Connectivity
No community carrier report is currently published for this campground.
Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.
Campground
Dorst Creek Campground-Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, California
About this campground
Dorst Creek Campground is located in the breathtaking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in central California's rugged Sierra Nevada range.
The campground is very popular with tent and RV campers alike.
If your campsite remains vacant for 24 hours after your arrival date it will be cancelled and made available on rec.gov.
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 36.636111° N
- Longitude
- 118.809722° 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
- Hike-in
- Walk-inCommunity report
Site types
- Tent sites
- RV / trailer sites
- Standard campsites
- Group sites
Features
For campers
- Toilets
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic table
- FiresSubject to current restrictions
- Food storage
- Trash service
- Amphitheater
- ADA access
- Alcohol allowedCommunity report
- Pets allowedDorst Creek Campground-Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park's official facility record does not publish a campground-specific pet allowance; verify the current Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks pet boundary before arrival.
- Reservable
For vehicles
- Sanitary dump
- Pull-through sites
- Big rig friendlyPublished vehicle length up to 133 ft
- Back-in sitesCommunity report
- Parallel parking sitesCommunity report
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
Dorst Creek Campground is located in the breathtaking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in central California's rugged Sierra Nevada range.
The campground is perched at an elevation of 6,700 ft., on the banks of scenic Dorst Creek. Several meadows surround the campground and a number of small streams flow through the site.
A handful of popular day-hikes begin from or near the campground, including the trail to Lost Grove, a 57-acre grove containing 15 beautiful sequoias.
Facilities
The campground is very popular with tent and RV campers alike. It has paved roads, flush toilets, and drinking water, but no electricity.
Picnic tables, fire rings, and bear food storage boxes are provided at each site. A free dump station is located on-site.
Lodgepole Village is nine miles away, offering a visitor center, nightly Interpretive Ranger programs, a market, deli, snack bar, gift shop, post office, coin-operated showers and laundry facilities.
Recreation
Dorst Creek lies in the Giant Forest region of Sequoia National Park, where forty miles of trails invite visitors to immerse themselves in the majesty of the ancient groves.
Several additional popular hiking and wilderness trailheads are close by, including the Big Trees Trail and 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 1,200 ft. waterfall. Fly-fishing is a popular activity on Dorst Creek and the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River.
Natural Features
Lodgepole pine, red fir, and shrubs forest the campground, while towering groves of giant sequoias and craggy granite peaks dot the landscape.
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 inspiring Giant Forest Grove, General Sherman Tree, General Grant Tree, Moro Rock and Tunnel Log are just 9-17 miles away, as well as the informative Lodgepole Visitor Center and 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. Reserve in advance on www.recreation.gov. Tickets may also be purchased same day, if available, at the Lodgepole Visitor Center. Tickets are not sold at the cave entrance.
The Crystal Cave is about about a one hour drive (21 miles/34 km) from the campground. Vehicles longer than 22 feet long are prohibited on the narrow winding Crystal Cave Road.
Activities & amenities
What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.
Available activities
- Hiking
- Camping
Amenities and facility features
- Toilets
- Showers
- Potable water
- Picnic tables
- Site fire ring or grateSubject to current restrictions
- Food-storage locker
- Trash service
- Amphitheater
- Drinking Water
- Dump Station
- Hiking
- Shuttle Bus Service
Recreation sites
Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.
Standard Non-Electric
147 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Caravan/Camper Van, Fifth Wheel, Large Tent Over 9x12`, Pickup Camper, Pop Up, RV, Tent, Trailer
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 2
- Maximum vehicle length
- 133 ft
- Check-in
- 12:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- 6 flagged accessible
Tent Only Non-Electric
4 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Tent
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 2
- Maximum vehicle length
- 28 ft
- Check-in
- 12:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- 1 flagged accessible
RV Non-Electric
25 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Caravan/Camper Van, Fifth Wheel, Pickup Camper, Pop Up, RV, Trailer
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 2
- Maximum vehicle length
- 99 ft
- Check-in
- 0:00 AM, 12:00 PM
- Check-out
- 0:00 AM, 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- 1 flagged accessible
Walk To
24 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Large Tent Over 9x12`, Tent
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 1
- Maximum vehicle length
- 19 ft
- Check-in
- 12:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Group Standard Area Non-Electric
4 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- RV, Tent, Trailer
- Maximum people
- 50
- Maximum vehicles
- 17
- Check-in
- 12:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Site rules, inventory & rates
Facility rules, inventory procedures, and price seasons published by the official source.
Site rules
- Base site allowance
- • ENTRANCE FEES APPLY : Check Entrance Fees & Passes - Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (U.S. National Park Service) for details. • CAMPING FEES: $32 per night for regular camping and $16 per night for valid lifetime Access Pass, lifetime Senior Pass, and annual Senior Pass. No other passes receive reduced rates. Group sites are $60 - $80 depending on site (see Facility Rates below). 50% Senior Pass and Access Pass discount rates DO NOT APPLY to group sites. • If your campsite remains vacant for 24 hours after your arrival date it will be cancelled and made available on rec.gov. You will be charged for the first night's campsite fee and a $10 cancellation fee, all other fees after that will be refunded. Recreation.gov policies apply to all reservations, cancellations, refunds and date changes. Call (559) 565-4404 if you will be arriving 24 hours after your arrival date so your site won't be cancelled.
- Group Reservation Window
- 4 Months
- Maximum stay
- 14 consecutive days
- Max Simultaneous Reservations
- 2 reservations
- Max Stay
- 30 days
- Max Transaction Reservations
- 2
- Reservation cutoff
- 0 days before arrival
- Reservation Window
- 1 Months
- Maximum published vehicles
- 17 vehicles per site
- Check-in
- 12:00 PM, 0:00 AM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM, 0:00 AM
- Food storage
- Dorst Creek Campground-Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park's official facility record states: Picnic tables, fire rings, and bear food storage boxes are provided at each site.
- Fire and stove use
- Dorst Creek Campground-Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park's official facility record states: Picnic tables, fire rings, and bear food storage boxes are provided at each site.
- Pets
- Dorst Creek Campground-Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park's official facility record does not publish a campground-specific pet allowance; verify the current Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks pet boundary before arrival.
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 5, 2023
- Next release
- Oct 18, 2027, 11:00 PM PDT
- Next book-through date
- Sep 5, 2023
- Group sites bookable through
- Sep 5, 2023
Published seasons & rates
The official source does not publish machine-readable seasonal rates. Confirm the final rate with the reservation provider before checkout.
Important facility notices
Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.
- If your campsite remains vacant for 24 hours after your arrival date it will be cancelled and made available on rec.gov. You will be charged for the first night's campsite fee and a $10 cancellation fee, all other fees after that will be refunded. Recreation.gov policies apply to all reservations, cancellations, refunds and date changes. Call (559) 565-4404 if you will be arriving 24 hours after your arrival date so your site won't be cancelled. Upon making a campground reservation: Site occupants agree to follow ALL campground rules. Failure to comply may result in a fine. You are responsible for your guests.
- Campground Rules and Regulations: • Food Storage - You are in an ACTIVE BEAR AREA. Black Bears are active day and night . When not in arms reach, you must properly store all food, drinks, scented items, coolers, and equipment used to prepare food, inside provided food storage lockers. These items must be stored day and night . Food storage locker dimensions are 28" high x 33" deep x 47" wide. • 6 Person Limit - There is a maximum of 6 people per campsite . If you exceed this number, purchase 2 sites and spread your group and equipment out evenly between campsites. This is to preserve the natural resources and minimize noise levels. Reservations can be made in advance to accommodate larger groups in sites A-D. • Check-In and Check-Out is at 12 NOON - Please be prepared to show a screen shot (limited cell service) or printout of your reservation confirmation email upon arrival to the campground. Campsites need to be vacated (vehicles and occupants) by 12:00 NOON. • Parking Pad - Vehicles must be parked with all four wheels on pavement. Vehicles that do not fit on the provided parking pad must be parked in overflow parking areas. • Quiet Hours 10pm to 6am - Music, talking, and generators should not be audible beyond your immediate campsite. Unreasonable noise is prohibited any time of day. • Generator Hours- 8:00AM-11:00AM and 5:00PM-8:00PM • Fire Restrictions - Check current fire restrictions at nps.gov/seki . Fires must be attended . DO NOT build additional fire rings. Glass, aluminum, and food are prohibited in fire rings. Firewood is sold locally. Dead and down wood may be gathered for your campfire. Logs must fit within the fire ring. Chainsaws are not allowed. Fires must be extinguished completely with water and be cool to the touch before leaving your campsite or going to bed. • Tents - Pitch tents only on tent pads or within campsite boundaries. • Dogs/Pets - must always be kept crated, caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Pets are allowed in campgrounds and picnic areas. Pets may not be left unattended . Pets are not allowed beyond 100 feet of public roads or parking areas. Pets are not allowed on any Park trails. • Preserve Natural Resources - Injuring plants or trees by cutting, breaking, or attaching nails or other hardware is prohibited. Driving off pavement is prohibited. • Bicycles - Helmets required if under 18 years of age. Bicycles are not allowed on any park trails. • Trash Disposal - Please keep your campsite clean. Place all litter/trash in bear proof campground trash dumpsters. To prevent bears from getting trash please DO NOT forget to lock or relatch the dumpster . Do not leave cigarette butts, bottle caps, confetti or litter on the ground. • Water Disposal - Do not dump grey-water on the ground or at the water spigots. Bring a tub to wash dishes or to collect shower water. All grey-water must be disposed of at the restrooms, dish sinks, or at a RV dump-station. Used water must not be allowed to run onto the ground . • Propane Tank Disposal - DO NOT leave in the park. We are unable to recycle your used propane tanks. Please take them home with you and dispose of them properly.
- Tire Chains may be required at any time . Be prepared at any time of year for a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions. Check Road Conditions at nps.gov/seki . 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! Many drowning victims were playing near rivers. 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 slippery. Getting out of a cold, swift river is often impossible. Falling Objects - Don't linger under dead, cracked, or broken branches. 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.
- 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.
Getting there & contact
Official 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 1/4 hours to drive to the campground from the south park entrance (198E) or 45 minutes 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 Highway 198E. Follow signs for Sequoia National Park to the park entrance. • Highway 180E may be reached from Highway 198E using Highway 63N from Visalia. Arriving from the north (Highway 180): • From Fresno, take Highway 180E, following signs to Kings Canyon National Park. • Once in the park, follow signs to Sequoia National Park and Lodgepole.
Facility contact
559-565-3341