NEW SHADY REST CAMPGROUND
Campground · Mammoth Lakes corridor
New Shady Rest Campground sits at 7,818 feet in the Mammoth Lakes corridor of California's Sierra Nevada. A high-elevation base camp with moderate spring winds and persistent cold.
Wind averages 12 mph across the rolling month, with gusts to 31 mph in afternoon thermals. Mornings are typically calm and cold (averaging 31 degrees Fahrenheit). Head out early; the campground funnels mountain-drainage flow by mid-day, especially on clear skies.
The 30-day average wind of 12 mph reflects typical spring volatility at this elevation. The rolling 30-day score averages 15, with a low of 6 and a high of 35, indicating highly variable conditions week to week. Watch the next seven days for calm windows; the coldest mornings (often below freezing) offer the most stable air, but expect afternoon warming and wind buildup by mid-April patterns.
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About NEW SHADY REST CAMPGROUND
New Shady Rest Campground occupies a sheltered pocket in the Mammoth Lakes corridor at 7,818 feet elevation. The site is accessed via California Highway 395 from the south or Highway 203 west from Mammoth Lakes proper. The campground serves as a trailhead base and overflow staging area when higher alpine spots are snowbound. Spring and early summer closures due to road snow are common; confirm access via Inyo County roads before driving. Proximity to the Sherwin Range and Mammoth Crest means rapid weather shifts.
Spring conditions are unpredictable. The rolling 30-day average temperature of 31 degrees Fahrenheit masks overnight freezes (365-day minimum 17 degrees) and afternoon warmth (365-day maximum 47 degrees). Wind peaks in late afternoon as solar heating drives air down the eastern slope; the rolling 30-day max gust of 31 mph is typical of clear, dry days in April and May. Crowding averages 8 on the rolling 30-day metric, well below peak-season levels, but weekends fill faster than weekdays. Late September offers the most stable winds and warmest daytime temperatures with markedly lower crowds.
New Shady Rest suits car campers, backpackers staging for higher passes, and mountain-bike shuttlers. Expect a functional campground, not a resort; amenities are minimal. Parking fills on Friday and Saturday in shoulder season. Afternoon wind makes the site unpleasant for tents after 2 p.m. on typical spring days. Water and fire pits are standard; potable water availability depends on snow melt. Experienced visitors arrive by midday, pitch on the lee side of the ridge, and plan evening activities (cooking, socializing) for early morning or dusk.
Nearby alternatives include Mammoth Mountain Ski Area base camping (lower elevation, windier, but often open when higher sites are snowed in) and private RV parks in Mammoth Lakes town (warmer, windless, higher cost). For alpine solitude, Reds Meadow and Minaret Lake trailheads are reachable via Highway 203 and offer less crowded summer backpacking. New Shady Rest is best viewed as a staging ground; most visitors use it for one or two nights before heading higher.