We hiked the Alabama Hills but didn't bring mountain bikes so we were looking for somewhere to bike with our folding street bikes. An evening ride was beautiful with the eastern hills lit by golden light reflected on the calm lake. Be sure to use mosquito repellent or cover yourself cause they are swarming in mid-October. Staying overnight costs $8 but day use is free. read more

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For Father's Day, my brother-in-law and his husband reserved 3 spots for us and his husband's cousin. My kids and I love tent camping and dry camping, but my wife is an RV girl (class A if you must know). This was her first tent experience so we wanted to make it memorable. Funny how things work out: careful what you wish for... I'll get to that later... The site we got was amazing. Level, flat with direct access to the lake. We had a tree next to us and a hose bib. Across the way was a fish cleaning sink that we used to wash dishes. The fire pit had a swing away grill which was nice. There were Porta-potties close by, but we brought our own portable toilet and privacy pop up shelter. The view was amazing. The sun set over the lake, and the mountains (the Eastern edge of the Sierra Nevadas) basked in hues of purple, deep red and blue. We called it the Disney mountains because it looked so amazing it must be fake. The night sky was simply awesome. My 8 year-old, who loves astronomy and science, couldn't stop looking up. Shame on me for not bringing our telescope or remembering I had binoculars in the truck. If you wanted to be amazed by the beauty of a star filled sky, just look up. The days brought high temps in the low to mid 90's, so we brought a portable generator and AC, I know, but it was my wife's first tent camping trip and we didn't want to make it her last. Early evening brought some gusts and our first night was windy. The tent held up well, but my wife and kids were cold. We didn't bring sleeping bags, only blankets, and had a large 4 room, 12 man tent, so staying warm was an issue. Luckily, I brought our Mr. Heater Buddy propane heater, so we stayed warm until the propane ran out. We explored the next day looking for a propane fill up station in nearby Lone Pine. The quaint town reminded my boys of Radiator Springs from Disney's "Cars." As is typical for small towns that rely on tourism, the propane was majorly expensive, but we had no choice. The town, though, was nice to explore. Early morning hours brought an almost glassy lake with no waves. Wait until late morning and you got the wake waves from the motor boats, wake boarders and jet skis. Wait until the late afternoon and you got wind and waves. We used a blow up canoe and oars, so the afternoon wind and waves were impossible for us to get through. The winds on our last night really picked up in the afternoon. A 60 mph gust or stronger blew through our site and ripped apart our tent, destroyed our Coleman canopy and blew our raft, life jackets, oars and other supplies at least 30 yards away. With our tent destroyed, we had to pack up everything in the wind. We threw away both our canopy and our tent. I'm spite of our surprise excitement of the wind gust and destroyed camp gear, it was an experience we'd never forget. A memorable one, for sure, that ended up landing me with a new tent for my birthday and shade canopy, something that I wished for for a long time. Careful what you wish for, eh? read more

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If you enjoy being cut off from city life. No cell reception it is just you and nature then this is the best place for you. I enjoy the lake on a hot day. There's no services just an outhouse restroom. This is dry camping. There are dirt bikes areas swimming and boating. I come out here every year. read more

The campground and lake itself is nice, and so convenient to Lone Pine. We stayed here because I had a trail race in the Alabama Hills early on Saturday morning. We knew things were going to go off the rails when a dozen cars/trucks packed into a single camp site and the music started blaring. The loud music and yelling didn't stop until 4am. We talked to the camp host who said there wasn't much he could do, so this one group essentially chased out several tent camping groups and RVs who paid the same to be there and enjoy the space. No respect at all! We moved to the other side of the campground but the noise was still unbelievable. Enforcement of quiet hours and group sizes really needs to be stepped up here. read more

Awesome place to camp. Very laid back atmosphere. It was busy but quiet for the most part. Close to Cerro Gordo.

