U.S. Forest Service · Sequoia National Forest · Kernville, CA

French Gulch

French Gulch Campground sits 3 miles from the western shores of Lake Isabella, a 27-acre reservoir off the Kern River, in the expansive Sequoia National Forest.

Closed for the seasonReservable · Recreation.gov1 siteNo hookupsPets okFires ok

More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California · group sites in California

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
French GulchFrench GulchFrench GulchFrench Gulch
Photos courtesy of Local Staff · Recreation.gov
1fire
active
Cyrus · 5 mi away · 543 acres
Interagency incident data as of 2026-10-16
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Group sites1
This site is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteSurfaceShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFires
001PavedFullNo / No100 / 30Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

French Gulch can accommodate groups of up to 100 guests. A marina and boat ramps are available at Lake Isabella, just to the southeast. This facility is operated by ExplorUS and comments are welcome; comment forms are available from campground hosts or online.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonYear Round
ForestSequoia National Forest
BookingThis site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at French Gulch, Sequoia National Forest - Recreation.gov.
Fees$405 per night.

Sequoia National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near French Gulch40°50°60°70°80°90°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 44.6°F averageFebruary: 47.6°F averageMarch: 51.5°F averageApril: 56.6°F averageMay: 67.2°F averageJune: 75.6°F averageJuly: 81.6°F averageAugust: 80.0°F averageSeptember: 73.1°F averageOctober: 61.6°F averageNovember: 51.4°F averageDecember: 43.9°F averageTemp °F
The line is the average temperature at S Lake Fs, 7 miles from the campground at 2,654 feet, station USC00048407 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020.

Getting there

From Bakersfield, California, take Highway 178 east to the town of Lake Isabella. Turn onto Highway 155 north, following the western edge of the lake, for approximately 3 miles to the campground.

Nearest townKernville, California
Coordinates35.6578° N, 118.4806° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Cyrus

    5 mi from the campground · 543 acres · 95% contained

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗1.4 mi
Outdoor gearTriple Crown Outfitters ↗31.3 mi
RV sales & serviceCamping World ↗39.8 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.3 mi
    Vista del Lago
    1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.5 mi
    Isabella Peak Lookout
    0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.8 mi
    Coso Mine Loop
    3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3.1 mi
    Cook'S Peak 4WD
    1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 3.2 mi
    Borderline 4WD ↗
    4.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, 4WD and 1 more
  • 3.5 mi
    Hogeye
    0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Sequoia National Forest begins about 1.7 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

Natural features

Located at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada in central California, the Sequoia National Forest 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 and Grizzly Falls.

Recreation

Visitors can enjoy swimming, water skiiing and wind surfing at Lake Isabella. There is also excellent trout and bass fishing at the lake and in other nearby streams.

Guidebooks for Sequoia National Forest and California

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Hiking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
    Laurel Scheidt, 2022
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Moon Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon
    Ann Marie Brown, 2021
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Moon California Camping
    Tom Stienstra, 2022
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at French Gulch?

Sites at French Gulch are reservable on Recreation.gov. This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at French Gulch, Sequoia National Forest - Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at French Gulch?

$405 per night.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at French Gulch?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is French Gulch open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Year Round.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does French Gulch have?

1 site, including 1 group site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to French Gulch?

French Gulch is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at French Gulch?

Yes, pets are allowed at French Gulch. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at French Gulch?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

Is there cell service at French Gulch?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at French Gulch?

Visitors can enjoy swimming, water skiiing and wind surfing at Lake Isabella. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to French Gulch?

Kernville, California.

Source: Getting there

What if French Gulch is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Pioneer Point (0.6 mi, first-come), Main Dam Campground (1 mi, first-come), and Hungry Gulch (1.1 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby