Best Dispersed Camping near Lake Isabella, CA

Dispersed camping surrounds Lake Isabella in California's Sequoia National Forest, with free primitive sites scattered along forest roads and riverbanks. Several designated dispersed areas include Stine Cove Recreation Site along the lakeshore, Hanning Flat Dispersed Area, Keyesville Recreation Area, and Ant Canyon. These Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service lands permit no-fee camping in established clearings away from developed recreation areas, typically with minimal or no facilities.

Most access roads near Lake Isabella require careful navigation, particularly for larger vehicles. While Stine Cove and Keyesville accommodate larger rigs on relatively accessible roads, other areas like Evans Road and West Keyville demand high-clearance vehicles. Many sites lack amenities entirely - no water sources, electricity, or waste facilities exist at most locations. Campers must pack in all supplies and pack out all trash. Fire regulations vary seasonally, with several areas prohibiting open flames during high fire danger periods. A California campfire permit is required even for propane stoves. The standard 14-day camping limit applies to most dispersed areas.

The primitive sites around Lake Isabella provide direct access to outdoor recreation opportunities including fishing, swimming, and hiking. Many campsites feature riverside locations with natural swimming holes and fishing access, particularly along the Kern River. Visitors note the area's excellent stargazing due to minimal light pollution. While some sites remain quiet and secluded year-round, others experience significant weekend traffic, especially during summer months. As one camper noted about Hanning Flat, "I spent two days here and only seen a handful of vehicles drive through, mostly US Forest Service trucks." Another visitor described Stine Cove as having a "night sky with no light pollution, beautiful enough to knock you off your feet because of all the stars."

Best Dispersed Sites Near Lake Isabella, California (37)

    1. Stine Cove Recreation Site

    15 Reviews
    Weldon, CA
    7 miles
    Website

    "We love lake Isabella and just discovered this free camp spot right on the beach…"

    "Good location. I would definitely do this again. I'm planning to stay for the full 14 days.

    Tip - Evening winds come from a westerly direction."

    2. Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed

    11 Reviews
    Lake Isabella, CA
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (661) 391-6000

    "You can park RVs right next to the water but it gets very busy, there are more secluded spots accessible to even Class A rigs further down."

    "We pulled in at night time around 10:30PM. I was scared it would be sketchy, but turned out to be a smooth dirt road. We encountered multiple other campers as well before we found a suitable turnout."

    3. Hanning Flat Dispersed Area

    7 Reviews
    Weldon, CA
    7 miles
    Website

    "Great hideaway with plenty of dispersed sites. I spent two days here and only seen a handful of vehicles drive through, mostly US Forest Service trucks. Pack in, pack out."

    "On my way into Sequoia NF I was so excited to see Hanning Flats dispersed camping area. My pup and I stayed for three nights and didn’t see another person or vehicle the whole time."

    4. Chico Flat Dispersed Camping - Partially Closed, See Description

    11 Reviews
    Kernville, CA
    13 miles
    Website

    "There's great access to the national forest and the little town of Kernville is so cute and friendly."

    "No amenities but still very nice!"

    5. West Keyville Dispersed

    1 Review
    Lake Isabella, CA
    0 miles

    "I drove past a couple of camp grounds directly at the lake and was very disappointed what I found. Yes, you can camp right at the lake but only if you appreciate the charme of a Walmart parking lot."

    6. Evans Road Dispersed Camping

    1 Review
    Posey, CA
    10 miles

    "There are about 3 dirt road pull offs in this area. The 2 on the south side are attainable with careful driving and 2 wheel drive."

    8. Evans Road Hidden Camp

    1 Review
    Glennville, CA
    10 miles

    "We drove to the end of the track, ends in a loop, and parked our camper van there. Beautiful views, flowers, fresh air. No other campers present so good privacy."

    9. Ant Canyon

    4 Reviews
    Johnsondale, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 376-3781

    "Overall I recommend going super early because there is always neighbors around and the best spot is next to the big rocks which is a bit secluded from the other campgrounds."

    "The pull off has plenty of parking but I was surprised to find people set up next to their cars, granted there was only one other camping party there."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Lake Isabella, CA

108 Reviews of 37 Lake Isabella Campgrounds


  • Mike N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 2, 2021

    Hanning Flat Dispersed Area

    Great hideaway

    Great hideaway with plenty of dispersed sites. I spent two days here and only seen a handful of vehicles drive through, mostly US Forest Service trucks. Pack in, pack out. No toilets, showers, or water so bring in everything you need. 14 days of free camping every 30 days. A great find to get away from it all.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2023

    East Mojave Camp

    Very very remote

    Very remote absolutely nothing out there. Definitely somewhere you need to be aware of your surroundings. You can get far enough away from the highway that you don’t need to worry about people driving by. There is nothing out here. The road to it is unmarked and very unmaintained Would definitely recommend high clearance vehicle if you want to be further away then 100 feet from the highway. Lots of wash outs. Beautiful sunrise. We were the only people there.

