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The Mineral King area features the highest elevation campground in the parks. At 7,500 feet (2280 m), it is only open during the summer months. A narrow, winding, largely unpaved road leads to the area and its two campgrounds. **RVs and trailers are not recommended on Mineral King Road and are not permitted in campgrounds.** Mineral King is not connected to the rest of Sequoia National Park by roads. To get here, turn off of Highway 198 in Three Rivers, California.
Trails to alpine lakes and mountain passes begin nearby.
The campground is situated along the East Fork of the Kaweah River in a once logged sequoia grove. Atwell Mill campground contains 21 sites. The Atwell-Hockett Trail begins here.
Hikes into the backcountry out of Mineral King will give visitors an ever deeper understanding of the beauty and uniqueness of Sequoia National Park. Hike to alpine lakes and over mountain passes, or climb a peak.
There are limited services at Silver City Resort, 1.7 miles (3 km) east of the campground. More extensive services can be found in Three Rivers, 23 miles (37 km) west of Atwell Mill Campground (approximately 1.5 hours away).
* Payment in full will be charged to your credit card upon completion of the reservation. A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. Additional fees will apply for late cancellations
* All cancellations made between midnight on the day before arrival and check out time on the day after arrival are considered late cancellations and will incur a $10.00 cancellation fee and will also forfeit the first night’s use fee. Cancellations for a single night’s reservation will forfeit the entire use fee but no cancellation fee will apply.
Located 19 miles (31 km) from Highway 198 on the Mineral King Road, which turns off in Three Rivers, and 6 miles (10 km) before the end of the road. The campground is situated along the East Fork of the Kaweah River in a once logged Sequoia grove.
* ENTRANCE FEES APPLY: 1-7 Day Pass- $35 per vehicle (private, non-commercial). $20 per person (on foot, bicycle, or bus). $30 per motorcycle (not per person). 12 month pass available at Ash Mountain & Big Stump Entrance Stations. Check www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/fees.htm for details.
* CAMPING FEES: $22 per night for Regular Camping and $11 per night for valid lifetime Access Pass, lifetime Senior Pass, and annual Senior Pass. No other passes receive reduced rates.
* Failure to notify the campground prior to 12:00 pm noon the day following scheduled arrival may result in your reservation being cancelled.
I am happy we picked Atwell Mill campground in Mineral King area over Lodgepole/Giant Forest/Foothills Area campgrounds.
Atwell Mill offers more rustic, secluded, and peaceful surrounding than other campgrounds in the main part of Sequoia National Park.
The campsites are spacious, so you are not too close to your neighbors. No trailer and no RV. Tent only.
Amenities are basic: restroom, running water (but not for washing dishes, brushing teeth, or drinking), bear-safe locker to store store your food and other things with strong smell such as lotions, toothbrush, etc.
Atwell Mill is one of few campgrounds in Sequoia and King National Park that allows campfire. That's a big plus, but make sure you do your fire responsibly.
The road to go to Atwell Mill is long and winding (took us around one hour from the main road to the campground), but it is so very worth the extra miles. Highly recommended!
Outstanding.
Tent only, there's no generators, very quiet.
Camp for allowed due to altitude.
Cool in middle of summer...
Now, about the road, if you're not one for mountain roads, skip it.
Overall nice campground. The drive getting up there a little exhausting. It's a small and windy road and takes about an hour an a half to get to the campground from the main highway. Though they don't mention it anywhere there is an electronic toll booth in which you can purchase your National Park pass before entering that part of the park. Campground spaces are roomy and including campfire, charcoal bbq, and bear boxes big enough to store everything. Scenery is really nice with lots of trails. If you are coming up on a weekend don't count on there being any open spots unless you arrive early. Me and my wife arrived later in the afternoon on a Saturday and the only reason we were able to get a space is because someone paid for the spot but didn't end up staying. My only complaint that I have is I assumed there might be a ranger coming through once in a while throughout the night but never happened. Would of came in handy as the people in the campground next to me were loud and drank all night which made it difficult to sleep.
Great campsite. Beautiful location surrounded by forest. Well maintained and is provided with clean latrines and large bear boxes. The campsite is shady and has non potable water all around. Picnic tables and a grilling fire pit round it out. I want expecting soany amenities this length out. My only gripe would be that the actual sites are located very close to each other.
