SHERWIN CREEK
Campground · Mammoth Lakes corridor
Sherwin Creek is a 7,648-foot campground in the Mammoth Lakes corridor of the Sierra Nevada, situated on a creek-fed drainage with moderate exposure to afternoon wind.
Wind accelerates from midday onward as thermal heating draws air down the drainage; mornings are typically calm. The 30-day average wind runs 13 mph, but afternoon gusts can exceed 30 mph. Temperature swings sharply with elevation and season. Water activity is best before noon.
Over the past 30 days, Sherwin Creek has averaged a NoGo Score of 17.0 with temperatures near 25 degrees Fahrenheit and average wind of 13 mph. The week ahead will track the transition into late spring, with wind ramping as afternoon heating intensifies. Use the grid below to spot calm morning windows and plan around peak afternoon gusts.
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Today's score by factor
About SHERWIN CREEK
Sherwin Creek campground sits on a creek drainage in the Mammoth Lakes corridor, accessed via US Highway 395. The Mammoth Lakes area lies between Yosemite and Mono Basin; Sherwin Creek is north of the town of Mammoth Lakes proper, positioned at the base of a creek system that feeds eastward. The campground serves as a base for creek access and offers proximity to both high-Sierra routes and lower-elevation drainages. Arrival from the south via US 395 takes roughly 4 to 5 hours from the Central Valley; from the north, the corridor is reachable via US 395 from Reno or via US 120 (Tioga Pass) when that route opens in late spring.
Conditions at Sherwin Creek follow a strong diurnal pattern driven by elevation and drainage exposure. The 30-day average temperature is 25 degrees Fahrenheit with a 30-day average wind of 13 mph, though 7-day lows have dipped to 7.0 on the NoGo Score and gusts have reached 41 mph. Winter and early spring bring sustained cold and intermittent wind from the west and northwest. By late spring, afternoon thermal winds become pronounced; mornings remain calm and cold. Crowding averages 8.0 on a 30-day basis and is light relative to flagship Mammoth Lakes destinations. Snowpack typically lingers into late May at this elevation; drainage crossings and approach routes may be impassable or require careful timing until melt accelerates.
Sherwin Creek suits users seeking creek-based activity, fishing, or a quieter alternative to the busier lakes and resorts in the Mammoth corridor. Experienced visitors plan morning-window trips to avoid afternoon wind; bring wind protection if you intend to stay past noon. Parking is typically available given the low base popularity (0.3), but access roads can remain snow-choked into late May. The site is best visited between late June and early September when snow is cleared, temperatures moderate into the 40s and 50s, and crowding remains subdued. Winter and spring require high tolerance for cold and wind variability.
Nearby, Mammoth Lake itself lies a short drive south and offers larger water surface and developed facilities but higher wind exposure and crowding. The Inyo National Forest boundaries are close; backcountry routes and higher passes typically open in mid to late June. Crowley Lake and Convict Lake, both east of the Mammoth town center, offer deeper-water alternatives with different thermal and wind patterns. For those headed to Yosemite (south via CA 120 when open), Sherwin Creek serves as a staging point with lower elevation and milder snow conditions than high passes.