We're going on the Memorial Day W/E, & perhaps again on the 4th. We want to camp where brettr, Kiwi, & TTRGuy did last year on this same W/E. I know how to get there by two but have yet to do so by four wheels. Have map; will study & post our plans later on a separate thread.
There are various campgrounds up there, from primitive to semi-primitive. It all depends upon what trails you want to do as some locations are more productive, trail-wise. Troy & Fish Creek Campgrounds - the most popular for dirt bikers - have water in a few spots, picknic tables, fire rings, BBQs & cans. No fire permit required. Asphalt up to your stall; two cars/pickups per stall. Some stalls are xtra large for trailers. I believe the cost is $5/nite.
The primitive camps do not require a fee, but do not have the above ammenities & require a fire permit; Troy overflow does have cans, as does Jackass. brettr's site is primitive but is a real good staging spot to optimize the furthest & best trails (ones closest to Troy/Fish Creek are most traveled.) What do you think, Kiwi, brettr, TTRguy, GSR, others?
I prefer to do the intermediate-level trails as to maximize mileage, distance covered, and that at a moderate clip; one needs to conserve energy to take it all in - remember, there's less oxygen @ 8k'.
Kiwi & others prefer the hard-core type trails.
I'll tentatively volunteer to lead an intermediate group (please, no more than 8) via single track into the upper meadows (outrageously scenic Monache Meadows) & cross the south fork of the Kern river, then for an afternoon loop drive to Bonita Meadows (this one fills up with magenta-colored flowers in July) & do a loop around Sherman mountain. On the drive back, we can stop @ the fire lookout station & take in a late-afternoon view of the spectacular Dome Land wilderness; too bad they locked it up :(
Weather in July is mild, in the low 70's during the day; snow is gone & the wild flowers are out, meadows are green & the mule ears are huge! The trails begin to get dusty.
In Late May there are some reminants of snow, so it's in the 60's at best.
August is the same as July, but if your timing is right the occasional thunderstorms dampen the trails, making for some awesome riding, however the dozens of meadows turn biege. Speaking of T-storms, the pop, bang, & crackle sounds like bombs going off when you're that close to the clouds.