Best Dispersed Camping near Wofford Heights, CA

The Sequoia National Forest surrounding Wofford Heights, California features predominantly dispersed camping options along Lake Isabella and the Kern River. Sites like Stine Cove Recreation Site, Keyesville Recreation Area, and Hanning Flat Dispersed Area offer free primitive camping with minimal facilities. Most locations provide direct water access for fishing, swimming, and boating, with Brush Creek Recreation Site noted for its stream-side camping. The terrain varies from sandy lakeshores to forested mountain areas, with elevations ranging from approximately 2,500 feet near the lake to over 7,000 feet in higher forest areas.

Many dispersed sites require campfire permits, which must be obtained online before arrival and are necessary even for propane stoves. High clearance vehicles are recommended for accessing more remote locations, particularly at Hanning Flat where one camper noted, "Would suggest 4x4 and wouldn't recommend heavier vehicles as it's a sandy dried up lake bed." Summer temperatures typically range from 55°F at night to 83°F during the day, with higher elevations experiencing cooler conditions. Cell service is spotty throughout the region, with Verizon providing limited coverage in some areas. Most sites enforce a 14-day stay limit within any 30-day period.

Waterfront locations receive consistently high ratings from visitors but vary significantly in crowding patterns. Keyesville Recreation Area campers report, "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." Wildlife encounters include bears in some areas, requiring proper food storage. Stargazing opportunities are exceptional due to minimal light pollution, with one Stine Cove visitor describing "night sky beautiful enough to knock you off your feet." Litter remains a persistent issue at popular sites like Chico Flat, where visitors are encouraged to practice strict leave-no-trace principles. Summer weekends see the heaviest use, particularly at water-adjacent sites, while spring and fall offer more solitude.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Wofford Heights, California (35)

    1. Stine Cove Recreation Site

    15 Reviews
    Weldon, CA
    8 miles
    Website

    "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."

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

    2. Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed

    11 Reviews
    Lake Isabella, CA
    6 miles
    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. Chico Flat Dispersed Camping - Partially Closed, See Description

    11 Reviews
    Kernville, CA
    8 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!"

    4. Hanning Flat Dispersed Area

    7 Reviews
    Weldon, CA
    6 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."

    5. Ant Canyon

    4 Reviews
    Johnsondale, CA
    12 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."

    6. Evans Road Dispersed Camping

    1 Review
    Posey, CA
    7 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."

    7. West Keyville Dispersed

    1 Review
    Lake Isabella, CA
    5 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."

    8. Brush Creek Recreation Site

    7 Reviews
    Johnsondale, CA
    18 miles
    Website

    "This is our favorite campground in the Sequoia National Forest, of the four we've stayed in."

    "Waters were quick but the few creeks around the area should be cared for, cleaned, and enjoyed on every opportunity possible."

    9. Sequoia National Park Dispersed campground

    7 Reviews
    Johnsondale, CA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (559) 565-3341

    "I like to camp near waterfalls"

    "Next to stream. Then if you continue on you will hit a 4 mile off road (my Corolla/any sedan OK) and see great views and waterfall! Nice!"

    10. Evans Road Hidden Camp

    1 Review
    Glennville, CA
    7 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."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Wofford Heights, CA

106 Reviews of 35 Wofford Heights 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 17, 2024

    West Keyville Dispersed

    Beautiful scenery, challenging access

    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. There is basically next to no trees or any nature for that matter.

    So I looked a little further and was very happy to have found this site. Beautifully located right at a river, surrounded by trees, big boulders and the stunning mountain scenerey.

    However, be aware that this is not serviced at all. There is no electricity, water, dump stations or anything else than the actual spot. And 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.

  • Jessica P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 23, 2019

    Ant Canyon

    Best place to get away from the city!

    First off this place is a bit hard to find, but there is a sign on the right and if you miss that sign then you probably won’t find this spot. 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. There is plenty of shade there unlike the other spots. I like camping here because you can just walk down to the river which is always enjoyable. We always catch great fish here trout, catfish, bass.

    -Open year round.

    -Reservations: First come first served. Free of charge.

    -Permit Info: Campfire Permits required for campfires, barbeques, and camp stoves.