  • Popeye F.
    Sep. 6, 2022

    Dispersed Camping

    San Bernardino National Forest

    Dispersed camping at a Yellow Post campsite was great. About 4 mi. of washboard dirt road past Heart Bar Campground to Yellow post site #6. No amenities other than a picnic table and a fire ring. That means, bring plenty of water and a port-a-potty. There is no fee, however, you need to go on line to get a fire permit, which is necessary even for a propane stove. Actually, the fire permit is for anything that has a flame. This trip was over Labor Day weekend of 2022 and the use of the fire pit was forbidden at that time due to high fire hazard conditions. The campsites are quite far apart so you feel a sense of privacy. However, you will see vehicles and or horses go by on the road next to the campsite. Some of the vehicles drive fast on the dirt road which can kick up dust clouds. This is only a problem if you are downwind. The temperature was about 83 for a high and 55 for a low and the wind was light and comfortable. We were glad we had our canopy. The canopy has bug screens on 4 sides but the bugs were not too bad. We used lemon grass bug spray repellent and were comfortable. This campground is away from light sources making it great for stargazing. We enjoyed the campsite so much that we just hung out and relaxed there all weekend ...no hikes or trips away from the campsite. We hung a couple of hammocks with tarps for shade but backed our teardrop under a naturally shaded area of the campsite. We will probably camp there again. If you are not into dispersed camping, there are several campgrounds nearby. Heart Bar campground is huge with amenities and South Fork Family Campground is nice with more shade and a small stream running through. The parking for rv's at South Fork is a bit short at some of the campsites. Best to check the length for a match with your gear. This area is great for camping but make sure you have everything you need as there is no grocery store at the corner. Happy camping..!

  • E
    Jun. 1, 2021

    Dispersed Camp near Sequoia National Park

    Quiet & Nice Camping Site

    This camping site is a nice free area super close to the Giants Trail entrance (5 minute drive). As you head in you go thru a little dirt road and at the end you see an opening for this site. There is one site located right at the start of the access road but with no views. The main area is cleared to pitch your camping tent. There are no trash cans around or toilets (closest is entrance of Giants trail) but trash may be near at the other camp sites. I did have to put my trash in the tree with a rope about 20-50ft away just for safety. Make sure you don’t keep anything smelly in your tent or around your truck because there is a local bear that comes by in the middle of the night when everyone’s sleeping. The Bear didn’t tamper with my ground tent but I ended up sleeping in my camper due to it being too cold. Although, I did hear the next campers yell out bear for safety. But nothing to worry about if you pack in and pack out and are respectful. The stream and meadow is beautiful. I would recommend this to anyone looking to have a secluded quite area that some ppl may not come to due to the friendly bear wink.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2024

    Stine Cove Recreation Site

    Warm breezes, Sweet Nights

    We love lake Isabella and just discovered this free camp spot right on the beach…

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 28, 2025

    Jawbone Canyon OHV Area — Eastern Kern County Onyx Ranch State Vehicular Recreation Area

    Jawbone Canyon OHV

    This is BLM land camping in an OHV area that we used for an overnight. For this purpose it was great. A paved road leads to endless dispersed camping options in a beautifully rugged canyon. There were a few OHVs but we arrived late on a weekday and OHV traffic stopped altogether in the evening. Wind was a problem and made sleeping hard. We camped in a 24’ travel trailer with a high clearance truck. While not necessary, the larger truck was nice to have on the dirt portions. There are sites that would be accessible by car as well just be more discerning. Verizon was at 1 bar the whole time.

  • Les R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2018

    Dome Rock Dispersed Camping

    Convenient access for rock climbing

    This camping area is at the end of dirt road Route 21S69, there is a sign for Dome Rock. It's very close to Ponderosa, a small town(?) with a general store and lodges, so that makes it super convenient if you need to buy some standard supplies.

    At the end of the dirt road there is a parking area. You can camping anywhere in this area, no fee. Just make sure to apply for a fire permit ahead of time. There are NO facilities at this campground - no bathrooms or trash even. That said, it is a beautiful area, especially if you want to rock climb or hike with great views, including The Needles. Rock climbing info for the area can be found here.

