
Through the closure, the site stayed mothballed rather than abandoned. Because the buildings and infrastructure remained intact, a reopening always looked possible once a new operator and the required Forest Service approvals fell into place.
Over the years I have watched several Eastern Sierra sites move through this same cycle. Permitting on Forest Service land moves slowly, and operators change hands. While the wait frustrates regulars, the phased structure here suggests a real path forward rather than another indefinite pause. For this reason, I read the announcement as the most concrete signal in years.
June Lake Campground Facts at a Glance
Before you plan a trip, here are the core details for the June Lake campground and its surroundings. For accuracy, I have pulled these from the reopening notice and from public Eastern Sierra geography.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Campground name | Pine Cliff (formerly Pine Cliff Resort) |
| Setting | North shore of June Lake, June Lake Loop |
| Forest | Inyo National Forest |
| Size | Reported around 13 acres |
| Nearby peak | Carson Peak, 10,909 feet |
| Loop lakes | June, Gull, Silver, and Grant |
| Reopening model | Three phases, pending Forest Service approval |
| Closest town | June Lake village; Mammoth Lakes 20 minutes south |
Things to Do Around June Lake
June Lake earns its Little Switzerland nickname through towering granite, clear water, and dense pine. Specifically, 10,909-foot Carson Peak frames the valley, and this glacier-carved basin delivers classic High Sierra scenery. Additionally, the 16-mile June Lake Loop strings together four lakes, so you rarely drive more than a few minutes between them.
In summer, the water is the main draw. For instance, anglers chase stocked trout, while paddlers launch kayaks and paddleboards from quiet shorelines. In particular, swimming, lakeside picnics, and easy walks round out the slower days. For a short hike with a big payoff, the Parker Lake Trail climbs to a striking alpine basin above Grant Lake.
Off-pavement options sit close by, too. If you want to extend the trip, then our guide to the best off-road trails in California covers Sierra Nevada routes within reach of the Loop. For a wider regional plan, see other California overland destinations worth stitching into the same week.
Know Before You Go
Until Pine Cliff posts official dates, plan around the specific phase you need. First, tent campers and van builds should target Phase 2 dry camping. Meanwhile, RV owners who want hookups should wait for Phase 3 confirmation before booking travel. For now, nearby Forest Service campgrounds like Oh Ridge, Gull Lake, and Silver Lake keep the Loop accessible, and you make June Lake campground reservations for those sites through Recreation.gov.
Conditions shape every Eastern Sierra trip. Because June Lake sits above 7,600 feet, nights stay cool even in midsummer. Afternoon thunderstorms also roll through quickly, and mountain weather shifts fast. Therefore, pack layers, secure your awning, and check the forecast the morning you leave.
Fire rules deserve your attention as well. The Inyo National Forest restricts campfires during high-risk windows, and fire danger has climbed across much of the West this year. Before you build any plan around a campfire, review our breakdown of 2026 fire season restrictions. Similarly, when dry camping at Phase 2, our notes on off-grid camping help you size power and water for a no-hookup stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the June Lake campground at Pine Cliff reopen?
No firm date exists yet. The operators have outlined a three-phase plan, though each stage waits on U.S. Forest Service approval. For official announcements, watch the June Lake Loop community channels as the season progresses.
Will Pine Cliff offer RV hookups?
Yes, eventually. Specifically, full hookup RV sites return in Phase 3, the final stage of the reopening. By then, Pine Cliff Resort at June Lake operates again as a full June Lake RV campground. Because hookups need the most permitting and utility work, this phase will likely arrive last.
What does dry camping at June Lake mean?
At Pine Cliff, dry camping means no hookups for water, sewer, or electricity. Instead, you supply your own power and water and pack out your waste. Phase 2 opens dry camping only, so plan for a self-contained setup at first.
Where is the June Lake campground located?
Pine Cliff sits on the north shore of June Lake, along the June Lake Loop in the Inyo National Forest. June Lake village is minutes away, while Mammoth Lakes lies about 20 minutes south.
Are there other campgrounds on the June Lake Loop?
Yes. Oh Ridge, June Lake, Gull Lake, and Silver Lake campgrounds all operate along the Loop. Because these Forest Service sites take reservations, they give you fallback options while Pine Cliff works through its phased reopening.