Portuguese Joe Campground

The sites are now numbered, and reservable. There are 4 sites that are FCFS. The campground is clean, and has a creek runs through it. Would go again.

Great reception and super easy to get to. Paved access, campground is dirt. Close to town. More expensive than the nearby Tuttle Creek Campground, and the views aren’t as nice. However this place has water in the winter, whereas Tuttle Creek’s is shut off in the winter.

Inyo County operates this 20-site campground on land owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Nestled along a creek of controlled runoff from the adjacent Los Angeles Aquaduct, the small campground includes sites reservable in advance as well as a half dozen (sites 1, 2, 17, 18, 19, and 20) that are held for first-come, first-served use. Most sites have at least some shade and all directly front the creek. Sites 16 & 17 have the most water noise (rocky-creek sound) while most other have a babbling-brook sound. Interestingly, the high-numbered walk-in sites have better spacing than the reservable sites, some of which felt on top of each other.

Of note, during our Independence Day 2020 visit, Site 18 had two picnic tables and no fire pit or BBQ, while Site 19 had two of each of those amenities. Site 17 had the typical amenities, plus a “bonus” picnic table. All other sites have one of each. A couple day-use sites are available with tables and BBQs, but do not directly front the creek.

Two vault toilets are available. No showers. Water spigot was available and working. Trash and bottle-and-can recycling available.

Please note that the name of the campground has been officially changed by the Inyo County Board of Supervisors to Portuguese Joe Campground.

I booked site #6 after reviewing campsitephotos.com and thinking it would be a nice way to explore Alabama Hills and Whitney Portal.... Well, I drove up to find the campground is in a low sparse wash next to an electrical sub-station with sites pretty close together for a public camground. While a number of sites were booked based on the reserved tags, no one was staying there except the eccentric homeless guy in a severely deteriorated camper. Looked like others did what I did... turned around and left. I headed into the BLM land and had a wonderful experience. Glad I didn't "play it safe" and compromise to ensure I had a place to stay in the area.

Very nice, very fun, had to leave early because of how windy it was. Also stepped in the creek by accident. Would visit again, but beware the wind.

Drove in here during my stay in the area mid-March weekday. No one here camping except for
some very peculiar characters staring at me from their decomposing vehicles...made me feel
super uncomfortable so I left.
Maybe little better with some people camping here...maybe

This campground was nothing fancy. It looks like it’s been worn out pretty well. The sites are very close together and there is only one vault toilet, which is across the little creek that runs through the campground. It was good for one night but I can’t imagine anyone wanting to stay longer.

Portage Joe campground is a small county campground with about 15 single-family campsites located near the Alabama Hills at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The campsites are not numbered and all are located on the creek that runs through the campground.