Cold Springs Campground
The Mineral King area features the highest elevation campground in the parks. At 7,500 feet (2280 m), it is only open during the summer months. It takes approximately 90 minutes to drive the long narrow, winding, largely unpaved road that leads to the area and its two campgrounds. RVs and trailers are not recommended on Mineral King Road and are not permitted in campgrounds.
More like this: reservable in California · tent only in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Tent-only | 29 |
| Walk-in | 9 |
| Host/management | 2 |
Site guide
38 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Fits, ft | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Site: 01 | Tent only | 20 | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| Site: 02 | Tent only | 20 | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| Site: 03 | Tent only | 20 | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| Site: 04 | Tent only | 20 | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| Site: 05 | Tent only | 20 | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| Site: 07 | Tent only | 20 | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| Site: 08 | Tent only | 20 | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| Site: 09 | Tent only | 20 | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| Site: 10 | Tent only | 20 | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| Site: 11 | Tent only | 20 | 6 / 1 | 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 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 20 ft |
| Equipment | Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | ENTRANCE FEES APPLY in Mineral King - buy your pass ahead of time. CAMPING FEES: $32 per night for Regular Camping and $16 per night for valid lifetime Access Pass, lifetime Senior Pass, and annual Senior Pass. No other passes receive reduced rates. |
Nestled among amid aspen trees and conifers, the campground is located near the Mineral King Ranger Station. The campground has no sinks and no flush toilets, pit toilets only.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Cold Springs campground is located 23 miles (37 km) from Highway 198 on the Mineral King Road. It is an approximately 90 minute drive. The road is narrow, winding and steep, deeply rutted in sections, and mostly unpaved. It is not advised for longer vehicles, including trailers and other recreational vehicles.
| Nearest town | Three Rivers, California |
| Coordinates | 36.4521° N, 118.6122° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Mineral King is not connected to the rest of Sequoia National Park by roads.
Charges and cancellations
Payment in full will be charged to your credit card upon completion of the reservation. A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. You will be charged for the first night's campsite fee and a $10 cancellation fee, all other fees after that will be refunded.
Fire nearby
- WildfireLand
25 mi from the campground · 20 acres
- PrescribedGrant Grove Fall Rx
29 mi from the campground
- PrescribedGrant Grove Rx Spring
30 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 ↗ | 11.3 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Big Willi Mountaineering Company ↗ | 32.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 43.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Best Campsites at Cold Springs Campground, CO
Trails nearby
- 4.3 miFarewell Gap ↗9.8 mi trail · hiking, horse
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 John Krebs Wilderness.
- inJohn Krebs Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 39,740 acres
- 0.9 miSequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 768,222 acres
- 5.8 miSequoia National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,160,053 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
- Redwood Meadow Ranger StationBuilding · Three Rivers · 5.5 mi
- Hockett Meadow Ranger StationBuilding · Silver City · 5.7 mi
- Bearpaw High Sierra CampHistoric district · Three Rivers · 7.8 mi
Natural features
Hikes into the backcountry out of Mineral King will give visitors an ever deeper understanding of the beauty and uniqueness of Sequoia National Park. Hike to alpine lakes and over mountain passes, or climb a peak.
Recreation
Trails to alpine lakes and mountain passes begin nearby.
Nearby
There are limited services at Silver City Resort, 2.5 miles (4 km) west of the campground.
Guidebooks for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
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 Cold Springs Campground?
Sites at Cold Springs Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Cold Springs Campground?
ENTRANCE FEES APPLY in Mineral King - buy your pass ahead of time. CAMPING FEES: $32 per night for Regular Camping and $16 per night for valid lifetime Access Pass, lifetime Senior Pass, and annual Senior Pass. No other passes receive reduced rates.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Cold Springs Campground?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Cold Springs Campground?
A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation.
Source: Charges and cancellations
How many sites does Cold Springs Campground have?
40 sites, including 29 tent-only sites and 9 walk-in sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Cold Springs Campground?
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 there showers or a dump station at Cold Springs Campground?
The campground has no sinks and no flush toilets, pit toilets only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Cold Springs Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Cold Springs Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Cold Springs Campground?
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 the nearest town to Cold Springs Campground?
Three Rivers, California. There are limited services at Silver City Resort, 2.5 miles (4 km) west of the campground.
Source: Getting there
What if Cold Springs Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Atwell Mill Campground (3.2 mi), Buckeye Flat Campground (9.6 mi), and Potwisha Campground (11.4 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Cold Springs Campground in?
Cold Springs Campground is a Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.