Me and my family was there last weekend. We definitely enjoyed our time. Can't wait for another camping trip at Diaz lake . read more

Diaz Lake Recreation Area - Parks Near Me - Lone Pine, California

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Pros: Beautiful lake setting with mountains surrounding it. Close to town for gas and groceries. Many rv sites throughout the park. Cons: Camping prices are so cheap it draws some undesirable visitors. On our most recent visit we left 5 days early because of loud music until 2:00 am, gunshots being fired and ATV's being driven around. There is no enforcement of the rules even when the Ranger is present. Their solution is to have us call the Sheriff. Improvements needed: They need to invest in an RV dump station and more water spigots that can be used to replenish fresh water. They replaced all the water spigots with blue colored well type spigots with NO way to attach a hose. In conclusion, we have been coming here for over 40 years, but it looks like that may have to come to an end. Beauty is one thing... overall enjoyability is another. read more

Diaz Lake is a fabulous find right off the highway. Incredible views 360 degrees! Spacious spots. Pristine lake! What is wrong with the park are the outhouses are full a foot from the top! In 100 degree heat it only adds to its grossness. No toilet paper! The spots needed to be raked and cleaned . Picnic tables in the lake. Really shows that no one is taking responsibility for the cleanliness of this park. But if you want a quick stop over and a great view it's great. Be prepared for semi truck noise all night it never stops! read more

Check in process was lacked, we had a reservation through Reserve America that stated we were checked in even though we hadn't actually done so. The sites we chose were 119 and 120 that shows right next to each other but when we got there they were not. Everyone kind of just declared a spot and called it theirs. Dry camping only which is fine but had no water access for our rig. Security did not exist, loud music till 12 or 1am would have been fine but till 3:30 AM was too much. Since it was "quiet hours" we didn't want to run the generator for the AC . So we sweated it out. We couldn't open the windows because of the loud music. All dirt/sand area, It was hot but it was July. The lake is small, a lot of tall grass growing from it. ORV kicking up dust with no consideration to those around and camp fire smoke from each site.. smoked us out, lol. So if you're looking for a party spot, this is it. On the flip side, it's a dry campground and cheap. The sky was beautiful!! Stars were AMAZING!! We made the best of it and had a good time. We went in July 2020. Port-a-potty available (I didn't go in so I don't know how clean they were). $14.00 a night, $7.00 reservation fee if you go through Reserve America. You get what you pay for. read more

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I've been camping there almost all my life. Me and my family always have fun there, we love taking the jet ski's and riding them on the lake and at night you can see all these beautiful stars and the constellations is really cool. And the mountains and the hikes and one of the places we went to was June lake its really beautiful the water is clean it's really fun. Hope to go again!!!;) read more

Very nice place to camp. Customer service is excellent! No very many fish but i think it's like that everywhere right now. Is definitely come again. Bring plenty of shade. Some sites are shady but very few. read more

Hidden gem. Stop off location while traveling from northern Nevada to So. Cal in the RV. Camp spots are spacious and flat ( little or no leveling necessary) .Morning view of the lake and Alabama hills are breath taking. If you are spoiled and expect pristine, groomed camp sights don't stop. These are primitive and rough the way we like it. Do a lot of off the grid camping. read more

Camped here last Labor day. It was the worst camping experience of my life. Felt like the wild wild west with multiple groups BLARING music at 3am as if they're throwing a house party. I normally don't like to penalize a campground cause of unruly guests but we truly felt like we were stuck in the middle of no where with no place to go. We had a reservation here for the night but the sites aren't clearly marked. Every one is camping where ever they want. I take it there's no camp host on site. The location is great, camped right on the lake. Just be aware, it usually brings out people who are there to party rather than to enjoy nature. read more

We have been staying at Diaz Lake for years and this year in particular there is trash everywhere! When you reserve a campsite you don't expect to check into it and find it FULL of discarded trash and dog shit. We stayed at Diaz Lake last night and July 2nd and both times both sites were full of trash and dog shit. What does our reservation cost go to? What a dump this place has become. read more

A beautiful little lake and campground, we made it a point to stop on our way back from Bishop. Call it Divine Guidance or pure coincidence, though I don't really believe anything is by coincidence. I felt compelled to keep driving around the entire lake and campsite until we reached its furthest end, before getting out for a look around and photos. And right in the mist of my photographing the lake, a gentleman stepped out of the last vehicle parked and started approaching me. Of course I was on alert, especially when he blurted from a distance, " excuse me sir, do you think you could help me?" Which usually means "could I ask you for a little money?" Jumping to conclusions, I know, but it happens all the time. Letting him finish his request, he went on to state that he and his girlfriend had pulled into the campground to take in the scenery and do a little fishing, but on trying to leave his battery had died. He simply wanted to know if I had any cables to possibly give him a jump. I reassured him that I had a portable charger in the back of my SUV, and would be over to help. Not that it matters, but we were the only African-Americans I saw while driving through the entire site. This gentleman appeared to be Hispanic and as we were connecting my charger to his battery (I didn't know that older model BMWs had the battery in the rear trunk area), his girlfriend stepped out from the passengers side. A very attractive African-American woman. What a coincidence? They were a very cordial young couple, whom I learned, after a little chit chat, were in a long distance relationship; she currently living in the Chatsworth area of LA's San Fernando Valley, while he was a local. She even mentioned that her mother use to live in Santa Clarita like my wife and I. And even joked after my asking him whether he had AAA, with her blurting out "I just signed him up for it last November as a gift" due to his previous car failures. But I doubt there would be any phone service in that remote spot. Well after two tries, they were up and running. I told him before driving off, "don't turn off your engine until you reach your destination". We saw them drive away safely back out and onto the highway with a final wave to one another. Such a good feeling to have been of some assistance. Diaz Lake, a beautiful spot with unexpected encounters. read more

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My family and I just returned from visiting for the Thanksgiving holiday. My wife wrote A Blog about our visit. http://www.richandsweetlife.com/rv-ing-eastern-sierra-guide-visit-diaz-lake/ read more

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Just returned from a three day camping trip and had a great time. Despite the extremely warm weather it was great. The lake kept us cool and let us float on the evening. Was perfect. The camp sites were big and plenty of options. We got a site right next to a shore to the lake so it was really convenient and nice. Bathrooms on site. Site staff was extremely helpful and professional. At night it was gorgeous. And only a few mins drive to town if you need anything. read more

Diaz Lake Recreation Area - Parks Near Me - Lone Pine, California

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Had the best time here. Tent camped. Nice shade. The only negative was the bathroom/Port a potty's should be cleaned at least twice a day. Especially on a holiday weekend. read more

Hello campers, Let me break it down for you if you never camped Lake Diaz or it's been awhile: 1) do you like sleep? well if you do don't come here. Why? Our neighbors decided to play music on a gas generator with a stadium size speaker until 2 AM. I called the cops at 12:30 AM and no cops showed up. The park states there is a quiet time from 10 PM to 8 AM. 2) do you like loud and obnoxious random fire works? It was clearly stated no fireworks on campground due to high fire risk. Well our neighbors set off several fire works (the kind you would normally see at a professionally held event in a safe environment). The next day after about 2 hours of sleep (see 1 for reason) I let the camp keeper know of the loud music and fireworks and they reassured me that was not allowed. I let them know the cops didn't show up and he said he would swing by their site to warn them. Well, later that day at 10 PM the fireworks and music were blasting all over again for round 2. Our group had enough, I called the police and no patrol officers came down to stop the illegal acts ( I mean there is dry brush all around the camp). Our group wanted to stay in a hotel to get some sleep for the rest of the night but we ended up packing and making the drive back to Los Angeles. 3) Another reason is a drunk (had beer bottles all around his picnic table) camp neighbor decided to pull out his air rifle and shoot at animals on trees. Then he crossed the barbed wire on to private property and continued to shoot. I had to grab one of my camp buddies kids who could have been in the middle or get injured. Hope this review will help some fellow campers make an informed decision based on facts. read more

We were passing through, scouting for campgrounds in this area. We came across this lake because we were lost. Lol However, we stopped and talked to the host at Diaz Lake to get some info, awesome camp host!! He informed us of Mt. Whitney, all of the surrounding campgrounds, where the bears are, and where the good fishing is. He even gave my son a fishing pole that he had laying around. I haven't stayed at Diaz Lake but knowing that this camp host is so friendly and cares about people enjoying themselves, makes you want to stay. Thanks for the pole and thanks for all the info, it really helps us that enjoy mother nature. read more

Diaz Lake Recreation Area - Beautiful place. - Parks Near Me - Lone Pine, California

We enjoy kayaking and fishing here. The playground is nice. If you're planning to camp, plan on ANTS camping with you. They are everywhere around the lake. We had to pack up our tent and go to another campground because our table, tents, everything was being inundated by ants. read more

We booked a group site at Diaz Lake pretty last minute and absolutely loved it. The group sites are walk on only but the camp host was friendly and showed us where we could park our RV near the site. The lake was clean, had designated swimming areas and you could fish from anywhere. There were a good amount of people with boats partaking in water sports which looked fun. They do not have anywhere near where you can rent boats or jet skis. I took one star off because our camp site could of used some maintenance (grass was over grown and the trees dropped white fuzz everywhere). All in all it was a great trip, beautiful views and I would definitely recommend it. read more

It's a good spot to camp and watch the water. I saw two kids wading at the water so I think you can also swim... for me the water is just too cold . There's a lot of picnic tables and grill to bbq. It's a nice place to picnic. Very clean and quiet. read more

Didn't get to camp here but drove past it while on way to Keough Hot Springs. Next road trip I want to camp here! The reviews seem good & the place looked fun. It's next to a super cute little town. read more

So the signs and the staff said that swimming was fine, and there were designated swimming areas. DO NOT SWIM. People fish wherever they want - my brother stepped on a large barbed fish hook. We were having fun until he started screaming bloody murder. Then we left. read more

Serenity by the Lake. Check out more of my reviews on this family friendly campground in http://www.richandsweetlife.com/rv-ing-eastern-sierra-guide-visit-diaz-lake/ read more

I was pushing 80 on the 395 when I saw the turnoff for this lake. I veered into the turn lane at the last minute, figuring this would be a good place to let Toddler stretch out her legs. What a great find! This recreation area is well-maintained with a boat dock and well-shaded campsites all around the shore. What interested me, though, were the bathrooms and the nice playground area. If you ever find yourself cruising the 395 with a carload of kids, this is a fantastic place to stop for a potty break or a picnic. It is right off the highway, so it doesn't eat up too much time, and the scenery is spectacular. Toddler really enjoyed the playground, and after only a 30-minute stop, she was tired out enough to continue on our journey. read more

My wife and I have stayed here several times just for a cheap night sleep while traveling. If you're looking for green meadows and water falls, you're not gonna find that here. There is a lake, but it's surrounded by dirt and dust for the most part. There are a few trees for shade on most of the camp sites. But other than the dryness of it, it's a fine place. It's a quiet, clean facility that serves as a great rest stop for tired travelers. read more

The staff is super helpful and friendly... This is our second time here... A nice relaxing place with a back gate that leads to some beautiful off road trails.. You can leave the back gate and go to where all the old western movies were filmed.. Come back and throw your fishing pole in the lake and relax... Yes their are ants but they left us alone.. I did not have to break out the diatomaceous earth... And if you stay here make sure you do the loop... Big beautiful rocks with streams.. read more

Just camped out at this sight for the memorial day wknd, my family and I had a really good time, my brother had his boat out on the water towing the kids and a family friend cooked the meals. If you decide to go take plenty of ant spray cause they join the picnic lol and enjoy the outhouse style johns...gross. plenty of space for tents and mobile homes and rec vehicles. ENJOY... read more

Steve I believe was the camp host, what a great guy! He really helped out in the sense of what to do in Lone pine, to the extent that we extended our stay there. Such a beautiful campsite we were at. A little bit of trash but so beautiful. Horses, mountain ranges; rock formation. Definitely a must stop location when Death Valley is too hot. read more

Really good little lake in the middle of nowhere. If you don't know about it you will probably drive by and never notice it. It's close to the freeway , but you don't hear the noise, there is no dust from passing cars. There are some shady spaces and many spaces with no trees , but even though it gets hot (it's desert after all) it doesn't feel like you are on scorching hot spot because there is a lot of grass all around the lake. There is fish in the lake, some say there are bass there but my friends haven't caught any , instead they have caught a few carps and a bunch of small Bluegill fish. The lake was crowded but it didn't feel like there are bunches of people around you, everybody was civilized and quiet. read more