Lodgepole Campground-Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Lodgepole Campground is located in the breathtaking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in central California's rugged Sierra Nevada range. Lodgepole is perched on the banks of the scenic and lengthy Marble Fork of the Kaweah River, at an elevation of 6,700 ft. The inspiring Giant Forest Grove and the mighty General Sherman Tree - the world's largest tree in volume - are just two miles from the campground.

Lodgepole Campground is very popular with tent and RV campers alike. It has paved roads, flush toilets, and drinking water. Picnic tables, fire rings, and bear food storage boxes are provided at each site. Lodgepole Village is a quick, 1/4-mile away, offering, a market and gift shop. Coin-operated showers and laundry facilities are not available for 2021 season

Notifications and Alerts

The public showers and laundry facility at Lodgepole will be closed in 2022.

Need to Know

Notice: By making a reservation for this campground, site occupants agree to follow ALL campground rules listed below, and posted at the campground upon arrival.

Recreation.gov policies apply to all reservations, cancellations, refunds and date changes.
Campground Rules and Regulations:

Failure to comply with these items may result in a fine.
- Food Storage- You are in an active bear area. When not in use, you must store all food, scented items, coolers, equipment used to prepare food and garbage (recycling also) insife provided bear-proof boxes. These items must be stored day and night. Food-storage box dimensions are 28" high x 33" deep x 47" wide.
- Registration- For campers with advanced reservations, please check in at the kiosk upon arrival.
- Parking- Vehicles must be parked with all four wheels on pavement. Extra vehicles must be parked in overflow parking lots provided at the campground. Note: If your towing/towed vehicle does not fit with your trailer/RV it will need to be parked in an overflow area.
- Quiet hours- Quiet hours are from 10 PM to 6 AM daily. Music, talking, and generators should not be audible beyond your immediate campsite anytime of day.
- Generator use hours in Lodgepole Campground are 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Generator use is NOT allowed in Sites # 36-60 or # 69-144.
- Check out- Campsites need to be vacated (people, equipment, and vehicles) by 12:00 pm noon.
- 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 advance for group campgrounds that will accommodate your group size.
- Fires- Campfires are only permitted in fire rings. DO NOT leave a fire unattended. Be certain to extinguish fire completely with water before leaving site. Dead wood on the ground may be collected for fuel for campfires within the parks, do not cut or break trees. All collected wood must fit completely within fire rings.
- Fire rings are provided in each campsite, DO NOT build additional fire rings.
- Tents- Pitch tents on tent pads or within campsite boundaries only.
- Day Use- Campsites are for overnight visitors only. Please use designated day use areas for parking, picnics, and river access.
- Trash- Please keep your campsite clean. Place all litter in campground trash dumpsters. Do not leave cigarette butts or bottle caps on the ground. Glass, aluminum, and food are prohibited in fire pits.
- Water- Do not dump waste water on the ground or at the water spigots. All waste water must be disposed of at the restroom dish sinks or at a campground RV dumpstation. This applies to shower tents as well. Shower water must be collected and disposed of as stated above. Used water must not be allowed to run onto the ground.
- Pets- Pets must be kept on a leash six feet long or less at all times. Pets may not be tied to an object or left unattended. Dogs, cats and other pets on a leash, crated, or otherwise under physical restraint are permitted in the parks 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.
- Bicycles are allowed (with helmets if under 18 years of age). Bicycles are not allowed off-road or on any park trails.
- No scooter, roller skate/blade, or skateboard usage allowed on park roadways, including in campgrounds.
- Propane Tanks- We are unable to recycle your used propane tanks. They CAN NOT be left at the park. You must take them home with you and dispose of them properly,
Fire Safety: If having a fire at your campsite, you must use the fire ring provided. Logs and wood must fit completely within the fire ring. When done with your fire, make sure it is fully extinguished before leaving the area or going to bed at night — drown the remaining coals and embers with water and be sure it is cold to the touch.

