Sequoia National Forest Belknap Campground, near the Sequoia National Forest in California, is a charming spot for those looking to immerse themselves in nature. With its unique campsites surrounded by towering trees and a lovely creek, it’s a great place to kick back and enjoy the great outdoors.

This campground is perfect for tent camping, offering a peaceful atmosphere where you can listen to the soothing sounds of water flowing nearby. Many visitors have praised the clean vault toilets and the friendly camp host who keeps everything in order. As one camper noted, “We listened to water the whole time. So relaxing!”

If you’re up for some adventure, there are plenty of hiking trails in the area, including the nearby Camp Nelson trail, which runs alongside the river. Fishing is also an option, with some campers reporting success in catching trout. Just keep in mind that while the scenery is stunning, you might encounter some wildlife, so be sure to store your food properly.

Belknap Campground is open from late May to late October, making it a seasonal retreat for those wanting to escape the hustle and bustle. Whether you’re seeking solitude during the week or a lively family atmosphere on weekends, this campground offers a little something for everyone.

## Overview

 Belknap Campground, elevation 4,800 feet, is located east of Porterville, CA off state highway 190 in the Giant Sequoia National Monument in the Western Divide Ranger District. It sits within the Belknap and McIntyre giant sequoia groves. 
## Recreation

 Trails in the monument are open to hikers, horseback riders and bikers. The trails wind through giant sequoia groves, up mountains and alongside wild rivers. A hiking trail also starts within the campground, leading into the sequoia grove, with fishing in Tule River along the way.
## Natural Features

 The Sequoia National Forest, located at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada in central California, takes its name from the giant sequoia, the world's largest tree, which grows in more than 30 groves on the Forest's lower slopes. The Forest comprises about 1.1 million acres, and elevations range from about 1,000 to 12,000 feet, creating precipitous canyons and mountain streams with spectacular waterfalls, such as Salmon Creek Falls near Fairview and Grizzly Falls on the Kings River. 
## Contact Info

 For facility specific information, please call (661) 455-6010.

Sequoia National Forest Belknap Campground

Join the fun near Camp Nelson. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Camp Nelson. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your California camping adventure.

Camp Nelson

The Best Camping Near Camp Nelson, California

Tents only and reservations needed; this is a popular camping destination. At 4200’ elevation expect cool evenings and cold mornings. Daytime temperatures are very pleasant but can get warm late in the season. Roads are paved with pit toilets and community water spigots. The campground has the middle fork of the Tule river with easy access along the river and there is fishing. This is a good family CG!

Tents Only

Not hard to get to, i highly recommend to go during the weekday for solitude &amp; enjoy the wilderness, weekends gets crowded with family young kids. Super clean restrooms. Dog friendly.

A secret site

Spent a very enjoyable 3 days at Belknap. Our site was between a creek and the river so we listened to water the whole time. So relaxing! Nice trails to explore. Husband caught a nice trout. There’s a decent swimming hole. Vault toilets. A few water spigots scattered throughout the campground. Camp host Dan keeps everything clean and is really nice too. My only negative is that there are no bear boxes. There was a bear in the campground our last night there. So put your food away at night. 

Great little campground 

This is the worst campground ever.  Never go here.
If I could never go here every year, I would not go here every year.  Because of this I should stop going here every year.  

Go away

Beautiful drive up campground with a really friendly camp host. Vault toilets, but the cleanest vault toilets I’ve used in CA. River runs through the camp and there’s a little swimming hole. Camp Nelson trail is a short walk away and the river runs next to most of the trail so there’s always a water source. Lots of bear/mountain lion activity but each campsite has a bear locker

Great car camping

Each campsite had its own uniqueness. There are plenty of trees and plenty of shade on all the sites. There are a handful of giant sequoia’s in the middle of the campground. We had site 15, and although the picture of the site looks small there is a trail to, an upper spot for putting the tent, which makes the campsite secluded and beautiful! There is a creek that runs along the grounds, and there is plenty of hiking all around. We thoroughly enjoyed this campground, and highly recommended.

Photos of Sequoia National Forest Belknap Campground

Real photos from real campers