Single Publication

Sequoia National Forest –

Kern River Ranger District

 

We are available to provide information and guidance to additional resources during normal business hours:

Monday-Sunday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

(Daily Memorial through Labor Day only)

Please call 760-376-3781 for assistance, or email us at:

SM.FS.SequoiaNF@usda.gov

You can also find information on our website:     

https://www.fs.usda.gov/sequoia

Or via the following social media applications:

Facebook – @SequoiaNF

Twitter – @sequoiaforest

OnCell – sequoia.oncell.com

When visiting the Sequoia National Forest, please be aware of the following:

• Pack in, Pack Out – please pack out all trash and waste
• Toilet facilities may be unavailable – please plan accordingly
• Water may be only seasonal, unpotable, or unavailable. Please check water availability and other amenity information at https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/sequoia/recreation/camping-cabins
• NO glass food or beverage containers are allowed on the Kern River or shores of Lake Isabella
• To review detailed information on current closures and restrictions, including any related to campfires, please review Sequoia National Forest Alerts & Notices here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sequoia/alerts-notices
• Please visit https://permit.preventwildfiresca.org/ to obtain a campfire/stove use permit. Always check with the ranger district or visit the Alerts & Notices link above to check for campfire restrictions. Obey all posted signs.
• Avoid high-risk activities – law enforcement and search and rescue operations may be limited
• If an area is crowded, please search for a less occupied location and practice social distancing
• There is no cell phone coverage throughout most of the Forest
• Hiking trails are generally open so long as access is not affected by a Forest Order, seasonal, or other closure (see link for Alerts & Notices above for current closures)
• Please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/sequoia/recreation or contact us via phone or email for current information on recreational opportunities
• Per Forest Order #0513-21-16, camping in the Sequoia National Forest is limited to 14 days per every 30-day period.

CAMPGROUNDS – The following camping areas are currently OPEN

Most (see below) sites reservable via recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777 at least 5 days and up to 240 days in advance of the camping date. Some sites may be available on a first come, first served basis outside of the reservation window.

*campgrounds with a single asterisk denote first come, first serve

**a double asterisk indicates sites requiring the Southern Sierra or America the Beautiful Pass

Lake Isabella:

Auxiliary Dam** 0- $12 - Daily passes sold at onsite kiosk; $8/second vehicle

Camp 9* - $25-$200 - Group sites closed indefinitely; Boat launch ramp; RV dumpsite with automated fee collection; Boat Launch

Hungry Gulch - $32 - Reserve on Recreation.gov

Hanning Flat* - Free - Dispersed camping – not reservable                                                                                    

Old Isabella** - $12 - $8/second vehicle; Boat launch ramp; RV dumpsite with automated fee collection

Paradise Cove - $32 - RV dumpsite (fee applies)

South Fork Recreation Area** - $12 - Daily passes sold at onsite kiosk; $12/second vehicle; Boat launch ramp

Stine Cove* - Free - Dispersed camping – not reservable

Tillie Creek - $32-$608 - Group sites available; Boat launch ramp

Boulder Gulch  - $32 - Reserve on Recreation.gov

Upper Kern River:

Ant Canyon* - Free - Dispersed camping – not reservable

Brush Creek* - Free - Dispersed camping – not reservable  

Calkins Flat* - Free - Dispersed camping – not reservable

Chamise Flat* - Free - Dispersed camping – not reservable

Chico Flat* - Free - Dispersed camping – not reservable

Corral Creek* - Free - Dispersed camping – not reservable

Fairview - $32 -  Maximum vehicle length 45’

Halfway - $48-$200

 Group site(s) ONLY

Headquarters - $32-$100 - Closed. Yurt rental available; Maximum vehicle length 27’

Old Goldledge*** - Free. CLOSED Due to Flooding

***Permits are required during high use holiday weekends – Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. Permits are FREE and awarded through a lottery system. Request forms and more information may be obtained online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sequoia/recarea/?recid=82648

River Kern Beach - Free - No camping; Day use between sunrise and sunset daily

Springhill North - Free - Dispersed camping – not reservable

Roads End Use - Free - No camping; Day use between sunrise and sunset daily; Boat launch

Johnsondale Bridge - Free - No camping; Day use between sunrise and sunset daily; Boat launch

 

Lower Kern River/Greenhorn Mountains:

Breckenridge* - Free - No water. NOT suitable for trailers; Not reservable (developed campsites)

Sandy Flat - $32 - Boat put-in/take-out OPEN Reserve on Recreation.gov

Evans Flat - Free - Not reservable (developed campsites) No Water

Hobo  - $32 - Reserve on Recreation.gov – CLOSED Due to Flooding

 

Kern Plateau:

Horse Meadow - $17 - OPEN No Water

Troy Meadow - $17 - CLOSED -

 Fish Creek - $17 - OPEN - No Water

DAY USE – 

Day Use Areas:

Note: Per FOREST ORDER NO. 0513-21-06, effective from January 30, 2021, to January 29, 2023, Day Use areas are open from sunrise to sunset as determined according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Solar Calculator specifications for the city of Los Angeles: https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/grad/solcalc/

 

Delonegha - Free - No camping; Day use between sunrise and sunset daily; Boat launch

Democrat - Free - No camping; Day use between sunrise and sunset daily; Boat launch

Kissack Cove - Free - No camping; Day use between sunrise and sunset daily; Boat launch

Upper Richbar - $12 - No camping; Day use between sunrise and sunset daily

Live Oak CLOSED

 

Road Statuses

Mountain 99  - OPEN

Walker Pass (SR 178 East) - OPEN

SR 178 West (Bakersfield) - OPEN

SR 155 (Greenhorn Mountains) - CLOSED

Rancheria Road (25S15) from 178 - OPEN

Sherman Pass (22S05) Eastside oonlyfrom Kennedy Mdw, - OPEN

Sawmill Road (26S03) – open 5/26 - OPEN

Breckenridge (through Havilah) - OPEN

Piute Mountain Road  - OPEN

OHV Trail Statuses

Cyrus Canyon OHV Park - OPEN

Greenhorn Mountains - OPEN

Breckenridge Mountain  - OPEN

Piute Mountains - OPEN

Kern Plateau - CLOSED

CAMPGROUNDS – The following camping areas are currently OPEN

Most (see below) sites reservable via recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777 at least 5 days and up to 240 days in advance of the camping date. Some sites may be available on a first come, first served basis outside of the reservation window.

