Chico Flat Dispersed Camping
Dispersed Camping on Upper Kern River approximately 4 to 5 miles north from Kernville. Ther is no water available at this location. Portable toilets and trash receptacles are available during summer months. Dispersed Camping Rules, Regulations, and Tips
More like this: first-come in California · free in California · tent only in California
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | Free of charge. |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Open Year Round |
| Forest | Sequoia National Forest |
| Booking | No reservations required. |
| Fees | Free of charge. |
| Rules | Camping and campfires within 25 feet of the water's edge is prohibited due to the Wild and Scenic Designation. Glass containers prohibited. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 35.8235° N, 118.4620° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 12 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Triple Crown Outfitters ↗ | 23.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | Lindustries RV Service ↗ | 44.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Chico Flat. Campground.
Worth a stop
- 2.3 miCorral Creek Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 2.9 mi
- 8.5 miCyrus Canyon Ohv Park ↗OHV / range
- 8.7 miCyrus Canyon Shooting Range ↗OHV / range
- 9 miTillie Creek Launch Ramp Boating Site ↗Boat launch
- 10.6 miStine Cove Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
Trails nearby
- 3 miBaker Point1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.4 miWhiskey Flat ↗12.4 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.9 miCannell Meadow ↗23.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more · national_recreation_or_other
- 4.7 miPotato Patch ↗11.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 4.7 miBull Run ↗5.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 4.8 miRincon ↗19.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Sequoia National Forest.
- inSequoia National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,160,053 acres
- 7.4 miDomeland Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 133,720 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Guidebooks for Sequoia National Forest and California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Chico Flat Dispersed Camping?
No. Chico Flat Dispersed Camping is first-come, first-served. No reservations required. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Chico Flat Dispersed Camping?
Nothing. Chico Flat Dispersed Camping is listed as free. Free of charge.
Source: Forest Service
Is Chico Flat Dispersed Camping open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season Open Year Round.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Chico Flat Dispersed Camping?
Chico Flat Dispersed Camping is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Chico Flat Dispersed Camping is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Hospital Flat (0.4 mi), Thunderbird Group Campground (0.6 mi), and Camp Three Campground (1.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby