Camper submitted image from Boulder Gulch - 1
View All
Camper submitted image from Boulder Gulch - 2
Nature
Camper submitted image from Boulder Gulch - 3
Camping
Camper submitted image from Boulder Gulch - 4
Roads
Camper submitted image from Boulder Gulch - 5
Buildings

Established Camping

Boulder Gulch

Boulder Gulch, near Wofford Heights, is a solid spot for campers looking to enjoy the great outdoors without too much fuss. With a mix of shaded areas and open spaces, it’s a decent choice for both tent and RV camping, though you might want to snag a shady spot if you can.

The campground offers drinking water and clean facilities, including toilets, which is a plus. Visitors have mentioned the friendly host and the overall cleanliness of the area, making it a welcoming place to set up camp. As one camper noted, “The area was clean and the host is personable.”

You’re just a short walk from Lake Isabella, where you can soak up some stunning sunrises and sunsets. While the lake might be low and a bit algae-filled at times, it’s still a great spot to cool off. Plus, if you’re up for a little adventure, the Kern River isn’t too far away for some fun in the water.

Keep in mind that weekends can get lively, so if you’re after a quieter experience, consider heading out mid-week. With its beautiful views and proximity to outdoor activities, Boulder Gulch is a great base for your next camping trip.

Description

National Forest

Sequoia National Forest

Overview

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.

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.

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.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (760) 376-1269.

Charges & 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 Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. 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. For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive. In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.

Suggest an Edit

Location

Boulder Gulch is located in California

Detail location of campground

Directions

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.

Coordinates

35.671211 N
118.470561 W

Open in Google Maps

Is Boulder Gulch sold out?

Quickly grab cancellations!

Learn More

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Good
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Poor

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Market
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump

Reviews

Add Review

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

0%
75%
25%
0%
0%

4.0

out of 5

4 Reviews

Reviewed Jun. 29, 2024

Good camping site

This campground has some shade and some open areas.Area was clean and the host is personable. Cost of camping fee is $34 per night. Has potable water and running water in bathroom. No showers or amenities.

Site45
Month of VisitJune
Reviewed Jul. 4, 2022

Probably won’t go here again

The campground was ok and the host was super awesome! However, we had to drive around and around to try to find a spot that wasn’t totally in the sun. We ended up having to go across the street to Hungry Gulch to find a spot that had some shade. Also, the buildings that had the “flush toilets” were all locked up and they only had outhouses. On the first day, they were clean and ok, but by the 2nd day and the campground filled up, so did the outhouses and were gross! I only saw them emptied once in the three days we were there. Yuck! Then, it was super windy! Our tent, despite being overly staked down, had been blown over numerous times. Not just during the day, but also in the middle of the night while we were sleeping. There were also bees everywhere. No one got stung, but a little annoying when you’re cooking and eating. The lake was super low and full of algae and was slimy, so we had to drive a little ways and do a little off roading to get to the Kern river to have some fun in the water.

Site72
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Boulder Gulch by Amber R., July 4, 2022
  • Review photo of Boulder Gulch by Amber R., July 4, 2022
  • Review photo of Boulder Gulch by Amber R., July 4, 2022
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Aug. 14, 2020

walking distance to lake Isabella

PROS: walking distance to lake Isabella, awesome views. Beautiful sunrise and sunset. RVs, Trailers and tents are welcome, big spaces available. This camp has drinking water, toilets, dump station and a playground for kids. Great for family vacation.

CONs: not too much shade.

  • Review photo of Boulder Gulch by Jessica P., August 14, 2020
  • Review photo of Boulder Gulch by Jessica P., August 14, 2020
  • Review photo of Boulder Gulch by Jessica P., August 14, 2020
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Jul. 12, 2019

Great mid week camping, get a shady spot. Party place on the weekend

We loved this place. Checked in when almost full and had a spot in the sun. It gets hot during the day but the lake is right there to cool off in. Has shower house with running water and flush toilets butno showers? $28 per night, pay attendant if they ever come by. Kernsville is a nice town nearby to explore. This site had a few cons but we stayed at the lake most of the time and slept great every night. Stayed in mid June.

  • Review photo of Boulder Gulch by John R., July 12, 2019
  • Review photo of Boulder Gulch by John R., July 12, 2019
  • Review photo of Boulder Gulch by John R., July 12, 2019

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the max vehicle length at Boulder Gulch?

    Boulder Gulch allows vehicles up to 30 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Boulder Gulch?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Boulder Gulch, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Boulder Gulch have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Boulder Gulch does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Boulder Gulch?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is poor.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Boulder Gulch?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Boulder Gulch. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Boulder Gulch, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Boulder Gulch?

    There are 63 campsites at Boulder Gulch and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts