Best Equestrian Camping near Lake Isabella, CA

Started coming here over 40 years ago as a kid. This was (still kind of is) a working horse packing station where they ran cattle out for the summer. Most trips out now are aimed at tourists/fishermen but the vibe is still the same. Fun horse riding trips. Great family vacation to get away from everything. Cabins are rustic but have everything you need. Plenty of tent camping in the campgrounds before the lodge. This is a great starting point for many backcountry backpack trips as it is near the PCT. Lots of hiking. Great fishing spot, river is generally stocked with fish on a weekly basis.

The hike to Kennedy meadows campground was wonderful and scenic and the campground itself is in a nice location. The only downfall is the trail and campground is shared for horses and there is POOP EVERYWHERE. Somewhere midway through the hike there is a trail leading to Sharon Lake. Very isolated lake with lots of trout - they were jumping out of the water.

Nice long drive to a beautiful destination

Not the easiest to get to. But, great for altitude get away. Not winter accessible.

If you like to be off the grid amidst the trees this is the place for you. We like to camp next to the creek. Fishing is plentiful and the air is great as long as there’s no fires near.

We spent four nights at the end of July in this beautiful campground in Sequoia National Forest. The entrance to the road which leads from Sherman Pass to the campground does not give a clear indication that there is, in fact, a campground at the end. It’s an old logging road which we had to take quite slowly in our Hyundai Sonata, but we were very glad that we did. There are several hikes which are accessible from the campground. The water is potable, but spring fed, so availability is dependent upon whether things have dried up for the season. The nearest supplies are an hour one-way and there is no cell or wifi anywhere nearby. The camp host, Wayne , has been hosting the campground for 20 years and does a great job. The campsites are a truly mixed bag. Some are spacious, shady, flat, and along a creek while others seem a bit more attractive to those who are part mountain goat and do not require level surfaces for any reason.😁. At 7,600 ft., the nights dropped into the forties. A welcome break from the southern CA heat. We will definitely be returning often!

After a long drive on a forest service road we reached the campground.  It's out there.  We went in late summer after a particularly bad drought year but fires were allowed.  The camp ground host was super vigilant and checked regularly to see we had a shovel and a bucket of water on standby.  He ran a tight ship.   (Kudos to him.)  Little water in the stream and hot and dusty.  Figure in a normal year this place is brilliant.

We heard good things about this campground from family so we decided to give it a shot. It’s about an hour and 15 minutes from our home in Bakersfield. That road off of the 65 is pretty decent as we have a 32 foot fifth wheel. As usual some sites are better than others there are some creek side sites that are very large and if there’s water are very nice. They have tent only sites as well. On our first trip we stayed in a pull through site. There is not a whole lot of space between campsites in this loop but it’s doable. They also have a stocked pond on site. However if you want to keep any of the fish caught, you have to purchase them. There are trails to hike. FYI, there is no cell reception and no provided wifi. Personally I think that’s a good thing 😬.

We did a backpacking trip from Johnsondale Bridge down to Fairview Campground following the Rincon trail in May. 

It was hot but the views and the quietness was beautiful! Be prepared with lots of water and food. The trail from the bridge to the campground is approximately 16 miles total but it is mostly exposed and with lots of chaparral and little water.

Along Hwy 178 towards Ridgecrest you'll find this campground that is small but quiet and clean. It is not for big rigs or RVs. 

There are 2 sites with fire pits and covered picnic tables that could fit a large van at most. There is one other spot that is level but has no fire pit or covered table. Further back are several scattered picnic tables and tent spots. There are also 2 unisex ADA accessible pit toilet bathrooms which were quite filthy.

This is a stop along the Pacific Crest Trail. The scenery is an amazing mix of Joshua Trees, pines, chaparral, mountains and large rocks, some snow on the peaks facing north. It is close to the highway so there is some road noise and people stopping to use the bathroom. The road in is paved and narrow and potholed but passable.

There was no cell service with AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile.

There is a donation based drop box for camping fee so pay what you want or what you can afford.

Fires and charcoal grills are not allowed per sign at info board, camp stoves are ok.

Right by the river! With amazing fishing. Tons! Of hiking trails, horseback riding for 30$ an hr! Trail head to the PCT

8/20/20

So I've camped there at least 25 times. A lot of there information here is no longer true. It does sit beside the lower fork of the Kern River. The forest service hasn't managed it in years the guy who owns the Kennedy Meadows store is in charge. There's been no faucet water there in over 5 years. Pack it in pack it out. The outhouses are filthy no toilet paper the flys own them. It is a beautiful spot but is dispersed camping with a fee.

Went up during the winter and stayed the weekend The fishing was great The campground was empty and we were basically alone The camp was clean and bathrooms were good Hiking was awesome But it was cold and our diesel fuel froze overnight Found a general store down the hill and had a community pot luck for 5 bucks It was sone of the best family fun

Most reviews here are dated. Campground has been abandoned for years so: no fees, busted up roads, no water, no trash, no bathrooms, no cell/wifi. Basically dispersed camping in an awesome location on concrete spurs/pads.  Each site still had picnic table and fire pit.  The mosquitos here are biblical at night so bring your nets and deet.  Kern creek and trails right from campground. General store and Grumpy Bear tavern close down the road.  Only 2 other campers here when I stayed in October. Great place as long as you are expecting disbursed camping experience.

This place is so odd. The attraction is a dry water fall (not a lake bed) that formed when the last ice age was ending and a river formed from melting ice but the river was jostled by volcanic and earthquake activity when caused the river to become a water fall. It has since dried up like most of this part of the country and most of the remaining ice age water is trapped below, coming up as ‘fossil water’ in springs. The fossil falls rocks are basalt mostly but have been pummeled by water and have smoothed and eroded. There’s also said to be obsidian flakes on the area.

Anyway, this campground is simple/primitive but has excellent cell service, low prices, and an interesting attraction.

The black dirt and yellow grass make this a magical place to wake up. Cell service was good enough that I stayed parked here for the work day. Only 4 RV accessible sites but there was no one else here the Thursday night I stayed.

Almost no people, some night we were completely alone. Due to Covid, restroom are closed. Water station is just for filling up a container, no hose connection.
Very spacious sites. Picnic table and fire pit ring

Very beautiful campground. Cannot camp there overnight currently because of covid. However, it’s still a nice place to spend the day with picnic tables, restrooms, and fire pits. Views are gorgeous.

March 5-6, 2021

This area is pretty trippy going from volcanic rock and flows to various brush to the dry, beautifully cracked dirt. We landed here and drove thru the FF campground, which we knew was closed but wanted to check it out, and pulled out onto the dry lake bed area to spend the night. 

At first, we weren't sure if we liked it but after we set up and took a long walk around the area, we were digging it. Perfect for bike or dirt scooter riding or just running around on the lake bed. Perfect for dogs and kids. Gets dusty so your rig will get a bit dirty. It can get windy but we had a great night. The road is maintained but a smidge bumpy and uneven but should be easy for most cars. Area was quiet and no very little trash. Great to watch the light change the hillsides. 

Verizon cell service was great and stars were bright. Saw a jackrabbit while there...thank goodness my dog didn't see him! HA!

Disbursed so no amenities so please pack in, pack out. Happy Camping!