The Eastern Sierra mountains frame the terrain around Olancha, California, with elevations ranging from 3,600 to over 9,000 feet creating distinct climate zones. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing at higher elevations while summer daytime temperatures can reach the high 90s. Most campgrounds in the Sequoia National Forest section near Olancha operate seasonally from late May through early October due to snow conditions.
What to do
Hiking to alpine lakes: From Onion Valley Campground, access trails to multiple high-altitude lakes without requiring permits for day hikes. "There are pull in sites and walk in sites. All pull in sites seem to be surround by low growing shrubs and they have so many mosquitoes. The walk in site are under the conifers and are gorgeous. Waterfalls, tall peaks surround the campground," notes one camper about the Onion Valley area.
Fishing in mountain streams: Kern River areas offer accessible fishing spots for beginners and experienced anglers. "We explored this in completely unprepared clothing but it was so worth it. Camp spots are right in the middle of the forest, it feels like every campsite is its own little mountain. It's so desolate and quiet here, definitely for those that want to be completely submersed in nature. Fishing is allowed at the portal and there's a gorgeous waterfall that you can hike throughout," explains a visitor to Whitney Portal.
Exploring giant sequoias: The Trail of 100 Giants is located directly across from Redwood Meadow Campground. "We stayed here in October after the yurts had been taken down which was no bother to us when you're surrounded by the most magnificent trees in the world! This also meant there were no crowds and we had practically the entire campground to ourselves. Highly recommend going later in the year," advises a camper about avoiding peak season crowds.
What campers like
High elevation camping: Many sites in the Olancha region sit at elevations between 6,500-9,000 feet, providing cooler summer temperatures. A visitor to Camp Three Campground explains, "This is a great primitive campground if you truly want to disconnect for a few days. No cell reception, no WiFi, there are restrooms but no showers. Take a 3 minute walk through the woods to get to Kern River and you have a little oasis away from it all."
River access: Numerous campgrounds offer direct water access for cooling off during hot summer days. According to one camper at KRS RV Resort@Camp James, "Our family has been going to Camp James for over 10 years, and it's easily our favorite campground in California. The campsites are clean, shaded by trees, and it's right on the riverfront. During the high season, it's fun to watch kayakers and whitewater rafters screaming down the rapids."
Wildlife viewing: The region supports diverse wildlife including bears, marmots and mountain squirrels. "There is a creek that runs throughout the campground that provides perfect background noise. Even though the sites are pretty close to each other, we could not hear a neighbor once because of the sound of the creek. This area is allegedly infested with black bears, but we didn't see any this time. Bear boxes are provided at each campsite," notes a visitor about Whitney Portal.
What you should know
Bear safety requirements: Many campgrounds in the area require proper food storage. A camper at Sequoia National Forest Quaking Aspen Campground points out, "We stayed at one of the group campsites with about 15 people total. Plenty of space and picnic tables my only complaint was that there was only one normal sized bear locker for a group campsite. Hard to fit coolers and food for 15 people into one bear locker."
Limited water availability: Not all campgrounds provide drinking water despite listings suggesting otherwise. One visitor warned about Redwood Meadow, "IMPORTANT recreation.gov and reserveamerica.com both list this campground as having water. That is NOT TRUE. There are no water fill up sites. There are also NO BEAR BOXES despite claims otherwise and the requirement that food be kept in them."
Altitude acclimation: The high elevation can cause altitude sickness for unprepared visitors. "In 2018, I acclimated to the High Sierra at Onion Valley for one night before a trip down the JMT. The campground is nestled in an idyllic eastern Sierra cañon with excellent star gazing," explains a camper who used the site for acclimation before longer hikes.
Tips for camping with families
Yurt camping options: Several campgrounds near Olancha, California offer yurt accommodations perfect for families with small children. At Sequoia National Forest Quaking Aspen Campground, "It was a very peaceful and calm campground on the I stayed in one of the yurts. It was very clean and there is a bunkbed with two full size beds and another separate full size bed. The bathrooms were also kept very clean."
Water play areas: Look for campgrounds with safe water access points for children. "We stayed in site 81 in our class C RV. Corner site on a creek that ran through the campground. The creek was great to sit in to escape the heat and float down. Lots of kids and dog friendly," notes a visitor to Camp James.
Plan for temperature swings: The area experiences significant day/night temperature variations. "Was here the last weekend of September and it was COLD. Great site, friendly camp host, vault toilets, not service for t-mobile but Verizon has some signal," advises a Whitney Portal visitor about late-season camping conditions.
Tips from RVers
Limited hookup availability: Most forest service campgrounds offer minimal amenities for RVs. A visitor to Diaz Lake Campground shares, "I stayed 2 nights due to high winds in the area that were bouncing my little RV all over the hwy. Campground was a great place to use as a base to check out the area. I drove up and checked out the Mt Whitney trailhead and the view was incredible. Small little lake but quite a few campsites and they all looked to be relatively level."
Access challenges: Some campgrounds have narrow, winding roads unsuitable for larger rigs. "Camp sights are very close to one another not much privacy. The RV sights with full hooks up are further away from the river about 200 yards. The campground is very clean and well maintained. Kernville is less then a mile away were you can get gas diesel groceries firewood or anything else you might have forgotten," notes a reviewer about Camp James.
Free dispersed options: For self-contained rigs, consider dispersed camping. A visitor to Minietta Road explains, "Great for a night or two, heading towards or leaving Death Valley between Joshua Tree. You are literally in the middle of nowhere. No cell phone reception, amenities, nothing, not even shelter, but yet so peaceful and quiet."
