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.