    Keep in mind that this location is at ~7,000ft elevation, so the temperatures will be cooler here, and you should plan accordingly.

  • l
    Sep. 6, 2022

    Chico Flat Dispersed Camping - Partially Closed, See Description

    Not Great

    Chico Flat Dispersed Campsite offers many areas with flat ground to tent upon, as well as a large parking lot to car camp if that’s your thing. However there aren’t loads of trees to hammock camp on. You cannot build a campfire here. There is a pit toilet. There is river access right next to the campsite. There is also spotty cell reception if you want that.

    Let it be known, this campsite is not clean. The previous campers that came long before me left two things: trash, and a message. There was a menagerie of bottle caps and broken glass strewn practically everywhere for me to pick up. This can be said for dare I say everywhere in this whole campsite. Additionally, this trash acted as a proverbial “go ahead” for other people to litter and make the litter situation worse; not cool.

    If you want to really get away from people, don’t come here. When I went people brought the whole kit-and-kaboodle: a suburb of tents, gas generators, bright lights, loud music, etcetera.

    Perhaps this isn’t how this site always is, but man it got crowded, noisy, and annoying. I’ll spare you from the whole story.

    If you’re looking for a quick spot to crash, look no further. If you’re intent on bringing generators, lights, dogs and speakers, this is unfortunately for you. If you’re looking to get away and spend time in nature like myself, this isn’t for you.

  • Hayley K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 20, 2020

    Johnsondale Dispersed Camping

    Next to a small creek and secluded.

    We stopped here after we found that all the sites along the Kern were full. It is just North of Johnsondale and just South of the National Forest. Easy driving access to Trail of a Thousand Giants, Moro Rock, and views of the Needles. 

    We camped out under the stars just after sundown and got up right after Sunrise. No one else camp out near our spot. The road is littered with turn offs for easy and free dispersed camping.

    Closest bathrooms are either on the Trail of a Hundred Giants (there is a campground there too but it is closed in Winter) or down in Johnsondale.


Guide to Lake Isabella

Primitive camping near Lake Isabella, California offers numerous free camping options throughout the Sequoia National Forest and Bureau of Land Management areas. The lake sits at 2,513 feet elevation in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains where summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F while winter nights can drop below freezing. Road conditions vary significantly depending on recent weather, with many access points becoming more challenging after rain.

What to do

Swimming access: Chico Flat provides direct river access with several riverside sites. "Just the sounds of the river, the crickets and the birds. The stargazing at night was spectacular. The site we chose was a bit of a rocky walk from the car, but worth it to have a more private spot," notes one camper at Chico Flat Dispersed Camping.

Wildlife viewing: Ant Canyon offers opportunities to observe local animals. "Lots of curious birds and squirrels watching you during the day. In the evening/late day that area of the river is LOADED with beavers. Watching them swim around and nibble on branches is memorizing, amazing creatures," reports a visitor to Ant Canyon.

Mountain biking: Keyesville Recreation Area contains numerous trails. "This recreation area has lots of trash, easily could spend days picking litter. Keyesville rd. has plenty of traffic though from 2200hrs til morning is fairly quiet. A lot of motocross, ohv and atv traffic from late thurs to sunday," mentions a camper at Keyesville.

What campers like

Solitude: Hanning Flat offers quiet camping with minimal visitors. "On my way into Sequoia NF I was so excited to see Hanning Flats dispersed camping area. My pup and I stayed for three nights and didn't see another person or vehicle the whole time. So peaceful, quiet, sunny, green," writes a visitor to Hanning Flat Dispersed Area.

Accessibility to town: Keyesville Recreation Area sits close to supplies. "You can park RVs right next to the water but it gets very busy, there are more secluded spots accessible to even Class A rigs further down. Best part is the nature, trails, river, fire rings almost everywhere you need, dumpster and vault toilet near the main road," notes a camper at Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed.

Mountain views: Evans Road Hidden Camp provides scenic vistas. "Beautiful views, flowers, fresh air. No other campers present so good privacy. Lots of birds, peepers, and late night owls. Quite pleasant," describes a visitor.

What you should know

Road conditions: Evans Road requires careful navigation. "There are about 3 dirt road pull offs in this area. The 2 on the south side are attainable with careful driving and 2 wheel drive. One site is visible by the road, the other crests a small hill and has limited visibility from the road," explains a camper at Evans Road Dispersed Camping.