*campgrounds with a single asterisk denote first come, first serve

**a double asterisk indicates sites requiring the Southern Sierra or America the Beautiful Pass

Lake Isabella:

 

$ Per Night

Notes

Auxiliary Dam**

$12

OPEN Daily passes sold at onsite kiosk; $8/second vehicle

Camp 9*

$25-$200

Group sites CLOSED Due to Flooding indefinitely; Boat launch ramp; RV dumpsite with automated fee collection; Boat Launch

Hungry Gulch

$32

OPEN  Reserve on Recreation.gov

Hanning Flat*

Free

OPEN  Dispersed camping – No Reservation Needed                                                       

Old Isabella**

$12

OPEN  $8/second vehicle; Boat launch ramp; RV dumpsite with automated fee collection

Paradise Cove

$32

OPEN  RV dumpsite (fee applies)

South Fork Recreation Area**

$12

OPEN  Daily passes sold at onsite kiosk; $12/second vehicle; Boat launch ramp

Stine Cove*

Free

OPEN  Dispersed camping – No Reservation Needed

Tillie Creek

$32-$608

OPEN  Group sites available; Boat launch ramp

Boulder Gulch

$32

OPEN  Reserve on Recreation.gov

 

 

 

             

Upper Kern River:

 

$ Per Night

Notes

Ant Canyon*

Free

OPEN  Dispersed camping – No Reservation Needed

Brush Creek*

Free

OPEN  Dispersed camping – No Reservation Needed

Calkins Flat*

Free

OPEN  Dispersed camping – No Reservation Needed

Chamise Flat*

Free

OPEN  Dispersed camping – No Reservation Needed

Chico Flat*

Free

OPEN  Dispersed camping – No Reservation Needed

Corral Creek*

Free

OPEN  Dispersed camping – No Reservation Needed

Fairview

$32

 OPEN  Maximum vehicle length 45’

Halfway

$48-$200

 OPEN  Group site(s) ONLY

Headquarters

$32-$100

Closed. Yurt rental available; Maximum vehicle length 27’

Old Goldledge***

Free

CLOSED Due to Flooding ***Permits are required during high use holiday weekends – Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. Permits are FREE and awarded through a lottery system. Request forms and more information may be obtained online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sequoia/recarea/?recid=82648

River Kern Beach

Free

OPEN No camping; Day use between sunrise and sunset daily

Springhill North

Free

OPEN Dispersed camping – No Reservation Needed

Roads End Use

Free

OPEN No camping; Day use between sunrise and sunset daily; Boat launch

Johnsondale Bridge

Free

OPEN No camping; Day use between sunrise and sunset daily; Boat launch

 

Lower Kern River/Greenhorn Mountains:

 

$ Per Night

Notes

Breckenridge*

Free

No water. NOT suitable for trailers; Not reservable (developed campsites)

Sandy Flat

$32

OPEN Boat put-in/take-out. Reserve on Recreation.gov

Evans Flat

Free

OPEN No Reservation Needed (developed campsites) No Water

Hobo

$32

CLOSED Due to Flooding

 

Kern Plateau:

 

$ Per Night

First come first serve. $17 a night.

Horse Meadow

$17

OPEN No Water

Troy Meadow

$17

CLOSED

Fish Creek

$17

OPEN No Water

 

 

 

DAY USE – The following DAY USE AREAS

Day Use Areas:

Note: Per FOREST ORDER NO. 0513-21-06, effective from January 30, 2021, to January 29, 2023, Day Use areas are open from sunrise to sunset as determined according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Solar Calculator specifications for the city of Los Angeles: https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/grad/solcalc/

 

Use Fee

Notes

Delonegha

Free

OPEN No camping; Day use between sunrise and sunset daily; Boat launch

Democrat

Free

OPEN No camping; Day use between sunrise and sunset daily; Boat launch

Kissack Cove

Free

OPEN No camping; Day use between sunrise and sunset daily; Boat launch

Upper Richbar

$12

 

 

OPEN No camping; Day use between sunrise and sunset daily

Live Oak

$12

CLOSED No camping; Day use between sunrise and sunset daily

Road Statuses

Mountain 99

OPEN

Walker Pass (SR 178 East)

OPEN

SR 178 West (Bakersfield)

CLOSED

SR 155 (Greenhorn Mountains)

CLOSED

Rancheria Road (25S15) from 178

OPEN

Sherman Pass (22S05) Eastside oonlyfrom Kennedy Mdw,

OPEN

Sawmill Road (26S03) – open 5/26

CLOSED

Breckenridge (through Havilah)

OPEN

Piute Mountain Road

OPEN

Saddle Springs Road

OPEN

OHV Trail Statuses

Cyrus Canyon OHV Park

OPEN

Greenhorn Mountains

OPEN

Breckenridge Mountain

OPEN

Piute Mountains

OPEN

Kern Plateau

CLOSED

Scodie Mountains

OPEN

 

Scodie Mountains - OPEN