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

Holey Meadow

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. 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. This remote campground is popular with hikers and people who want to tour the giant sequoias, including the Trail of a Hundred Giants.

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Holey MeadowHoley MeadowHoley MeadowHoley Meadow
Photos courtesy of CLM Services · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Tent-only9
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

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

SiteEntryFits, ftShadePeople / vehiclesFiresRating
01Back-in20Partial6 / 1YesStandard
02Back-in20Partial6 / 1YesStandard
03Back-in20Partial6 / 1YesStandard
04Back-in20Partial6 / 1YesStandard
05Back-in20Partial6 / 1YesStandard
06Back-in20Partial6 / 1YesStandard
07Back-in20Partial6 / 1YesStandard
08Back-in20Partial6 / 1YesStandard
09Back-in20Partial6 / 1YesStandard

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

Max vehicle length20 ft
EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

This campground accommodates tents only and has 10 individual campsites. It is primitive with no available water. Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring; vault toilets are available at the campground. This facility is operated by Rocky Mountain Recreation Company, a division of 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.
SeasonMay 15 to Oct 15
ForestSequoia National Forest
BookingReservations can be made through the National Recreation Reservation Service by calling 1-877-444-6777 or on their website at Holey Meadow, Sequoia National Forest - Recreation.gov.
FeesCampsite fees range from $32/night for single unit.

Sequoia National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Holey Meadow40°50°60°70°80°90°January: 2.29 inches of precipitationFebruary: 2.39 inches of precipitationMarch: 1.71 inches of precipitationApril: 0.67 inches of precipitationMay: 0.43 inches of precipitationJune: 0.10 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.14 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.07 inches of precipitationSeptember: 0.23 inches of precipitationOctober: 0.55 inches of precipitationNovember: 1.35 inches of precipitationDecember: 1.91 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 46.1°F averageFebruary: 48.0°F averageMarch: 51.6°F averageApril: 56.3°F averageMay: 64.1°F averageJune: 73.4°F averageJuly: 80.6°F averageAugust: 79.8°F averageSeptember: 73.8°F averageOctober: 63.5°F averageNovember: 52.3°F averageDecember: 45.8°F average0 in0.5 in1 in1.5 in2 in2.5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Kern River Ph 3, 15 miles from the campground at 2,703 feet, station USC00044523 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 12 inches a year. The shaded span is the published season, May 15 to October 15.

Getting there

From Highway 99, turn east on J22. Travel on J22 through California Hot Springs, then turn left at onto M50. After approximately 10 miles turn left at M107. The entrance to Holey Meadow Campground is on the left about a mile after the turn.

Coordinates35.9535° N, 118.6186° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Cyrus

    21 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 ↗22.8 mi
Outdoor gearTriple Crown Outfitters ↗29.1 mi
RV sales & serviceRV sales & service ↗45.6 mi

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

Explore

Worth a stop

The Redwood and Long Meadow Sequoia groves and the Trail of a Hundred Giants are a short drive away.

  • 1 mi
    Powderhorn
    2.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2 mi
    Cold Spring
    3.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2 mi
    Chute
    4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2 mi
    Trail of 100 Giants ↗
    1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.7 mi
    Pup Meadow
    4.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3.5 mi
    Lion Ridge ↗
    4.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

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 →

This campground sits inside Sequoia National Forest.

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

This primitive campground sits at an elevation of 6,400 feet southeast of Porterville, California, within the Giant Sequoia National Monument. It is a short drive to the Trail of a Hundred Giants, through the Redwood or Long Meadow sequoia grove.

Recreation

Activities in this remote area include hiking and touring giant sequoias. Trails in the monument, open to hikers, horses and bikes, wind through giant sequoia groves, up mountains, and alongside wild rivers. Plenty of hiking is offered nearby, including a wheelchair-accessible nature trail, the Trail of a Hundred Giants.

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 Holey Meadow?

Sites at Holey Meadow are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations can be made through the National Recreation Reservation Service by calling 1-877-444-6777 or on their website at Holey Meadow, 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 Holey Meadow?

Campsite fees range from $32/night for single unit.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Holey Meadow?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Holey Meadow open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 15 to Oct 15.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Holey Meadow have?

9 sites, including 9 tent-only sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Holey Meadow?

The longest site here provides 20 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 Holey Meadow?

Yes, pets are allowed at Holey Meadow. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Holey Meadow?

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 Holey Meadow?

Activities in this remote area include hiking and touring giant sequoias. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Holey Meadow is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Redwood Meadow (2.1 mi), Long Meadow Group (2.7 mi), and Leavis Flat Campground (6 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby