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Dorst Creek Campground is located in the breathtaking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in central California's rugged Sierra Nevada range.
The campground is perched at an elevation of 6,700 ft., on the banks of scenic Dorst Creek. Several meadows surround the campground and a number of small streams flow through the site.
A handful of popular day-hikes begin from or near the campground, including the trail to Lost Grove, a 57-acre grove containing 15 beautiful sequoias.
Dorst Creek lies in the Giant Forest region of Sequoia National Park, where forty miles of trails invite visitors to immerse themselves in the majesty of the ancient groves.
Several additional popular hiking and wilderness trailheads are close by, including the Big Trees Trail and 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 1,200 ft. waterfall. Fly-fishing is a popular activity on Dorst Creek and the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River.
The campground is very popular with tent and RV campers alike. It has paved roads, flush toilets, and drinking water, but no electricity. Picnic tables, fire rings, and bear food storage boxes are provided at each site. A free dump station is located on-site. Lodgepole Village is nine miles away, offering a visitor center, nightly Interpretive Ranger programs, a market, deli, snack bar, gift shop, post office, coin-operated showers and laundry facilities.
Lodgepole pine, red fir, and shrubs forest the campground, while towering groves of giant sequoias and craggy granite peaks dot the landscape.
This region is characterized by warm days and cool nights in the summer and deep snow and cold days in the winter.
For facility specific information, please call (559) 565-3714.
The inspiring Giant Forest Grove, General Sherman Tree, General Grant Tree, Moro Rock and Tunnel Log are just 9-17 miles away, as well as the informative Lodgepole Visitor Center and Giant Forest Museum. Colorful Crescent Meadow offers views of vivid summer wildflowers and access to Tharp's Log, a cabin in a fallen sequoia. Tours into Crystal Cave, one of hundreds of marble caves in the park, give visitors an interesting view of rock formations, fossils, rare minerals and unique wildlife. Tickets are required. Reserve in advance on www.recreation.gov. Tickets may also be purchased same day, if available, at the Lodgepole Visitor Center. Tickets are not sold at the cave entrance. The Crystal Cave is about about a one hour drive (21 miles/34 km) from the campground. Vehicles longer than 22 feet long are prohibited on the narrow winding Crystal Cave Road.
* 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.
* **For individual campsites:** 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.
* **For group campsites:** All cancellations made within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date are considered late cancellations and will incur the $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. Cancellations for a single night's use will forfeit the entire use fee but no cancellation fee will apply.
Arriving from the south: From Highways 65 or 99, go east on Highway 198E. Follow signs to Sequoia National Park to the park entrance. Highway 180E may be reached from Highway 198E using Highway 63N from Visalia. Arriving from the north: From Fresno, take Highway 180E, following signs to Kings Canyon National Park. Once in the park, follow signs to Sequoia National Park and Lodgepole. It takes about 1 1/4 hours to drive to the campground from the south park entrance (198E) or 45 minutes from the north park entrance (180E). The main park road, The Generals Highway, connects the north and south entrances. Winter storms may cause temporary closures from Grant Grove to Lodgepole.
* **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. Group sites are $50 - $70 depending on site (see Facility Rates below). 50% Senior Pass and Access Pass discount rates DO NOT APPLY to group sites.
* **Failure to notify the campground** 559-565-4488 prior to 12:00 noon the day following scheduled arrival may result in your reservation being cancelled.
Loved it , lots of wildlife, waterfalls, long drive for us but oh so worth it.
Very quiet and beautiful. We were in a tent and a nearby RV left their porch light on all night the second night which was super lame - first night was so beautiful and dark with only stars to be seen!
Love coming here every summer with the family we stay five nights have an amazing time ..one thing I would change is the need for more rangers inforcing the rules to the people too many dirty ignorant people littering the Forrest it's just sad if people want to be filthy slobs they should just stay home ..
The campground contains benchtables and fireplace. There is water, which is not drinkable. The toilets are a little nasty and there are no electricity, showers or mobile connection. There are plenty of wildlife, we saw plenty of chipmunks and squirrels and a deer that didn't care at all of presence. All in all a great campground.
Great place to stay in Sequoia National Park. Flush toilets, running water, Bear lockers, shade, what more do you need for a few nights? Some spots are on top of each other and some are more isolated, whichever you prefer!
