Sequoia National Park
No-Frills Campout!
October 3-6
Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday
Checkout Friday morning.
The wilderness of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks protects one of America's most superlative scenic landscapes. An extraordinary continuum of ecosystems is arrayed along the greatest vertical relief (1,370 to 14,505 feet in elevation) of any protected area in the lower 48 states. Magnificent glacial canyons, broad lake basins, lush meadows, and sheer granite peaks--hallmarks of the most rugged portion of the High Sierra--form the core of the largest expanse of contiguous wilderness in California, which is visited and valued by people from around the world.
Arrive Tuesday around noon/early afternoon and depart Friday morning, thus giving us 2 1/2 glorious days to hike, relax and/or enjoy the vastness of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.
A National Park Pass is required per vehicle to enter Sequoia National Park otherwise an entry fee has to be paid.
We have one campsite so this is a limited opportunity for a couple of people. Limitations include max of 2 vehicles and 3 people (max of 6 if sharing of tents occurs between a couple, throuple, FWB or FWNB).
Lodgepole Campground
The photo above is our reserved campsite at Lodgepole Campground.
Lodgepole Campground is located in the breathtaking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in central California's rugged Sierra Nevada range. Lodgepole is perched on the banks of the scenic and lengthy Marble Fork of the Kaweah River, at an elevation of 6,700 ft. The inspiring Giant Forest Grove and the mighty General Sherman Tree - the world's largest tree in volume - are just two miles from the campground.
Lodgepole Campground is very popular with tent and RV campers alike. It has paved roads, flush toilets, and drinking water. Picnic tables, fire rings, and bear food storage boxes are provided at each site. Lodgepole Village is a quick, 1/4-mile away, offering, a Visitor Center, market and gift shop. Coin-operated showers and laundry facilities are not available for 2023 season.
Forty miles of trails, including the paved Big Trees Trail, invite visitors to immerse themselves in the majesty of the ancient grove. Several additional popular hiking and wilderness trailheads are close by, including the trail to Moro Rock, a granite dome with spectacular views of the Great Western Divide and western half of the park. Tokopah Falls Trail is an easy walk along the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River, leading to an impressive 1200 ft. waterfall.
We will be having a scheduled series of hikes if you so wish to participate and a list of hikes (easy) that you may want to consider doing too. There are several areas of Kings Canyon and Sequoia that are closed due to the damage incurred on many of the roads this past winter season; however there will be plenty of areas to explore during our stay.
The availability of places to eat will be extremely limited again due to several campgrounds being closed due to last winter's damage and also we have entered the fall season.
The good news: We will not be inundated with crowds of people! Yes!!!
Here is the link to the Sequoia National Park website to get more information:
https://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm
Weather:
Unpredictable. Late September-early October temperatures range from a high of 66-70 degrees during the day to 45-54 degrees at night.
Layers - Layers - Layers
Member Registration Fee: $35.
Member (#2) Sharing a Member tent: $25
Non-Member Sharing a Member tent: $50 but includes a year membership to GO OCLB Chapter.
Each vehicle entering Sequoia National Park must either possess a National Park Pass or pay a $35 entry fee per vehicle.
This fee is in addition to the $35 Registration Fee for Members ( Non-members $50) charged for the use of the campsite due upon registration.
Thank you for participating in the Great Outdoors club!
POC: Lance Whitmier
Email: President-OCLB@GreatOutdoors.org
Photo taken at Sequoia - Kings Canyon National Park hike.
