Campground

Goldledge Campground

Sequoia National Forest, California

About this campground

Goldledge Campground is situated along the Kern River, 10 miles north of the town of Kernville.

The campground sits within Sequoia National Forest at an elevation of 3,200 feet in an open area with limited shade, overlooking the Kern Wild and Scenic River.

The campground offers single-family sites, some of which are designated for walk-to tent camping only.

Map

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Latitude
35.873904° N
Longitude
118.456501° W
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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.

Connectivity

No community carrier report is currently published for this campground.

Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.

Access

  • Drive-in
  • Boat-inCommunity report
  • Walk-inCommunity report

Site types

  • Tent sites
  • RV / trailer sites
  • Standard campsites
  • Group sitesCommunity report

Features

For campers

  • Toilets
  • Showers
  • Drinking water
  • Picnic table
  • FiresUse only when the current order allows flame
  • Alcohol allowedCommunity report
  • Trash serviceCommunity report
  • 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

  • Back-in sitesCommunity report
  • Sewer hookupsCommunity report
  • Water hookupsCommunity 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.

Open official source

Overview

Goldledge Campground is situated along the Kern River, 10 miles north of the town of Kernville. Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities.

Facilities

The campground offers single-family sites, some of which are designated for walk-to tent camping only. Picnic tables and campfire rings are provided, as are vault toilets and drinking water.

Recreation

Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities in the Upper Kern River area. Click here to learn more about the area, including safety and permitting requirements and a listing of local outfitters.

Natural Features

The campground sits within Sequoia National Forest at an elevation of 3,200 feet in an open area with limited shade, overlooking the Kern Wild and Scenic River. Gray pine, scrub oak, grasses and shrubs cling to steep, canyon walls along the river, and cottonwoods and willows dot the riverbanks.

Sequoia National Forest, located at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada in central California, is named for 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. Elevations range from about 1,000 to 12,000 feet, creating precipitous canyons and mountain streams with spectacular waterfalls such as Salmon Creek Falls and Grizzly Falls.

Nearby Attractions

The Cannell Meadow National Recreation Trail begins just north of Kernville. The trail stretches 11.5 miles as it climbs through mixed pine and fir forest to Cannell Meadow and a historic Forest Service cabin built between 1904 and 1909. Hikers are awarded beautiful views of the Kern River Valley along the trip.

Visitors enjoy making day trips to Sequoia National Park and Giant Sequoia National Monument.

Activities & amenities

What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.

Available activities

  • Camping
  • BoatingRafting

Amenities and facility features

  • Vault or pit toilets
  • Showers
  • Potable water
  • Picnic tables
  • Site fire ring or grillUse only when the current order allows flame
  • Host
  • Vault Toilets
  • Water Spigot

Recreation sites

Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.

Standard Non-Electric

27 sites
Reservation type
Site-Specific
Equipment
RV, Tent, Trailer
Maximum people
6
Maximum vehicles
1
Maximum vehicle length
30 ft
Check-in
2:00 PM
Check-out
12:00 PM
Accessible sites
None flagged in site inventory

Walk To

9 sites
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

1 site
Reservation type
Site-Specific
Equipment
RV, Tent, Trailer
Maximum people
6
Maximum vehicles
1
Maximum vehicle length
30 ft
Check-in
2:00 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

Maximum stay
14 consecutive days
Max Stay
14 days
Reservation cutoff
3 days before arrival
Maximum published occupancy
6 people per site
Maximum published vehicles
1 vehicles per site
Check-in
2:00 PM
Check-out
12:00 PM
Food storage
Goldledge 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
Goldledge Campground's official facility record states: Picnic tables and campfire rings are provided, as are vault toilets and drinking water.
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 21, 2026, 7:00 AM PST
Next book-through date
May 21, 2027
Group sites bookable through
Sep 11, 2027

Published seasons & rates

SeasonSite typeNightly rateAdditional personDeposit
Peak SeasonMay 8, 2026 – Sep 12, 2026Standard Non-Electric$36——
Peak SeasonMay 8, 2026 – Sep 12, 2026Walk To$36——
Peak SeasonMay 21, 2027 – Sep 11, 2027Standard Non-Electric$36——
Peak SeasonMay 21, 2027 – Sep 11, 2027Walk To$36——
Peak SeasonMay 21, 2028 – Sep 11, 2028Standard Non-Electric$36——
Peak SeasonMay 21, 2028 – Sep 11, 2028Walk To$36——

Important facility notices

Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.

  • Glass containers are prohibited in Kern Canyon and Isabella Lake Glass Container Prohibition Area
  • In accordance with standard industry practices, ExplorUS will be assessing an additional vehicle fee of $8.00 per night on the second vehicle in each single family campsite, and on the third and fourth vehicle in any double family campsite, provided these vehicles are not joined to the first vehicle by a hitch and towed onto the site. In the case of motorcycles, the first two are considered to be one vehicle and the third and fourth are also considered to be one vehicle. No additional vehicle fees are collected for bicycles.
  • Swimming in the river is not recommended due to strong currents
  • No hookups or showers available
  • No off-road vehicle use allowed in the campground
  • 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.
  • Site length includes tow vehicle
  • Limited turn around

Getting there & contact

Official directions

From Bakersfield, 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. From Kernville, go 10 miles north on Sierra Way (Mountain 99) to the campground.

Facility contact

760-376-1815

Sources

Recreation.gov official facility record — Goldledge CampgroundUSDA Forest Service — responsible pet practicesRecreation.gov official facility record — Goldledge CampgroundGoldledge Campground official facility detailsRecreation.gov official facility record — Goldledge Campground — food-storage guidanceThe Dyrt community reports — Gold Ledge CampgroundRecreation.gov campground details APIRecreation.gov published seasons and ratesRecreation.gov booking-window release dataRecreation.gov recreation-site inventory