Reservations not being accepted. Pioneer Point is a high-desert campground near Lake Isabella in the Sequoia National Forest. The 11,000-acre lake is actually a reservoir, one of California's largest, and it marks the division between the Upper and Lower Kern Rivers.
The focal point of this year-round campground is Lake Isabella, where campers can swim, water ski, windsurf and more.
The lake is known for trout fishing during the colder months, offering anglers a variety of species, including black and white crappie, bluegill, catfish and largemouth bass.
This 73-site campground, directly across the street from Lake Isabella, is open year-round. Some sites offer sweeping lake views, and a playground in the campground offers enjoyment for children.
Lake access is less than a mile from the campgrounds. The town of Lake Isabella is a 2-mile drive away.
This facility is operated by Sequoia Recreation, a division of California Land Management and comments are welcome; comment forms are available from campground hosts or online.
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 and Grizzly Falls.
The campground provides a great base for day trips to the Trail of a Hundred Giants and numerous Sequoia groves in the Giant Sequoia National Monument. You cannot access Sequoia National Park with a day trip.
The Giant Sequoia Mercantile offers a wide variety of books, maps, gifts, local art, camping supplies and other merchandise.
From Bakersfield, California, take Highway 178 east to the town of Lake Isabella. From Lake Isabella take 155 north about 1.5 miles to Pioneer Point Campground.