Family camping

Family Camping in and around Camp Whitsett

There are MANY places to camp around the Camp Whitsett area.
There are campsites with hookups in Kernville and around Lake Isabella,
- and -
There is everything from wilderness sites (no amenities) to decent campsites
(although non-hookup) around Lake Isabella and up the Kern River.


For staying around the Whitsett area:

   There are three (3) wilderness campgrounds just outside the Whitsett boundaries:
     Camp 1, 2 and 3. As you drive into Whitsett, you will see these sites along the
     right side of the road. Camp 2 is the nicest site, followed by 1. Both have a stream
     running through or near them. Camp 3 is dryer.

There is a very nice improved campground called LIMESTONE Campground. It is located on
     the main road to Whitsett, just before the Johnsondale Bridge that crosses the Kern River.

There are a number of facilities close to Whitsett some new, others updated, and one that
has been around a long, long time. They are:

   Durrwood Creekside Lodge - Bed and Breakfast [grand tradition - newly remodled]
       located about 20 miles out of Kernville, 9 miles out of Camp Whitsett
       (760) 376-2719

    Johnny McNally's Fairview Lodge - Motel, great Restaurant, General Store
       located 12 miles out of Kernville, about 13 miles out of Camp Whitsett
       (760) 376-2430

   Kern River Golden Trout Resort (great for families)
       located 9 miles out of Kernville, about 20 miles out of Camp Whitsett
       (760) 376-6033

Sequoia Lodge - In Riverkern just north of Kernvillee
(760) 376-2535

Whispering Pines Lodge - Nice facility "on the hill" just outside of Kernville
(760) 376-6513 - (877) 241-4100

Kern Lodge - A nicely refurbushed facility in Kernville
(760) 376-2223 - (800) 924-8817

Falling Waters - Multiple activities, located 2 miles out of Kernville
(760) 376-2430

Kernville Information, including: Lodging, Restaurants, and more
located about 35 miles out Camp Whitsett

Here are great places to start your "Out of Camp" search, look at the www.kernvalley.com website:
   Camping around Lake Isabella
   Camping up along the Kern River
   Here's a map of the Lake Isabella area
   Here's a map of the Upper Kern River area

There is a nice campground called REDWOOD MEADOW adjacent to the superb
    and inspiring The Trail of 100 Giants. The campground is nice but the giant
    Redwood trees that are across the street are fabulous.

There is a really nice campground called QUAKING ASPEN Campground
   It is located "above" Whitsett on the Western Divide Highway. It is a
   Forest Service campground, run by the Hot Springs Ranger District.

   Here are directions to the Redwoods, Redwood Meadow and Quaking Aspen:

      Once you leave Whitsett (through the main gate onto the paved road) turn left.
      Travel a few hundred feet. The road will turn sharply to the right, to your left
      is a dirt road. Turn RIGHT onto the dirt road (it is easily passable). You will
      travel the dirt road for five miles, at which time you will end up on another
      paved road, called the Western Divide Highway.

      If you turn LEFT, you will be traveling toward the Redwood Meadow campground
      and the Trail of 100 Giants. If you turn to the right, you will be traveling toward
      the area known as The Ponderosa and Quaking Aspen campground (just beyond the
      Ponderosa).

Hot Springs Ranger District
Route 4, Box 548
California Hot Springs, CA 93207
(661) 548-6503
    FAX (661) 548-6236

   For information about camping in the Sequoia National Forest, contact:
      Sequoia National Forest
      900 West Grand Avenue
      Porterville, CA 93257-2035
      (209) 784-1500

From Quaking Aspen Campground you are near several very interesting places.
   - The Ponderosa Resort
   - The Trail of 100 Giants (Giant Redwood Grove)
   - The Needles lookout tower (a spectacular view of the upper Kern)
   - Dome Rock (from where you can see part of our hiking area)
   - Mule Peak lookout tower
   - Camp Nelson (small resort area)
   - Quaking Aspen store (for daily needs)

SUGGESTIONS If the family is into fishing:
Camp along the Kern River, there are several really nice Forest Service campgrounds
   - or -
Camp around Lake Isabella, (Forest Service and Private campgrounds)
   If families stay around Lake Isabella they would also be near the "towns"
   of Kernville & Lake Isabella for shopping, restaurants, museums, Rafting,
   Motels and Beds-and-Breakfasts, Bowling (in nearby Mountain Mesa), Activities,
   a Golf Course, and the EMPIRE THEATER (inWofford Heights).
   (Check out this Tourist Infomation page).

If the family wants hiking:
   there are some super trails in the area, visit the
   Great Outdoor Recreation Pages for information about them.

If the family wants "mountain" camping with side trips:
Try the Quaking Aspen campground listed above.
Hiking in the Quaking Aspen - Ponderosa area.

If the family wants pure solitude:
   just beyond Whitsett (about five miles) there is a really nice Forest service
   campground called Lower Peppermint Campground (bathrooms, established sites, etc.).
   They could hike around from there and take some day trips (to the
   Giant Redwoods and the area around Quaking Aspen) or hike right
   around the Peppermint area.

If they want full hookups, and nice scenery, I would suggest the Kernville area:
   There are some very nice trailer parks there: Camp James, Rivernook Campground,
   Riverview Trailer Park, and Sierra Trailer Lodge - 760-376-2266. On the south side
   of the lake in Mountain Mesa, there is the Lake Isabella RV Resort, and nearby in
   Southlake, is the Kern River Valley KOA.

Also check out the area at McNalleys (on the way to camp you'll pass these areas).
   McNalleys Restaurant serves great steak and chicken dinners. There is a store
   at McNalley's "Fairview on the Kern"

    "STAY TUNED" ... as new things are remembered or discovered, they'll be placed here.

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