Seasonal lake levels: Water levels at Lake Isabella fluctuate dramatically, affecting shoreline camping. "We headed here to both see the area and camp for a few days. The first thing we noticed was how low the water level was…bummer! Because of that, any fishing would have been casting into or over trees that are now exposed," explains a Stine Cove visitor.

Local wildlife: Campers should prepare for various wildlife encounters. "My dog did get lots of ticks and we had a mouse find its way into the van but I still really have no complaints. Such a gorgeous spot, lovely sunsets and sunrises," shares a Hanning Flat camper.

Tips for camping with families

Safety precautions: River conditions can change rapidly. "Use caution in early spring and summer months the river is very fast and DANGEROUS! Really great. Be ready for a hike from the car to the site, it's down a decent hill to the campsite. Watch out for snakes!!!!" warns an Ant Canyon visitor.

Site selection: Choose locations with shade during summer. "Our site was shaded and had a fire pit as well as trees perfectly spaced for our hammock. Temps were lovely during the day, but quite chilly at night and during the mornings/evenings," notes a camper at Hanning Flat.

Plan for changing conditions: Weather varies dramatically by season. "I visited in February which was most likely the reason why I had the area to myself. I appreciated the rough feel of the lake and how close the road was. One big word of caution! Winter winds here almost blew the tent over with my pup and myself inside," explains a visitor to Stine Cove.

Tips from RVers

Access considerations: West Keyville presents challenges for larger vehicles. "BEWARE: there is quite a steep and narrow entry road into the site. I drove in with a 30 feet class A camper and I am little worried if I will get out tomorrow. Also I smacked some leaves off of a tree on my way in with my 13" clearance," cautions a camper at West Keyville Dispersed.

Planning routes: Scout potential sites before committing to drive in. "I'm driving a large Nissan can converted into a camper. I made it to where Forest route 26S06 meets black gulch. I might have made it the rest of the way but it was getting dark and scary. A motor home or camper trailer would surely not make it," shares a Black Gulch visitor.

Site spacing: Larger vehicles have specific location options. "You can park RVs right next to the water but it gets very busy, there are more secluded spots accessible to even Class A rigs further down," advises a Keyesville visitor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best spots for dispersed camping around Lake Isabella?

Several excellent dispersed camping locations surround Lake Isabella. Stine Cove Recreation Site offers free camping right on the beach with lake access, perfect for those who want to be directly on the water. For a more secluded experience, Hanning Flat Dispersed Area provides numerous sites with privacy and fewer visitors. If you prefer to avoid the sometimes crowded lakeside spots, check out the surrounding forest areas where you'll find more solitude while still being a short drive from the lake. Most dispersed areas require high-clearance vehicles, and it's advisable to scout locations before committing, especially during busy summer weekends.

Is free camping allowed at Lake Isabella and are permits required?

Free camping is allowed in designated dispersed areas around Lake Isabella. West Keyville Dispersed offers no-fee camping options away from the more crowded lakeside areas. At Jawbone Canyon OHV Area, you can camp on BLM land for free without permits. Most dispersed sites around Lake Isabella operate under the standard Forest Service rules allowing up to 14 days of free camping within any 30-day period. While permits aren't typically required for dispersed camping, you will need a California Campfire Permit for any open flames, including stoves and lanterns. These permits are free and available online through the Forest Service website.

What amenities are available at Lake Isabella dispersed camping sites?

Dispersed camping around Lake Isabella typically offers minimal amenities. At Chico Flat Dispersed Camping, you'll find pit toilets and river access, but campfires aren't permitted. Most other dispersed sites like Black Gulch South Dispersed Camping may have basic toilet facilities but lack water sources, hookups, or garbage services. Some areas have established fire rings, while others may have picnic tables. Generally, dispersed camping follows 'pack in, pack out' principles, so prepare to bring all necessities including water, food, and waste disposal solutions. Cell service varies throughout the region, with better coverage closer to developed areas and spotty to non-existent reception in more remote locations.

When is the best time of year for dispersed camping at Lake Isabella?

Spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) offer the most pleasant conditions for dispersed camping at Lake Isabella. During these seasons, Johnsondale Dispersed Camping and similar areas provide comfortable temperatures and fewer crowds. Summer brings intense heat often exceeding 100°F, though camping at Dome Rock Dispersed Camping or higher-elevation sites can provide some relief. Winter camping is possible but can be challenging with temperatures dropping near freezing at night. The area receives minimal rainfall, but be prepared for occasional thunderstorms in summer and potential snow at higher elevations in winter. Always check weather forecasts and fire restrictions before your trip, as summer frequently brings campfire bans due to wildfire danger.