Pioneer Point
Reservations not being accepted. Pioneer Point is a high-desert campground near Lake Isabella in the Sequoia National Forest. The 11,000-acre lake is actually a reservoir, one of California's largest, and it marks the division between the Upper and Lower Kern Rivers.
More like this: first-come in California · pets allowed in California
active
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 80 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
70 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Shade | Fires |
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| 010 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 0:00 AM, checkout 0:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 30 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
This 73-site campground, directly across the street from Lake Isabella, is open year-round. Some sites offer sweeping lake views, and a playground in the campground offers enjoyment for children. Lake access is less than a mile from the campgrounds. The town of Lake Isabella is a 2-mile drive away.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | Year Round |
| Forest | Sequoia National Forest |
| Booking | 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 Pioneer Point, Sequoia National Forest - Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Campsite fees range from $34/night for single unit $8/night for extra vehicle. Yurts available! For additional information, please visit About Explorus - Hospitality Management (goexplorus.com), or call their home office at (661) 702-1420, or their Lake Isabella office at 760-376-1269. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Bakersfield, California, take Highway 178 east to the town of Lake Isabella. From Lake Isabella take 155 north about 1.5 miles to Pioneer Point Campground.
| Coordinates | 35.6502° N, 118.4867° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireCyrus
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 station | Dump station ↗ | 1.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Triple Crown Outfitters ↗ | 31.9 mi |
| RV sales & service | Camping World ↗ | 39.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Pioneer Point Campground - Sierra National Forest, CA
Worth a stop
The campground provides a great base for day trips to the Trail of a Hundred Giants and numerous Sequoia groves in the Giant Sequoia National Monument. You cannot access Sequoia National Park with a day trip. The Giant Sequoia Mercantile offers a wide variety of books, maps, gifts, local art, camping supplies and other merchandise.
- 3.5 miTillie Creek Launch Ramp Boating Site ↗Boat launch
- 4.7 miKissack Cove Day Use ↗Day use
- 5 miStine Cove Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
- 5.2 miCyrus Canyon Shooting Range ↗OHV / range
- 5.6 miCyrus Canyon Ohv Park ↗OHV / range
- 5.7 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.9 miVista del Lago1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.2 miIsabella Peak Lookout0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.4 miCoso Mine Loop3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3 miBorderline 4WD ↗4.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, 4WD and 1 more
- 3 miHogeye0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 3.2 miCook'S Peak 4WD1.8 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
Sequoia National Forest begins about 2.2 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 2.2 miSequoia National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,160,053 acres
- 14.6 miKiavah Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 86,245 acres
- 14.6 miDomeland Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 133,720 acres
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.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
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 and Grizzly Falls.
Recreation
The focal point of this year-round campground is Lake Isabella, where campers can swim, water ski, windsurf and more. The lake is known for trout fishing during the colder months, offering anglers a variety of species, including black and white crappie, bluegill, catfish and largemouth bass.
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.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Pioneer Point?
No. Pioneer Point is first-come, first-served. 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 Pioneer Point, Sequoia National Forest - Recreation.gov. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Pioneer Point?
Campsite fees range from $34/night for single unit $8/night for extra vehicle. Yurts available! For additional information, please visit About Explorus - Hospitality Management (goexplorus.com), or call their home office at (661) 702-1420, or their Lake Isabella office at 760-376-1269.
Source: Forest Service
What time is check-in at Pioneer Point?
Check-in 0:00 AM, checkout 0:00 AM.
Source: Forest Service
Is Pioneer Point open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Year Round.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Pioneer Point have?
80 sites, including 80 standard sites without power.
Source: Forest Service
Will my RV fit at Pioneer Point?
The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Pioneer Point?
Yes, pets are allowed at Pioneer Point. Leash rules apply.
Source: Forest Service
Can I have a campfire at Pioneer Point?
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 Pioneer Point?
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 Pioneer Point?
The focal point of this year-round campground is Lake Isabella, where campers can swim, water ski, windsurf and more. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Pioneer Point is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Main Dam Campground (0.5 mi, first-come), French Gulch (0.6 mi), and Auxiliary Dam (1.4 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby