You may roam about the base of giants from another period and go for Sequoia National Park camping in the surrounding forest in a spot where time appears to have stood still for ages.
The sequoias here are among the world’s biggest and oldest living creatures.
These living monuments range in age from hundreds of years to over 2,000 years.
All the trees that you can see date back to the Roman Empire, the Dark Ages, or, in the case of the younger ones, when Columbus set sail for the Americas for the first time.
General Sherman, the world’s biggest living tree, was born in the first century.
Summary
| Guide | Camping In Sequoia National Park |
|---|---|
| Things to bring | Tent, torch, etc. |
| Campgrounds | Lodgepole Campground, and more. |
| Best places to visit | Grant Grove Village, and more. |
| Situated | California |
Sequoia National Park – Why Visit, How To Reach, Best Time To Visit
Camping In Sequoia National Park
1. Lodgepole Campground
This vast, boulder-strewn campsite has the nicest position in the park, along a gorgeous stretch of the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River.
The Giant Forest region, which has many of the world’s largest sequoias, is about two miles away, and the campground is right behind the Lodgepole Village Visitor Center.
Address: 47050 Generals Hwy, Three Rivers, CA 93271
2. Dorst Creek Campground
The Dorst Creek Campground is the second most convenient camping spot in Sequoia National Park.
If you’re coming from Kings Canyon National Park, this is the first campground you’ll see as you approach the park, roughly 10 miles before you reach the Giant Forest region.
Address: Generals Hwy, Three Rivers, CA 93271
Read: Camping In Utah
3. Stoney Creek Campground
Stony Creek Campground is a Forest Service campground just outside the southern limit of Kings Canyon National Park.
Yet, it is handy for visiting both Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks.
From Stony Creek Campground, it takes around 25 minutes to travel to Grant Grove Village in Kings Canyon to the north and Lodgepole Village to the south.
Address: California, Sequoia National Park
4. Buckeye Flat Campground
The Buckeye Flat is in Sequoia National Park’s south portion, near Hospital Rock, and at least a 30-minute drive from the park’s biggest attractions, such as Moro Rock and the General Sherman Tree.
This secluded campsite, perched above a beautiful part of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River, provides 28 private, shaded tent-only sites around enormous and sprawling deciduous trees.
Address: Sequoia National Park, California 93262
5. Potwisha Campground
Potwisha Campground is unlike any other campground in the park in terms of landscape and atmosphere.
This campsite is in the Sierra Foothills, in the park’s south area, not far from the Foothills Visitor Center.
It is pretty broad, grassy, and sprinkled with oak trees.
Address: CA 93262
6. Big Meadows Campground
The Big Meadows Campground in the north of Sequoia National Park in Sequoia National Forest is another camping option if you are unable to get a spot in the park.
Although this campground is closer to Kings Canyon than Sequoia National Area, it is still a wonderful choice if you are visiting either park between June and September, when it is open.
Address: Sequoia National Park, California
7. South Fork Campground
The South Fork Campground is the smallest in Sequoia National Park, with only 10 campsites.
In a faraway section of the Foothills region, a stay here is rather rustic.
There is no potable water available at this campground, so bring your own.
The locations are spread over a grassy area beside the Kaweah River.
If you’re ready to rough it, South Fork is a fantastic alternative for a calmer respite from the throng in this famous national park.
Address: California 92305
8. Cold Springs Campground
The Cold Springs Campground is an excellent alternative if you want to get away from the crowds and camp in the alpine without having to go into the wilderness.
It’s a little further away from well-known sights like Sequoia National Park’s Giant Forest, but it provides many hiking possibilities to Sierra’s alpine lakes and mountain summits.
Hikers will appreciate a stopover at Cold Springs, but it will add 1.5 hours each way to reach the famed Sequoia forests.
Address: Mineral King Rd, Three Rivers, CA 93271
Read: Camping In Oregon
Top Things To Do in Sequoia National Park
Best Places To Visit Near Sequoia National Park
Grant Grove Village
Grant Grove Village, which is part of the nearby Kings Canyon National Park, has a visitor center, an ATM, cabins, and a lodge, the Grant Grove Restaurant, a grocery store, a gift shop selling Native American crafts, and – probably most importantly – the General Grant Tree.
President Calvin Coolidge dubbed it the “Nation’s Christmas Tree” (and formally, its name is after Ulysses S. Grant in 1867), and it is the world’s second-largest sequoia (after General Sherman) and third-largest total tree.
Tunnel Log
The Tunnel Log, which is along Crescent Meadow Road in the Giant Forest, is a fascinating picture opportunity for park visitors.
When this massive tree fell over the road in 1937, it was 275 feet tall at the top and 21 feet at the bottom.
People made the tunnel through the tree the following year, and tourists have been drawn to it ever since because of its uniqueness.
According to the National Park Service, the tree is at least 2,000 years old.
Recent visitors say that visiting early in the day to avoid the throngs posing in front of, underneath, and even on top of the Tunnel Log.
Checklist Before Camping In Sequoia National Park
When you are camping somewhere new, where you are not really aware of what is what and do not have much information, it is really crucial to know what to bring in case of any problems.
Here is a small checklist.
- Propane camp stove
- Headlamp
- Lantern
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Bug spray
- Bear spray
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
FAQ
When is the best time to camp at Sequoia National Park?
From June through mid-September is the finest season to camp in Sequoia National Park.
It’s worth noting, though, that the campgrounds mentioned above are at varying heights, ranging from 2,100 feet to 7,800 feet.
The temperatures are lower the higher you go, especially at night.
Can you hike when you are camping in Sequoia National Park?
Yes, absolutely. California’s mountains, deserts, and coastal locations provide excellent options for day walks and longer journeys.
Can you bring pets for Sequoia National Park Camping?
It depends on the campground and its special rules, if there are any.
Shefali Jain is a Content Writer & Editor at USWorkforce.org
After completing her graduation in hospitality, Shefali decided to follow her passion and started writing. Shefali has been writing for two years now and contributes to our website as a skilled editor and content writer with strong research skills. Writing product and service reviews, biographies, and book reviews are some of her key areas, among many others in which she specializes. In her time at the organization, she has written and edited content on a range of topics, including employment law, human resources, and business management.
