Connectivity
No community carrier report is currently published for this campground.
Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.
Campground
Camp Three Campground
Sequoia National Forest, California
About this campground
The Forest comprises about 1.1 million acres, and elevations range from about 1,000 to 12,000 feet, creating precipitous canyons and mountain streams with spectacular waterfalls, such as Salmon Creek Falls near Fairview and Grizzly Falls on the Kings River.
Camp Three Campground is set amidst oak and locust trees at an elevation of 2,800 feet on the Upper Kern River, offering countless recreational opportunities for visitors.
The Sequoia National Forest, located at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada in central California, takes its name from the giant sequoia, the world's largest tree, which grows in more than 30 groves on the Forest's lower slopes.
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 35.809269° N
- Longitude
- 118.453606° W
Know before you arrive
Access, sites & campground features
Official facility and campsite inventory, supplemented by clearly marked community reports when the official listing does not publish the detail.
Access
- Drive-in
Site types
- Tent sites
- RV / trailer sites
- Standard campsites
- Group sites
Features
For campers
- Toilets
- Drinking water
- FiresUse only when the current order allows flame
- Picnic table
- ADA access
- Pets allowedDogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
- Reservable
For vehicles
- Electric hookups
- Paved parking
- Big rig friendlyPublished vehicle length up to 40 ft
Official campground guide
Plan with the full campground details
Facility information, site rules, booking windows, and published rates. Source snapshot checked Oct 18, 2026.
Overview
Camp Three Campground is set amidst oak and locust trees at an elevation of 2,800 feet on the Upper Kern River, offering countless recreational opportunities for visitors.
Facilities
The campground consists of 52 paved sites and a group camp that accommodates up to 30 people for friends or family gatherings.
Drinking water, vault toilets, and campfire rings are all provided.
This facility is operated by Rocky Mountain Recreation Company, a division of ExplorUS and comments are welcome; comment forms are available from campground hosts or online.
Recreation
Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities in the Upper Kern River area.
Natural Features
The Sequoia National Forest, located at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada in central California, takes its name from the giant sequoia, the world's largest tree, which grows in more than 30 groves on the Forest's lower slopes.
The Forest comprises about 1.1 million acres, and elevations range from about 1,000 to 12,000 feet, creating precipitous canyons and mountain streams with spectacular waterfalls, such as Salmon Creek Falls near Fairview and Grizzly Falls on the Kings River.
Gray pines, scrub oaks, grass and dry climate shrubs cling to steep, canyon walls while cottonwoods and willows line the river's edge.
Nearby Attractions
The Cannell Meadow National Recreation Trailhead is just north of Kernville. Day trips include the Sequoia National Park, Trail of a Hundred Giants, and numerous sequoia groves in the Sequoia National Monument.
The Giant Sequoia Mercantile offers a wide variety of books, maps, gifts, local art, camping supplies and other merchandise.
Activities & amenities
What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.
Available activities
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Camping
- BoatingRafting
Amenities and facility features
- Vault or pit toilets
- Potable water
- Site fire ring or grillUse only when the current order allows flame
- Electric hookups
- Host
- Vault Toilets
- Water
Recreation sites
Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.
Standard Non-Electric
48 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- RV, Tent, Trailer
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 1
- Maximum vehicle length
- 40 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Walk To
1 site- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Tent
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 1
- Maximum vehicle length
- 10 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Management
3 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- RV, Tent, Trailer
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 1
- Maximum vehicle length
- 40 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Group Standard Non-Electric
3 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- RV, Tent, Trailer
- Maximum people
- 30
- Maximum vehicles
- 5
- Maximum vehicle length
- 20 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- 2 flagged accessible
Site rules, inventory & rates
Facility rules, inventory procedures, and price seasons published by the official source.
Site rules
- Maximum stay
- 14 consecutive days
- Max Stay
- 14 days
- Reservation cutoff
- 3 days before arrival
- Maximum published occupancy
- 30 people per site
- Maximum published vehicles
- 5 vehicles per site
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Food storage
- Camp Three Campground's official facility record checked 2026-10-16 does not publish a food-storage method; confirm the posted rule with Sequoia National Forest.
- Fire and stove use
- Camp Three Campground's official facility record states: Drinking water, vault toilets, and campfire rings are all provided.
- Pets
- Dogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
Inventory window
Recreation.gov publishes a rolling booking window. The dates below are the official snapshot captured for this catalog build.
- Currently bookable through
- Sep 12, 2026
- Next release
- Nov 7, 2026, 7:00 AM PST
- Next book-through date
- May 7, 2027
- Group sites bookable through
- Sep 11, 2027
Published seasons & rates
| Season | Site type | Nightly rate | Additional person | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak SeasonMay 8, 2026 – Sep 12, 2026 | Group Standard Non-Electric | $154 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 8, 2026 – Sep 12, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $36 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 8, 2026 – Sep 12, 2026 | Walk To | $36 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 7, 2027 – Sep 11, 2027 | Group Standard Non-Electric | $154 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 7, 2027 – Sep 11, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $36 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 7, 2027 – Sep 11, 2027 | Walk To | $36 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 7, 2028 – Sep 11, 2028 | Group Standard Non-Electric | $154 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 7, 2028 – Sep 11, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $36 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 7, 2028 – Sep 11, 2028 | Walk To | $36 | — | — |
Important facility notices
Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.
- There are no electric hookups
- Swimming in the river is dangerous due to strong currents and other hazards.
- Click here for more info about the Sequoia National Forest
- Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed. For current fire conditions or weather closures contact the Kern River Ranger District (760) 376-3781.
- Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.
- Glass containers are prohibited in Kern Canyon and Isabella Lake Glass Container Prohibition Area
- There is an extra vehicle fee of $8.00/night on the 2nd vehicle in each single campsite and on the 3rd & 4th vehicle in any double campsite, provided these vehicles are not joined to the 1st vehicle by a hitch and towed onto the site. In the case of motorcycles, the 1st and 2nd are considered to be one vehicle and the 3rd and 4th are also considered to be one vehicle. So the fee would be a single $8.00/night of stay for the 3rd/4th motorcycle.
- Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times. Owners must keep their dogs under control at all times or they may be asked to vacate the premise.
Getting there & contact
Official directions
From Highway 99 in Bakersfield, California, take Highway 178 east to Lake Isabella. From Lake Isabella take Highway 155 around the west side of the lake to the town of Kernville. Turn north on Sierra Way/Mountain 99 and continue 5 miles to the campground.
Facility contact
760-376-1815