Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Crystal Springs campground is centrally located in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in central California's rugged Sierra Nevada range. This campground is at an elevation of 6,500 feet.
In addition, Crystal Springs campground also has 14 mid-sized group sites available for reservation on recreation.gov. These sites are listed under Crystal Springs Campground Mid-Size Group Sites.
Their are 35 sites at Crystal Springs campground. Each site contains a picnic table, a fire ring, and a food storage box. Flush toilets and potable water are available at the campground. Each site can accommodate 1-6 people. Crystal Springs campground is located nearby Grant Grove Village where you will find the Kings Canyon Visitor Center, a restaurant, gift store, Post Office and market. Nightly campfire programs are offered at the nearby amphitheater.
Campgrounds or campsites may be subject to closures without advanced notice in the event of safety concerns or other unforeseen issues.
Campgrounds now have a one-month advanced reservation window due to ongoing safety and natural resource considerations.
There is limited cellular reception in the parks. Before arriving to the campground be prepared with a screen-shot or print out of your reservation confirmation email.
Water supplies are critically low this year. Your Help is essential: Limit water use. If water runs out facilities may close. Please conserve water here, at home, and as you travel. Turn off dripping faucets. Report any leaks you notice to park staff. Remember: Drought increases fire danger!
Campground Rules and Regulations: It is your responsibility to abide by all posted campground rules and regulations.
Failure to comply with these items my result in a fine.
Food Storage - This is American Black Bear habitat: all food, scented items, coolers, equipment used to prepare food and garbage (recycling also) must be properly stored in provided bear-resistant food storage boxes, not in your vehicle, 24 hours/day. Food-storage box dimensions are 28' high x 33' deep x 47' wide. Do not hang garbage from your tree or leave out DAY OR NIGHT.
Parking - Vehicles must be parked with all four wheels on pavement. Extra vehicles must be parked in overflow parking lots.
Quiet Hours - Quiet hours are from 10 PM through 6 AM daily. Music, talking, and generators should not be audible beyond your immediate campsite any time of day. Generator use hours at this Campground are 9 AM to 9 PM.
Water - Do not dump wastewater on the ground or at the water spigots. All wastewater must be disposed at the restroom sinks, in toilets or at a campground RV dump station. This applies to shower tents. Wastewater must be collected and disposed of as stated above. Wastewater must not be allowed to run onto the ground.
Dishes - Do not wash dishes or brush teeth at water spigots near your campsite. Restrooms have wash sinks on outside of each building for dish washing and personal use.
Trash/Recycling - Please keep your campsite clean. Place all litter in campground garbage cans. Do NOT leave cigarette butts or bottle caps on ground. Glass, aluminum, and food are prohibited in fire pits.
Fires - Campfires are only permitted in fire rings. Logs and wood must fit completely within the fire ring. DO NOT leave fire unattended. Be certain to extinguish fire completely with water before leaving site or going to bed at night and be sure it is cold to the touch. Dead wood on the ground may be collected for use as fuel for campfires within the parks. Do not cut or break trees.
Tents - Pitch tents on tent pads or within campsite boundaries only.
Occupancy - There is a maximum of 6 people per campsite. If you exceed this number, purchase another site (if available) and relocate some of your group and equipment to the other campsite. Reservations can be made in advace for group campgrounds that will accomodate your group size.
Check Out - Campsites need to be vacated (people and equipment) by 12 noon.
Day Use - Campgrounds are for overnight visitors only. Please use designated day-use areas for parking, picnics, and river access.
Pets - Pets must always be kept on a leash six feet long or less. Pets may not be tied to an object or left unattended. Dogs, cats and other pets on leash, crated, or otherwise under physical restraint are permitted in the park only within 100 feet of the edge of established roads or parking areas open to public, and are permitted within established campgrounds and picnic areas; dogs, cats, and other pets are prohibited in the backcountry and on established trails.
Preserve Natural Resources - Injuring plants by cutting, breaking, or attaching nails or other hardware is prohibited.
Propane Tanks - We are unable to recycle your used propane tanks. These CAN NOT be left at the park. You must take them home and dispose of them properly.
Please don't travel with firewood; get it at or near your camping destination. Help protect these parks from invasive species, such as insects, fungi and other pests living in firewood that can spread beyond campgrounds threatening the health of the forest. Local markets sell firewood and gathering dead and down wood is allowed.
Cell phone service is unreliable throughout the parks Federal Highways Advisory: It is strongly recommended that vehicles over the length of 22 feet access Lodgepole Campground, Dorst Creek Campground, and the Giant Forest from the Highway 180 entrance into Kings Canyon National Park. The portion of the Generals Highway accessed from Highway 198 and the southern entrance is narrow and steep and is not advised for vehicles over the length of 22 feet.
Dangerous Rivers! Most park deaths result from drowning in rivers. Many drowning victims were playing near rivers and unexpectedly fell in. Rivers present a far greater danger than lakes or pools. Surfaces may look calm, but strong currents often run below. Be cautious walking near rivers as rocks can be smooth and slippery or shift unexpectedly. Getting out of a cold, swift river is often impossible.
Falling Objects. Branches and entire trees may fall at any time. A pinecone falling from a great height can be dangerous. Rocks may tumble from above you. Watch for potential hazards while you are out exploring the parks. Trees and branches have been falling frequently, possibly due to the drought and beetle damage. Branches may fall whether they appear dead, even when there is no wind, so avoidance is the safest response. Don't linger under dead, cracked, or broken
Face masks are required on NPS-administered lands where physical distancing cannot be maintained and in all NPS buildings and facilities. Park operations vary based on local public health conditions. Before visiting, please check the park website to determine its operating status. Additional details are available at www.nps.gov/coronavirus. Please recreate responsibly.
Crystal Springs campground is located in a mixed conifer forest of sugar pines, incense cedar, fir and sequoia trees. Summer days can be warm and dry with cool nights. Wildlife is abundant and includes black bear, mule deer, gray squirrel, golden-mantled ground squirrel, and a variety of resident birds, among many others. The dynamic landscape of the park evolves from geologic processes working over millennia to sculpt granite, marble and other forms of rock. Here in the parks are canyons carved by rivers and glaciers, towering rugged peaks and miles of underground caverns. Found throughout the park are thousands of lakes and ponds and miles of rivers and streams.
Crystal Springs campground is within an hour's drive from the Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park, home of the biggest tree in the world, the General Sherman, and the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park. Fishing is 30 minutes away at Hume Lake in Sequoia National Forest. The national forest also includes Converse Basin and Chicago Stump, where you can learn the history of logging in the area.
There are numerous recreation opportunities in the immediate area. From your campsite, you can hike to a Sequoia Grove that includes the General Grant Tree, the Nation's Christmas Tree and only living memorial to our military veterans. Hike to the beautiful Ella Falls, a 50 foot waterfall or to Panoramic Point for a breathtaking view of the high Sierras.
47050 Generals Highway Three Rivers CA 93271
For campground inquiries, please call: 559 565 3341
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
From Fresno, CA, take Highway 180 East for 1 1/2 hours. Vehicles over 22 feet are not advised between Potwisha Campground and the Giant Forest Museum when entering through Sequoia National Park. Vehicles over 22 feet should use the Kings Canyon National Park Entrance.