Hungry Gulch
Hungry Gulch Campground sits 3 miles from Lake Isabella in the Sequoia National Forest of California. Visitors enjoy swimming, waterskiing, windsurfing and fishing on the scenic lake.
More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
active
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 78 |
| Host/management | 3 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
74 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
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| 002 |
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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 |
The campground offers nearly 80 non-specific sites. Picnic tables and campfire rings and drinking water.
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 | May to September |
| 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 Hungry Gulch, Sequoia National Forest - Recreation.gov |
| Fees | Campsite fees range from $34/night for single unit, $8/night for extra vehicle. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Bakersfield take Highway 178, to the town of Lake Isabella. From Lake Isabella, take Highway 155 North approximately four miles to the campground.
| Nearest town | Kernville, California |
| Coordinates | 35.6709° N, 118.4711° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireCyrus
4 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 ↗ | 30.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | Camping World ↗ | 40.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
CampgroundViews.com - Hungry Gulch Campground Wofford Heights California CA US Forest Serv
Worth a stop
The Kern River is a short drive from the campground and offers hiking and fishing opportunities.
- 1.8 miTillie Creek Launch Ramp Boating Site ↗Boat launch
- 3.7 miCyrus Canyon Shooting Range ↗OHV / range
- 3.7 miStine Cove Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
- 4 miCyrus Canyon Ohv Park ↗OHV / range
- 4.2 miKissack Cove Day Use ↗Day use
- 7.4 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miIsabella Peak Lookout0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miCoso Mine Loop3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.6 miVista del Lago1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3 miCook'S Peak 4WD1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 3.6 miBorderline 4WD ↗4.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, 4WD and 1 more
- 4.4 miHogeye0.7 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
Sequoia National Forest begins about 0.9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 0.9 miSequoia National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,160,053 acres
- 13 miDomeland Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 133,720 acres
- 13.9 miKiavah Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 86,245 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 campground is situated on a pine-covered hillside, 3 miles from Lake Isabella's western shores at an elevation of 2,640 feet. Many sites have views of Lake Isabella off in the distance. 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.
Recreation
Visitors enjoy fishing, swimming, water skiiing and windsurfing at Lake Isabella, which covers 11,000+ acres on the Kern River and has over 38 miles of shoreline. Anglers will find black and white crappie, bluegill, blue and channel catfish, largemouth bass and rainbow trout. Trout fishing is also available in area streams. Many hiking opportunities can be found around Lake Isabella and along the Kern River.
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 Hungry Gulch?
Sites at Hungry 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 Hungry 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 Hungry Gulch?
Campsite fees range from $34/night for single unit, $8/night for extra vehicle.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Hungry Gulch?
Check-in 0:00 AM, checkout 0:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Hungry Gulch open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May to September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Hungry Gulch have?
81 sites, including 78 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Hungry Gulch?
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 Hungry Gulch?
Yes, pets are allowed at Hungry Gulch. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Hungry 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 Hungry 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 Hungry Gulch?
Visitors enjoy fishing, swimming, water skiiing and windsurfing at Lake Isabella, which covers 11,000+ acres on the Kern River and has over 38 miles of shoreline. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Hungry Gulch?
Kernville, California. The Kern River is a short drive from the campground and offers hiking and fishing opportunities.
Source: Getting there
What if Hungry Gulch is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Boulder Gulch (under 0.1 mi), French Gulch (1.1 mi), and Old Isabella (1.5 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby