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Established Camping

Horse Creek

Warning 1 Alert is In Effect

There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!

Horse Creek Campground - NO First-Come-First-Served sites, Walk-In sites, or same day reservations. All reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance of your first night of stay.

Horse Creek, near Lemon Cove, California, is a scenic spot that offers a laid-back camping experience right by Lake Kaweah. With sites that provide access to beautiful views of the lake, it’s a great place to unwind and soak in nature.

The campground features picnic tables and fire rings, perfect for evening gatherings under the stars. Visitors have noted that the area is clean and organized, although some sites can be a bit uneven, so it’s wise to come prepared. As one camper mentioned, “It’s a small place with very few campers,” which adds to its charm.

For those who enjoy water activities, Horse Creek is ideal for boating and fishing, especially when the lake levels are right. Just keep in mind that summer temperatures can soar, and the campground may experience flooding during peak season. If you’re looking for a peaceful retreat with easy access to outdoor fun, this spot is worth considering.

Description

US Army Corps of Engineers

Kaweah Lake

Overview

Horse Creek Campground is located on the Kaweah River in the foothills of central California's Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Terminus Dam on Kaweah Lake is three miles east of Lemon Cove, CA.

Recreation

Kaweah Lake offers boating, water skiing and sailing. Horse and walking trails are available during low water. Anglers can fish for largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish and rainbow trout.

Natural Features

The campground is settled on the river in a broad, arid valley with few trees. Shade is limited.

Nearby Attractions

The Horse Creek campground is 11 miles from Sequoia National Park's southern entrance station. Visitors enjoy viewing the inspiring Giant Forest Grove and mighty General Sherman Tree - the world's largest tree in volume. It is one hour more past the entrance station to reach 5,000' and the mightly Sequoias. __Note: Vehicles over 22' will not be allowed up Highway 198 through Sequoia National Park. It is a 1930s, two lane, switch back, road on the side of a mountain. __Larger vehicles need to use the northern route on Hwy 180 thorugh Sequoia National Forest to Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park. In this area you can view America's Christmas Tree, The General Grant Tree and access the other areas. The Visitor Center is shared with the Forest Service and National Park Service.

Fee Info

There is an entrance station that is intermittently open. It is volunteer camp host operated with Park Rangers supplementing the times. There is no cash or checks accepted at this time. Campsites can be reserved at Recreation.gov website. The reservations close 24 hours before date of arrival. Please read the information regarding each site. Some sites have vehicle restrictions, tent restrictions, etc. There is a $5.00 fee for an extra vehicle or a visitor vehicle. Please pay for the extra vehicle when making your reservations. If the vehicle does not fit on the parking pad, there are two overflow parking areas. One area is subject to flooding and not a guarantee. The other is our pull off area on Hwy 198. See the map at registration for site location. __All campsites 1, 5-80 and 82-84 are $20.00 per night. Campsite 81 is a double site and is $40.00 per night. __The America the Beautiful Access and Senior passes offer a discount only. The Interagency pass (red colored card) does not have a camping discount. Please enter the number at the time of reservation if using an Access or Senior Card. Non camping showers are available at $5.00 per person. See a ranger or host on duty to make a credit card purchase at this time. Another option is the coin operated shower at Slick Rock Recreation Area. Non camping dump station is available at $5.00 per unit. Please see ranger or host on duty for credit card purchase. We cannot take cash at this time. All vehicles should obtain a parking pass upon registration. See a staff member for the colored pass. All campers must set up on their site. Failure to do so will forfeit the site. Set up before you head out to explore the area.

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Location

Horse Creek is located in California

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Visalia, CA, take HWY 198 for 20 miles east. Follow signs to Horse Creek Campground.

Address

BOX 44270
Lemon cove, CA 93244-4270

Coordinates

36.3905556 N
118.9547222 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Available
  • Verizon
    Good
  • AT&T
    Available
  • T-Mobile
    Fair

Site Types

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

Features

For Campers

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

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Water Hookups
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • 50 Amp Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Reservations


Reviews

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3.5

out of 5

7 Reviews

Reviewed May. 18, 2023

Quiet spot in the valley

Still a bit of a mess after the flooding and no staff. Very scenic and beautiful though. Sites are not very level so come prepared.

Site71
Month of VisitMay
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Reviewed Jan. 24, 2022

Beautiful location

This is a small place with very few campers. Some of the sites (75, 76 etc..) look out on Lake Kaweah. It’s clean and well organized. Some highway noise.

Site76
Month of VisitJanuary
  • Review photo of Horse Creek by Alison S., January 24, 2022
Reviewed Aug. 4, 2021

Pretty cool campsite

It has bathroom, shower, fire ring and a picnic table with shade. Got a little T mobile signal. Need to check in with the ranger when arrive.

Site70
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Horse Creek by Kimmy S., August 4, 2021
  • Review photo of Horse Creek by Kimmy S., August 4, 2021
  • Review photo of Horse Creek by Kimmy S., August 4, 2021
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jul. 20, 2021

On the lake

Nice campground on the lake but too hot 100 plus degrees in the summer

Available depending on water level of the lake

Decent fishing and great for boating and watersports

Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Horse Creek by Robert S., July 20, 2021
  • Review photo of Horse Creek by Robert S., July 20, 2021
  • Review photo of Horse Creek by Robert S., July 20, 2021
  • (9) View All
Reviewed Jun. 9, 2020

Lake Access

This spot is great if you want to be right by the water. The campsite is sometime filled with water so it is a seasonal thing. Be careful for snakes in this area.

Reviewed Jul. 25, 2019

A descent campground

A good campground from late fall to mid spring. In the summer this campground gets flooded from the rising lake waters of lake kaweah, which is fine because it is blazing hot in the summer.

Reviewed Apr. 20, 2018

Gorgeous scenery, outdated facilities

Pros: Nicely designed tent sites, plus flush toilets and (free!) showers. Absolutely gorgeous views of Kaweah Lake in the foothills of Sequoia NP. Convenient location also, as it is on the road into Sequoia; it takes about an hour to get from the campground to the park entrance. I think this campground is also a nice alternative to staying in Sequoia; it didn't seem bears were at all a concern here, while they are in the park. It was a nice alternative to tent camping alone in an area bears frequent.

Cons: Outdated facilities - the toilet/shower house was in rough shape and not really clean. There was also a steep hill to walk up to the bathhouse that had been partially washed out, so somewhat of a hazard. Additionally, one of my nights there I got no sleep whatsoever because there was a group of young guys partying all night. And it was the works - loud music, yelling, swearing, vulgar language, and because the campground is pretty open and in a valley, it echoed throughout the entire campground. Definitely one of the downsides of 'unstaffed' campgrounds that only have a host on site; these guys were breaking every apparent campground regulation and were allowed to do so. I would say one other weird thing about this campground is that they have signs that say they close the gates after 9 pm, and their exit has tire spike strips! One night I went into the nearest town for dinner, but I was stressed about getting back by 9 pm. It's probably the first campground I've ever encountered that, and it's really weird.

I'm torn on whether I'd stay here again.. maybe, if there weren't any other campgrounds in the area.

Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of Horse Creek by Ashlee L., April 20, 2018

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does Horse Creek have RV hookups?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Horse Creek has 50 amp electric hookups and water hookups.

  • What is the max vehicle length at Horse Creek?

    Horse Creek allows vehicles up to 50 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Horse Creek?

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

  • Does Horse Creek have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Horse Creek does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Horse Creek?

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

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Horse Creek?

    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 Horse Creek. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Horse Creek, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Horse Creek?

    There are 84 campsites at Horse Creek and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts