California’s “Little Switzerland” Campground Is Finally Reopening After Four Years

After three years of closure, June Lake’s campground, Pine Cliff, is set to start reopening.

Per a post from a member of Facebook’s June Lake Loop Group, campers received an email detailing the news.

According to the email, the campground will be reopening in three phases.

Phase one will include opening the showers and “general” store.

The general store sells merchandise and necessities campers may need to be comfortable overnight.

Phase 2 is when Pine Cliff will be open to dry campers only.

This means campers will not be allowed hookups for water, electricity, or other needs.

During the final phase, there will be full hookup sites. All visitors will be allowed to bring their RVs and camp at the park.

The exact timeframe has not been specified as of June 8.

The U.S. Forest Service still has to approve the projected plans before they can go forward.

Why Pine Cliff Closed

Pine Cliff closed approximately three years ago.

The campground closed shortly after the death of its decades-long leaseholder.

This left Pine Cliff without a U.S. Forest Service permit holder, which is required for the campground to function.

So throughout the last three years, June Lake management has worked to find a new leaseholder and obtain a renewed permit so Pine Cliff can reopen.

About Pine Cliff and June Lake

Pine Cliff, which used to be called Pine Cliff Resort, first opened in 1985.

The campground is located on the north shore of the 16-mile June Lake Loop.

When visitors travel the loop, they get access to June, Gull, Silver, and Grant lakes, where they can swim, paddleboat, kayak, or fish.

Due to the lakes’ crystal-clear waters, for which they are well known, some campers simply come to take photos and sightsee.

Pine Cliff sits right near the Inyo National Forest, which has almost two million acres.

Additionally, the campground is located around 3 miles away from Carson Peak, which is 10,909 feet tall.

The mountain sits in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Carson Peak is known for its photogenic scenery and breathtaking views.

June Lake is also home to June Mountain.

In the winter, hundreds of locals and travelers visit the mountain to ski and snowboard.

Due to its mountains, clear lake, and general atmosphere, June Lake is commonly referred to as “California’s Little Switzerland.”