Balch Park Campground

Stayed here Aug 2022 and reminiscing. This location was a dream. I wanted to be fully immersed in the woods and this hit the spot. No contact with people and wildlife all around. Will definitely be back.

It's a nice place. Two ponds, each with a campground, and typically stocked with rainbow trout.

Wood at entrance to upper near the host. The museum is non existent and was about to collapse. When I was a kid it had cool stuff from the logging days of the area.

Flush toilets, fish cleaning station, and water. Dusty! There is an ADA site at the upper pond next to the host.

Bears. They come around sun down and throughout the night. Don't be that idiot that spot lights them and chases them into others camp sites.

Balch Park is CLOSED for the remainder of 2023 for road repair. 

It is a nice place to camp when you can.

Beautiful area. Huge redwoods. Your camping among the giants. The campground roads are pretty rough and it is super dusty. I use to camp here as a kid and don’t remember it being this dusty. Remember, no showers, so bring wipes or something to clean up with especially if you have kids! The ponds hadn’t been stocked so fishing was a bust but we had fun anyways. We didn’t have bears the two nights we stayed but someone said the bears were there the night before we got there. Overall it was fun, close to home but unfortunately the crazy amount of dust was too much for us. If we go back I’ll bring a hose to spray down the campsite.

By far one of the best campgrounds I stayed. The site donated the Balch family and operated by the Tulare County Parks, host camping among the Sequoias, fishing at two lakes that are stocked with trout, a self-guided hiking trail and more. Each site has a fire ring, barbecue, and table plus each site has there own running water. The bathrooms are flush toilets and clean sinks. The place has the feel of Yosemite without the large granite rocks. Great host and camp ranger on site. It’s first come first serve and the way it works is you go pick out a campsite not reserved and take it. The ranger will be around to collect. Check out the map in the pictures. It can look confusing at first. There are 60 sites. The place fills up on the weekends. There are more opportunities during the week. Mike the ranger said before COVID, plenty of camping was available, but with so many campgrounds closed, the place fills up fast. The price is $20 a night, $10 for seniors. When you take the Balch Road turnoff to the camp, you can turn right at Bear Creek Rd if you are NOT pulling a trailer. It’s steeper and with more hairpin turns than Balch Road, but about five miles shorter. You go from 1000 feet to 6000 feet elevation in a short distance.

A local favorite, gets lots of tourists. Bears come at night

Fish dont always bite but the frogs do! Absolutely amazing location in the sequoias, amazing camp hosts! George the ranger is super awesome and so friendly. Make sure to take Everything you will need thu ot eont want to drive back down the mountain for anything. Take the first turn off to get there the second one is a terrible road. Go visit the pack station for an amazing horse back trip up the mountain(cash only) head on down to hidden falls for a gorgeous view and a swim. Dont forget your fishing poles for the two ponds on balch park.