Sherwin Summit 395 Bivy Spot
Since I often have to leave after work to drive up to the east side for trips it's useful to have places suitable for throwing a sleeping bag out for a few hours for those really long haul drives.
This is one of my most heavily used spots for anything north of Bishop. It's low enough to generally be free of snow and quieter than a lot of alternatives (as anyone who has slept in the Crowley Lake BM Campground and listened to cars drone by all night can attest).
This area is opened to dispersed camping and I've never had an issue finding a space away from everyone else. For official rules and regulations for dispersed camping see here.
Look for the Sherwin Summit Elev 7000 FT sign just past where 395 turns to the west north of Swall Meadows. If you hit Tom's Place you've gone too far north and if you head south to the point 395 splits the northbound and southbound lanes then you're too far that direction.
Be aware what Google Maps resolves Sherwin Summit as a location off Old Sherwin Grade Rd. Instead you want to search on 37.551791,-118.6409162
Lately I've been using the area marked Deer Poop Clearing. Exit 395 behind the sign, turn to the right and follow the road what feels like fair distance until it curves to the north. Stick right here and take the first left after the road curves to the southwest. Park anywhere you don't see tracks indicating a road and isn't on vegetation.
The nicer spots are near the tree on the left where the white vehicle is parked not where the black one is. The brown seems to be a large collection of something which might be deer poop. It doesn't smell *that* bad but I'd recommend camping off to the side.
Just make sure you don't block any of the roads just in case someone comes by but there's plenty of spots off in the shrubs.
In my experience this road has always been passable in passenger cars as long as you drive slow. We got a Prius and a Scion back here in Summer 2017. If you don't want to risk it I've seen people park right behind the sign but I'd only do that if you can sleep in the car as there will be a lot of traffic noise.
There are a large number of others roads out there and I'm sure there are better locations just waiting to be found. Years ago when we arrived during daylight we drove a little further back and ended up at a beautiful site that overlooked Owens Gorge complete with a nice fire pit. I'm always interested in new finds accessible to 2WD vehicles.
When heading north there is a good spot for coffee just a short distance north at East Side Bake Shop (1561 Crowley Lake Dr, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546). It opens 6:30 am most days but they are closed after Labor Day. Good coffee, decent pastries, just avoid the enchilada quiche.
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