Extra Sagehen Meadows CG
Campground · Mammoth Lakes corridor
Extra Sagehen Meadows CG sits at 8445 feet in the Mammoth Lakes corridor of California's Sierra Nevada. This high-elevation campground trades shelter for direct exposure to afternoon winds that regularly exceed 15 mph.
Wind dominates the character. Mornings are calm; by mid-afternoon, gusts funnel across the open meadow consistently. The 30-day average wind of 15 mph masks daily swings from near-flat to 38 mph. Plan water activities and camp setup for early hours.
Over the past 30 days, Extra Sagehen Meadows CG averaged a NoGo Score of 13.0 with temperatures around 38 degrees and sustained wind at 15 mph. The week ahead will track with that pattern: expect afternoon wind to dominate and plan vehicle-dependent activities for mornings. The 30-day crowding average of 8.0 reflects low base popularity, meaning parking and campsites stay accessible even on weekends.
30 days back / 7 days forward
Today's score by factor
About Extra Sagehen Meadows CG
Extra Sagehen Meadows CG occupies a high-elevation meadow on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, roughly 10 miles south of Mammoth Lakes via Highway 395 and local forest roads. The campground is accessed from the town of Mammoth Lakes, which sits at 7881 feet and serves as the primary gateway for the Mammoth Lakes corridor. From Mammoth, drive south on Highway 395 then turn onto the signed forest service road; the final approach is unpaved but typically passable by early summer. Elevation at 8445 feet places the site well above the treeline transition zone, exposing it directly to Pacific weather systems that funnel down the Owens Valley.
The campground sits on exposed meadowland where afternoon wind is the dominant seasonal pattern. Rolling 30-day data shows an average wind speed of 15 mph, but daily maximums regularly reach 30 to 38 mph, particularly after 2 p.m. Temperatures average 38 degrees over the last month, reflecting spring conditions at high elevation; the rolling 365-day range spans 20 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, with below-freezing nights common from October through May. Crowding remains consistently low (30-day average of 8.0) because the site lacks the scenic drama of Mammoth Lake proper and requires a longer approach drive. Early summer through early fall sees the most reliable access and calmest morning windows; winter snowfall often renders the forest service road impassable.
Extra Sagehen Meadows CG suits visitors prioritizing solitude and open-meadow camping over lakeside drama. The low-crowding profile makes it ideal for small groups or solo campers seeking to avoid peak-season bottlenecks that plague Mammoth Lake campgrounds. Experienced high-elevation campers know to arrive mid-week and plan all exposed activities for morning hours; afternoon tent work, cooking, or water use becomes unpleasant by 3 p.m. The meadow offers minimal wind protection, so site selection is less critical than timing. Because base popularity is 0.3 and the rolling crowding average is 8.0, even holiday weekends rarely fill the campground, making it a reliable fallback when lower-elevation sites are full.
Mammoth Lakes proper and the eastern shore of Mammoth Lake lie 10 miles north and offer more amenities and stronger wind protection near the water. The Inyo National Forest surrounds Extra Sagehen Meadows CG, with numerous trailheads and dispersed camping options accessible via Highway 395. Convict Lake, another high-elevation campground south of Mammoth, faces similar afternoon wind patterns but sits at slightly lower elevation (7627 feet) and draws more visitors. For hikers planning a full trip, Extra Sagehen Meadows CG serves as a low-pressure base camp rather than a destination in itself; pair it with day trips to alpine lakes or ridgelines accessed from trailheads closer to Highway 395.