    Best Season: Summer Busiest Season: Summer

    Restrictions: Camping is permitted 25 feet away from waters edge.

    Water: No Restroom: Portable Toilets

    No garbage service so pack all your trash out.

    I provided a photo of a camper who left all there trash there. If you see that make sure to take pics of their license plates.


Guide to Wofford Heights

Dispersed camping opportunities near Wofford Heights, California span multiple Forest Service roads and recreation areas beyond Lake Isabella. Overnight sites typically sit between 3,000-7,500 feet elevation, with higher campsites experiencing temperature swings up to 40°F between day and night. Free camping areas remain accessible year-round, though winter access requires chains or 4WD vehicles on unpaved roads from December through March.

What to do

Wildlife viewing with safety: At Sequoia National Park Dispersed campground, visitors regularly encounter wildlife in the meadow area. "It's a really nice spot. The meadow is nice but you need to hike in. We saw two bears every night so take precaution. They were Cubs, they're not scared of you but also won't mess with you if you lock up all your food," notes Steven R.

Stream exploration in spring: Brush Creek Recreation Site offers stream access for cooling off during hot months. "This is our favorite campground in the Sequoia National Forest, of the four we've stayed in. As long as you are 25 feet away from the river you can camp anywhere you want, so definitely not restricted to the parking lot area," reports Les R.

Stargazing all night: Away from city lights, the area provides exceptional night sky viewing. "No light pollution, and is beautiful enough to knock you off your feet because of all the stars. Good location. I would definitely do this again," notes Jeffrey T. at Stine Cove Recreation Site.

What campers like

Multi-day isolation: Hanning Flat Dispersed Area provides true solitude for extended stays. "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," reports Kiley S.

Morning wildlife encounters: Pastoral experiences are common at higher elevation sites. "Say hello to the cows for me! They gave me a warming welcome which set the tone for this ideal overnight spot," shares Izzy Y. about Stine Cove Recreation Site.

Hidden spots with quick town access: Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed combines seclusion with practicality. "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," writes Daniel H.

What you should know

Vehicle requirements vary by site: Sand and rough terrain limit access at some locations. "Would suggest 4x4 and wouldn't recommend heavier vehicles as it's a sandy dried up lake bed and we had to dig ourselves out in the morning," warns Zoe J. at Hanning Flat.

Toilet availability inconsistent: Chico Flat Dispersed Camping has seasonal bathroom access. "Bathrooms were locked. It's only a 3 minute walk down to the river. Very nice, convenient and clean," notes Cameron S. who visited in January.

Weather preparation essential: Wind can be severe in exposed areas. "Winter winds here almost blew the tent over with my pup and myself inside. Although occasional gusts may seem obvious for location and time of year I would have lost that tent had I not been inside," cautions Izzy Y.

Tips for camping with families

Look for off-season weekday camping: Avoiding peak periods improves the experience. "We showed up on Thursday and it was nice and mellow. But then the weekend crowd showed up Friday. It got very crowded and finding a spot can get desperate," advises Adam C. about Brush Creek.

Select sites with natural boundaries: Evans Road Hidden Camp provides natural containment. "Clearly defined track pops off 155. There are spots for a couple of campers. We drove to the end of the track, ends in a loop, and parked our camper van there," shares Erik R.

Check site distances from water: Water access varies dramatically. "It's a rec area, so with that in mind the weekends are getting busy. a lot of motocross, ohv and atv traffic from late thurs to sunday. other than that it is a wonderful free camping," notes Louis G. about Keyesville.

Tips from RVers

Scout sites before committing: Sequoia National Park Dispersed campground requires advance planning. "Arrived at the coordinates and had no place to turn off the road. Also, the area was hit by wildfires (maybe 2 years ago) so it's all pretty barren," warns Ryan B.

Look for established pull-offs: Finding flat parking areas is essential. "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," explains Gerald E. about Evans Road Dispersed Camping.

Check entry road conditions: West Keyville presents challenges for larger vehicles. "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 Marcus K.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Wofford Heights, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Wofford Heights, CA is Stine Cove Recreation Site with a 3.7-star rating from 15 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Wofford Heights, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 35 dispersed camping locations near Wofford Heights, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.