Big Meadows Cabin
Big Meadows Guard Station is located 75 miles east of Fresno, California, in the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument. The cabin sits at an elevation of 7,600 feet and has views of the meadow and surrounding mountains. The cabin was constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps as a residence for Forest Service fire patrol men. The exterior is constructed of redwood board over diagonal sheeting nailed to a standard wooden frame. It was used as a guard station between the 1960s and the 1980s and was restored in 2001. The original features of the cabin were retained including the cabinets.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins with electric | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Pull-through | 100 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 4 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 22 ft |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The one-story cabin measures 900 square feet and consists of one bedroom, one bathroom, a living room and a kitchen with a service porch. The original cabinets, living room and bedroom flooring and bath fixtures remain. The bedroom provides a queen size bed, twin bunk beds, a bookcase, a night stand and small closet. The kitchen is fully equipped with pots and pans, utensils, coffee maker, microwave, along with paper towels and cleaning supplies. There is a refrigerator with freezer, stove and oven, and a kitchen table with four chairs with four additional folding chairs. The living room has end tables, coffee table, bookcase, rocking chair, an overstuffed chair, a double sofa sleeper that sleeps two and a desk. There is also an outdoor fire ring/barbecue and picnic table. Guests should plan on bringing bedding and linens.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Take Highway 180 east to the Kings Canyon National Park entrance, where you will be required to purchase a forest/park permit. After entering the park, continue 2 miles to the park Wye.
| Nearest town | Dunlap, California |
| Coordinates | 36.7189° N, 118.8350° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireLand
8 mi from the campground · 20 acres
- PrescribedGrant Grove Fall Rx
8 mi from the campground
- PrescribedGrant Grove Rx Spring
9 mi from the campground · 15 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 9.9 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Shaver Lake Sports ↗ | 37.9 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 43.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
This region has numerous activities and sightseeing adventures. There's Kings Canyon and the Wild and Scenic South Fork of the Kings River, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Boyden Cave, Hume Lake, and Kings Canyon Visitor's Center. There are also hiking trails in nearby Jennie Lakes and Monarch Wilderness areas.
- 0.1 miBig Meadow Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 2.5 miBig Meadow Winter Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 2.7 miWoodward Ohv Staging Area ↗OHV / range
- 6 miSandy Cove Day Use Area ↗Day use
- 6.2 miHume Lake Fishing Pier (South) ↗Fishing site
- 6.3 miHume Lake Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
Show all 8Hide
- 6.4 miHume Lake Fishing Pier (North) ↗Fishing site
- 6.5 miPowder Can Picnic Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 1.2 miFox Meadow Access0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 1.4 miJennie Lake ↗5.9 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 1.4 miWeaver Lake ↗6.8 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 1.9 miStarlight Ski1.5 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 2.2 miWeaver Lake Cutoff0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.2 miLittle Boulder Grove1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.1 miBig Meadow Trailhead ↗Sequoia National Forest
- 2.5 miBig Meadow Winter Trailhead ↗Sequoia National Forest
- 2.7 miWoodward Winter Trailhead ↗Sequoia National Forest
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
This campground sits inside Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness.
- inSequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 768,222 acres
- 1.4 miJennie Lakes Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 10,510 acres
- 4 miJohn Muir Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 652,903 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
On the National Register nearby
- Cabin Creek Ranger Residence and DormitoryBuilding · Wilsonia · 5 mi
- Gamlin CabinBuilding · Wilsonia · 7.8 mi
- Generals' Highway Stone BridgesHistoric district · Mineral King · 9.1 mi
Natural features
The cabin sits across the road from Big Meadows, a large meadow surrounded by a forest of Lodgepole, Jeffery pines and Red fir. A creek runs through the meadow and the Big Meadows Trailhead provides access to the Jennie Lakes Wilderness. There are multiple Giant sequoia groves in the area. Buck Rock is a granite dome, topped with a fire lookout, only a short drive away and Hume Lake is approximately 15 miles from the cabin.
Recreation
Hiking or horseback riding into the Jennie Lakes Wilderness and fly fishing in Big Meadows Creek are popular activities. Buck Rock Lookout is open for visitors. Several Giant sequoia groves are nearby and accessible by vehicle. Mountain bikes are allowed on roads and designated trails in the Giant Sequoia National Monument. Horse Corral Pack Station provides horses for rent and Horse Camp provides overnight camping with stock. Some roads are open to OHV. Numerous trailheads in the area provide access to popular wilderness areas including Jennie Lakes, Monarch and National Parks wildernesses. Hume Lake, only 15 miles away, offers fishing and non-motorized boating opportunities. The Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are near by.
Guidebooks for Sequoia National Forest and California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Big Meadows Cabin?
Sites at Big Meadows Cabin are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Big Meadows Cabin?
Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Big Meadows Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin with power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Big Meadows Cabin?
The longest site here provides 22 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
Can I have a campfire at Big Meadows Cabin?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 3 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Big Meadows Cabin?
Hiking or horseback riding into the Jennie Lakes Wilderness and fly fishing in Big Meadows Creek are popular activities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Big Meadows Cabin?
Dunlap, California. This region has numerous activities and sightseeing adventures.
Source: Getting there
What if Big Meadows Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Big Meadow Campground (0.3 mi), Horse Camp (0.8 mi, first-come), and Buck Rock Campground (0.9 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby