Pleasant Valley Pit

Just North of Bishop, CA and only a half mile off Hwy 395 is Pleasant Valley Pit Campground operated by the Bishop BLM. Even though there is a $2 per night cost, it is so low that even this penny-pincher considers it “free”. It is – literally – a pit in the desert with camping sites on two different levels; both in the pit and atop.

Google Map 37.401204, -118.508759

Roughly 80 sites are sprinkled into the 1 square kilometer campground. To put that into perspective, each site gives just enough room for a Subaru wagon and a tent and little more. There are some larger sites, but they are few, and mainly on the top ring of sites.

When I visited about 50-60 sites were occupied giving it a vibe more of a hippy get-together than anything. With no trees and all the sites so closely packed in, privacy simply does not exist. You are left with no choice but to get to know your neighbors. Whether or not that is a good thing I leave to you.