Kirch Flat Group Campground, near Shaver Lake, California, is a solid choice for those looking to immerse themselves in nature while enjoying the comforts of designated camping sites. With fire rings and vault toilets available, it strikes a balance between rustic charm and essential amenities.

This campground is right next to the Kings River, providing a soothing soundtrack of rushing water that many campers rave about. The area is known for its wildlife, so expect to hear the sounds of raccoons, skunks, and various birds during your stay. As one visitor noted, “The sounds of the rushing water reach the campground and make for easy sleeping.”

While the sites are relatively close together, the surrounding scenery offers plenty of opportunities for exploration. You can find a small beach nearby, perfect for a quick dip or just relaxing by the water. If you're up for a challenge, there are steep service roads that lead to higher elevations with stunning views and even some cell service if you need to check in.

For those who enjoy fishing or simply soaking in the beauty of the outdoors, Kirch Flat is a great spot. Just keep in mind that it can get quite warm in the summer, so plan accordingly. Whether you're here for a weekend or a longer stay, this campground has a lot to offer for a memorable outdoor experience.

## Overview

 At approximately 1,000 feet in elevation, Kirch Flat Campground resides on a large flat area on the rivers edge of the scenic Kings River and is surrounded by rolling, oak-covered foothills and spectacular river canyon and mountain views of the Sierra Nevada. Though it can be very hot in the summer months, Kirch Flat Group Campground is a great place to camp during the spring and fall months and is popular with San Joaquin Valley residents, fisherman, day users, and whitewater enthusiasts who come to enjoy many challenging rapids and beautiful canyon scenery of the Kings River. A good amount of shade is provided by oak and pine trees throughout the area; however, there is no running water or cell service at the campground. Campers are encouraged to bring their own garbage bags, always keep a clean campsite, and keep trash and food packed up so wildlife is not tempted. The nearest services are in Sanger, a decently sized town about 45 miles (1 hour 20 min.) away, with all essential services (i.e., gas, supplies, groceries, restaurants, etc.). Although there is no cell phone coverage at the campground, there is a location with cell phone reception approximately 10 minutes away or the nearest pay phone is at Balch Camp, a PG & E community about a 10-minute drive. Watch out for rattlesnakes and poison oak. Poison Oak abounds in this area. Please avoid plants with three leaf clusters: \"Leaves of three, let it be!\" 
## Recreation

 The Kings River offers an enjoyable ten-mile rafting run with Class III and IV rapids. Rafting season is usually from late April to mid-July depending on river runoff. No permit is required to raft the river. The Kings River is a 1 1/2 hour drive east of Fresno towards Pine Flat Reservoir via the Trimmer Springs Road. Put ins are available at Winfrey Mine and Garnet Dike up river from Kirch Flat Group Campground. There are several commercial outfitters that are permitted with the Sierra National Forest, for commercial trips on the Kings River. Please contact the High Sierra Ranger District for more information. A short walk from the Group Campground puts you on the edge of the Kings River, cooling off from the heat or working the water's edge fishing are popular activities. Please always use caution as the rivers current can be stronger than realized. There are several hikes available in the area, including hiking up the Kings River to the wild and scenic portion of the river. To get the trail head, continue driving upriver from the campground past Garnet Dike put in, shortly after the vault toilet there the road ends at the trailhead. 
## Natural Features

 The Kings River as it pours out of Kings Canyon and into the foothills is the big draw to this area. Upriver from the campgrounds and developed recreation sites, the river is designated by congress as wild and scenic. At the campground, the river is just about to enter Pine Flat reservoir, however there is no motorized boat access from the reservoir. The Sierra Nevada foothills are incredibly beautiful in the spring as the grasses green up and the native orange California poppies paint the hill sides, along with other wildflowers. 
## Contact Info

 This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (559) 855-5355.

Kirch Flat Group Campground — Sierra National Forest

Are you in need of a campground near Dunlap, CA? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that California camping has to offer. Find the best campgrounds near Dunlap, CA. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.

Dunlap

The Best Camping Near Dunlap, California

We stayed at campsite 12 out of 25. They have group campsites and single campsites which is great and it Is also free and you can stay for up to 14 days. Each came with a picnic table (two if a group) and a fire ring. There are vault toilets that weren’t the worst one I’ve been too. You can see the Kings River and hear it really well. It is a beautiful canyon not far from Pine Flat Lake. It is family friendly and the ground is pretty comfortable to have a tent on. Amazing views of the stars at night, really beautiful weather during the day and night. It might get pretty hot though during the summer months because it’s only at around 1000ft in elevation. Its close to so many creeks too. If you like going up dirt roads and seeing bears or amazing views I definitely would recommend coming here. At night along with seeing the stars and hearing the river, you can also hear frogs, and there is not very many mosquitoes. 

Amazing river view camping

December the weather was good no heaters needed , small greay foxes running around had whole camp ground to our self really nice , rest rooms needed a little attention but wasn't too bad , over all we will go back had a nice time

Quiet peaceful and relaxing

Short drive from the valley. I highly recommend not going around December it was extremely cold.

Very fun

Stayed here 3 nights at the end of November 2020
Camp ground had a few campers in it.
Not really any trail hiking to be had.
Mostly just a river-fishing 
A good bit of traffic comes up and down the road.
No verizon cell service at campground.
If you like steep incline hikes
One can hike up a service road and get 3 bars Verizon 4g lte 
The service road is across from the electrical station, west of the campground 
Go up and around a curve to the right 
Then as you go around a curve to the left 
A road will go left to a power line
Best signal here 
Spotty signal all the way to the water tank.
Its about .9 miles and 750 elevation climb
To the water tank 


Nice place to relax

Stayed here three nights 
Full moon November 2020
Being the last night 
There was a few other campers 
But plenty of space to be away from other camps
Not much trail hiking to be had
Campground just off fairly busy road 
No verizon cell service at campground 
1 mile west of the campground,by the electrical station,there is spotty Verizon signal
You can take a short climb up a service road
Across from the entrance to the electrical station.
It is very steep
Go around a curve to the left 
Then as you are going around a curve to the right
There is a road that goes to a power pole
I got 3 bars Verizon 4g at this spot.

The service road goes up the mountain to a water tank 
Very steep strenuous hike
Its about 0.9 miles and elevation change of 750 feet

Another nice river spot

Great little campground right next to King's River in Sierra National Forest. Twisty paved road wraps around Pine Flat Reservoir to get to the campground. Picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets, and occasionally... cows wander through. The main loop has several sites and there's a section off to the right with much more secluded sites among the trees. Popular raft take out spot from the river. There's a small beach just past a paved cul-de-sac. The river is cold and moving  quickly, the sounds of the rushing water reach the campground and make for easy sleeping. Love this place.

Great river side camping

This campground is pretty secluded along Shaver Lake. However, the spaces are extremely close together. We camped on a Tuesday and there was only one other camper so we were able to stay across the lot from them. There is a LOT of wildlife around here so you can expect to hear tons of raccoons, skunks, birds, and cows throughout your stay. A skunk sprayed near our camp and we smelled it most of the night. There is a bathroom at the campsite but it was pretty disgusting and was filled with trash. You have to cross over quite a few cattle grates and through many patches of single road so proceed with caution. There are fire rings and during our stay, campfires were allowed.

Furry Friends

Like most NPS and forest campgrounds lately, you drive all this way and run into orange ROAD CLOSED signs. Come on guys why is every campground in USA closed lately.

Anyway, although Dyrt doesn’t show it (adding it now), if you keep driving less than a mile over the next bridge you’ll find some great dispursed campsites along the river and both sides of road that have pits, access, etc.  thank goodness we kept driving a bit to find dispursed after the hour windy road trek to get here.

Photos of Kirch Flat Group Campground — Sierra National Forest

Real photos from real campers