Accessible via forest roads that handle all vehicle types, this established campground accommodates RVs up to 35 feet with water and sewer hookups at $36-$242 per night. The Forest Service operates the site from late May through early October, with reservations available for those who prefer guaranteed spots over first-come, first-serve camping.
Dense forest coverage creates natural privacy between most sites, though campers report no cell service throughout the campground. The facility maintains vault toilets that reviewers consistently describe as clean and well-stocked, with potable water spigots distributed around the grounds. Group sites accommodate larger parties but share limited parking, requiring overflow vehicles to park along roadways outside the entrance. A knowledgeable camp host provides trail maps and local area information when present.
"This campground is so peaceful, and near several hiking trails," notes Kim L.. The nearby Freeman Creek Trail offers hiking access when not closed for restoration work. Wildlife sightings remain limited to ground squirrels and birds according to multiple visitor reports. Firewood is available on-site or at the Camp Nelson general store four miles west. Sites 6-10 receive particular praise for tent camping, while site 19 provides multiple level spots for tent placement.
The campground works well for campers comfortable with minimal services who want forest immersion and easy trail access in places to camp near Camp Nelson.
Description
Overview
Quaking Aspen Campground is situated in the Giant Sequoia National Monument near numerous distinctive sequoia groves, including McIntyre Grove and Freeman Creek Grove, at an elevation of 7,000 feet.
Recreation
Visitors can explore nearby sequoia groves. Bear Creek Grove has a trail that winds through the Belknap Complex along Bear Creek and the Tule River. The Freeman Creek Grove is also a popular destination. At 1,425 acres, this immense unlogged grove features several large sequoias, including the President George Bush Tree. There is fishing in area streams and the Tule River. For hiking, the Summit Trailhead is 10 miles north of the campground.
Facilities
This popular campground includes three small group sites that accommodate up to 12 people per campsite, 30 standard sites, two cabin sites and four tent-only sites. Some sites overlook a meadow. An amphitheater, vault toilets and picnic areas are provided. Please note, there is limited turnaround space in this campground, restricting RVs longer than 26 feet in length.This facility is operated by Rocky Mountain Recreation Company, a division of ExplorUS and comments are welcome; comment forms are available from campground hosts or online.
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 and Grizzly Falls.
Nearby Attractions
The Trail of 100 Giants is 10 miles away. Possible day trips include Dome Rock and the Needles rock formation and lookout.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (661) 455-6010.
Warning 1 Alert is In Effect
There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!
Warning 1 Alert is In Effect
There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!
Fire Restrictions**Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 551 and 36 C.F.R. 261.50(a), and to protect natural resources and provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited within the Sequoia National Forest. This Order is effective from August 11, 2026, through November 30, 2026.**1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, except in the designated Campfire Areas listed in Exhibits A or B. 36 C.F.R. 261.52(a).2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building or within the areas listed in Exhibits A or B. 36 C.F.R. 261.52(d).3. Operating an internal combustion engine, except on a designated National Forest System road, trail, or within the areas listed in Exhibits A or B. 36 C.F.R. 261.52(g).4. Welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame, except within the areas listed in Exhibits A or B. 36 C.F.R. 261.52(h).Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:1. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.**2. Persons with a valid California Campfire Permit are not exempt from the prohibitions listed above. However, persons with a valid California Campfire Permit may use a stove or lantern that uses gas, kerosene, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel and has a shut-off valve, or a propane-fueled campfire pit with an on/off switch (wood-burning campfire pits are prohibited) in an area at least five feet from any flammable materials.**3. Persons with a valid 2026 Forest Products Removal Permit (fuelwood permit) from the United States Forest Service are not exempt from the prohibitions listed above, but may operate an internal combustion engine off National Forest System roads and trails only to the extent necessary to cut fuelwood, provided the cutting of fuelwood is done in compliance with the terms of the fuelwood permit.4. Persons with a Forest Service non-special use written authorization to conduct non-recreational activities, such as harvesting timber or forest products, or grazing livestock, are exempt from Prohibition Nos. 3 and 4, to the extent allowed by the written authorization.These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions contained in 36 C.F.R. Part 261, Subpart A.A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both. 16 U.S.C. 551 and 18 U.S.C. 3559, 3571, and 3581. This Forest Order supersedes Forest Order 0513-26-05, signed on June 9, 2026.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsSequoia National Forest Quaking Aspen Campground is located in California near Camp Nelson
Directions
From Porterville, California, take Highway 190 East to Springville. Continue from Springville approximately 28 miles to the Quaking Aspen Campground.
Coordinates
36.121133 N
118.543681 W
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 11/11/26
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 11/11/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Cabins
- Tent Cabin
- Yurts
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Reservable
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
Drive Time
- 1 hr 41 min from Visalia, CA
- 1 hr 53 min from Hanford, CA
- 2 hrs 1 min from Bakersfield, CA
- 2 hrs 15 min from Fresno, CA




