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.
Vehicles longer than 22 feet (including trailers) are not advised between Potwisha Campground and the Giant Forest Museum. Visitors with vehicles over 22 feet in total length hoping to visit the Giant Forest or camp at Lodgepole and Dorst Creek Campgrounds are advised to enter via the northern, Highway 180, entrance to these parks.
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 pine cone 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 or not they appear dead, even when there is no wind, so avoidance is the safest response.
- Don't linger under dead, cracked, or broken branches. Watch/listen for falling trees! Run if you hear cracks or snapping from tree roots, trunks, or branches (know that sometimes there is no sound, and very little time to react). Report falling branches or trees to a ranger.
This is an American Black Bear habitat: all food, scented items, coolers and garbage 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.
Miscellaneous Information:
- A California state fishing license is required to fish in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and Sequoia National Forest lakes and streams. Fishing licenses may be available at National Park and National Forest markets.
- Cell service is extremely limited in the National Parks.

Natural Features

Lodgepole pine, Red fir, and shrubs forest the campground, while towering groves of giant sequoias and craggy granite peaks dot the landscape. The Marble Fork of the Kaweah River is fed by snowmelt and flows seasonally through the site. This region is characterized by warm days and cool nights in the summer and deep snow and cold days in the winter.

Nearby Attractions

The General Sherman Tree, General Grant Tree, Moro Rock and Tunnel Log are nearby, as is the informative Giant Forest Museum.

Colorful Crescent Meadow offers views of vivid summer wildflowers and access to Tharp's Log, a cabin in a fallen sequoia.

Tours into Crystal Cave, one of hundreds of marble caves in the park, give visitors an interesting view of rock formations, fossils, rare minerals, and unique wildlife. Tickets are required, but are not sold at the cave entrance. Reserve in advance on www.recreation.gov. Tickets may also be purchased same day, if available, at the Lodgepole Visitor Center.

Crystal Cave is about a 45 minute drive (13 miles/21 km) from the campground.

Vehicles longer than 22 feet long are prohibited on the narrow, winding Crystal Cave Road.

Recreation

Forty miles of trails, including the paved Big Trees Trail, invite visitors to immerse themselves in the majesty of the ancient grove. Several additional popular hiking and wilderness trailheads are close by, including the trail to Moro Rock, a granite dome with spectacular views of the Great Western Divide and western half of the park. Tokopah Falls Trail is an easy walk along the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River, leading to an impressive 1200 ft. waterfall. Fly-fishing is also a popular activity on the Marble Fork.

Changes & Cancellations

Payment in full will be charged to your credit card upon completion of the reservation. A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. Additional fees will apply for late cancellations.
All cancellations made between midnight on the day before arrival and check out time on the day after arrival are considered late cancellations and will incur a $10.00 cancellation fee and will also forfeit the first night’s use fee. Cancellations for a single night’s reservation will forfeit the entire use fee but no cancellation fee will apply.

Contact Information

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SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS 47050 GENERALS HIGHWAY Three Rivers CA 93271

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: 559-565-3341

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

Both roads leading to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks approach from the west. They are open all day, every day, depending on weather. From the east, no roads reach the park boundary.

The Main park road, The Generals Highway, connects the north and south entrances. Winter storms may cause temporary closures from Grant Grove to Lodgepole.

It takes about 1 hour to drive to the campground from the south park entrance (198E) or about a 1 hour from the north park entrance (180E).
Notice: Vehicles longer than 22 feet (including trailers) are not advised between Potwisha Campground and the Giant Forest Museum. Visitors with vehicles over 22 feet in total length hoping to visit the Giant Forest or camp at Lodgepole and Dorst Creek Campgrounds are advised to enter via the northern, Highway 180, entrance to these parks.

Arriving from the south (Highway 198):

From Highways 65 or 99: Go east on Hwy 198 E and follow signs for Sequoia National Park to the park entrance.
Highway 180 E may be reached from Highway 198 E using Hwy 63 N from Visalia.

Arriving from the north (Highway 180):

From Fresno: take Highway 180E, following signs for Kings Canyon National Park to the park entrance.
Once in the park, follow signs to Sequoia National Park and Lodgepole.

Available Campsites

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