U.S. Forest Service · Sequoia National Forest · California

Boulder Gulch

Boulder Gulch Campground is nestled in the foothills of the high desert at an elevation of 2,650 feet, just a short drive from Lake Isabella. The facility sits in the Giant Sequoia National Monument, offering countless recreational opportunities for visitors.

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
BOULDER GULCH
Photo via Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups62
Host/management3
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

60 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

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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

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length30 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

This campground consists of about 58 paved sites and includes a fish cleaning station and flush toilets. The Giant Sequoia Mercantile offers a wide variety of books, maps, gifts, local art, camping supplies and other merchandise.

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

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonApril to September
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 Boulder Gulch, Sequoia National Forest - Recreation.gov.
FeesCampsite fees range from $34/night, $8/night for extra vehicle

Sequoia National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Boulder 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, 6 miles from the campground at 2,654 feet, station USC00048407 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020.

Getting there

From Highway 99 in Bakersfield, California, take Highway 178 east to the town of Lake Isabella. Take Highway 155 around the west side of Lake Isabella for 4 miles to the campground entrance.

Coordinates35.6712° N, 118.4706° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee. A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite. Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. No-Shows A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date. No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended. Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay.

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Cyrus

    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 stationDump station ↗1.6 mi
Outdoor gearTriple Crown Outfitters ↗30.2 mi
RV sales & serviceCamping World ↗40.8 mi

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

Explore

Video

Boulder Gulch Campground Lake Isabella

  • 0.3 mi
    Isabella Peak Lookout
    0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.3 mi
    Coso Mine Loop
    3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.6 mi
    Vista del Lago
    1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3 mi
    Cook'S Peak 4WD
    1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 3.7 mi
    Borderline 4WD ↗
    4.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, 4WD and 1 more
  • 4.5 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 0.8 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

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 near Fairview and Grizzly Falls on the Kings River.

Recreation

At the nearby Lake Isabella visitors enjoy trout and bass fishing, boating, windsurfing, swimming and water skiing. There are also hiking, horseback and mountain biking trails in the area.

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 Boulder Gulch?

Sites at Boulder 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 Boulder 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 Boulder Gulch?

Campsite fees range from $34/night, $8/night for extra vehicle

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Boulder Gulch?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Boulder Gulch?

Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.

Source: Charges and cancellations

Is Boulder Gulch open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season April to September.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Boulder Gulch have?

65 sites, including 62 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Boulder 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 there showers or a dump station at Boulder Gulch?

This campground consists of about 58 paved sites and includes a fish cleaning station and flush toilets.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Boulder Gulch?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Boulder 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

What is there to do at Boulder Gulch?

At the nearby Lake Isabella visitors enjoy trout and bass fishing, boating, windsurfing, swimming and water skiing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Boulder Gulch is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Hungry Gulch (under 0.1 mi), French Gulch (1.1 mi), and Old Isabella (1.5 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby