RECREATION REPORT FOR SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST
PRIMARY CONTACT: ROSEMARY MCCLEOD
SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST
TELEPHONE: 209-784-1500
900 W. GRAND AVE.
OFFICE HOURS: 8:00 AM-4:30 PM, MON.-FRI.
PORTERVILLE, CA 93257
**CARING FOR THE LAND AND SERVING PEOPLE**
CAUTIONS: When in the forest, be wary of snags as they could fall at anytime.
Bring extra clothing and let someone know where you're going when heading for the mountains. Use caution when crossing all creeks, streams, and rivers.
CAMPFIRE PERMITS: Campfire permits are still required when camping outside a developed campground. They are free of charge and maybe obtained at any Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, or California Department of Forestry offices.
HOLIDAY: All offices will be closed Dec. 25 and 26 for Christmas and New Year's Day, Jan. 1, 1998.
ROAD CONDITIONS: Most Forest Service roads are open. Please call the Ranger
District Offices for current conditions. Also, the Highway Patrol 209-445-6702 or the Cal Trans Road Conditions recorded message number 800-427-7623 will have current road conditions in California. PLEASE DRIVE CAREFULLY AND BE PREPARED FOR THE UNEXPECTED!!
RIVER PERMITS: Whitewater boating permits are required for the Kern River. Permits are free of charge and can be obtained from district offices in Springville, Kernville, Lake Isabella, and Bureau of Land Management in Bakersfield.
PERSONAL USE WOODCUTTING: Fuelwood cutting season is closed until spring 1998.
HUNTING SEASON: Deer hunting season is closed. It is the responsibility of those hunting to know the rules and regulations. Check your California Hunting Regulations booklets for information.
FISHING SEASON: Fishing season is open year-round in Kern County and on the Tule
River drainage. It is the responsibility of those fishing to know the rules and regulations. Check your California Fishing Regulations booklet for information.
CAMPGROUND RESERVATION SYSTEM: The National Recreation Reservation System (NRRS) is accepting reservations for group sites up to 360 days in advance of the arrival date and is also accepting reservations 240 days in advance for family sites. The reservations number is 1-800-280-2267, the TDD number is 1-800-879-4496, and the FAX number is 1-301-722-9802. Reservations must be made at least 5 days prior to the arrival date. Forms for mail-in or FAX reservations may be obtained at the Supervisor's Office or any of the ranger districts listed below. Fees for reserving campsites through this system are S8.65 for family sites and S17.35 for a group site for the 1998 season. There is a S8.65 cancellation fee for reservations made through this system. For publication request an automated number has been set up, 202-205-1760.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600
(voice and TDD). To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340 (voice) or 202-720-1127 (TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity employer.
HUME LAKE RANGER DISTRICT (Clingan's Jct/Hwy. 180)
(209) 338-2251
35860 East Kings Canyon Rd., Dunlap, CA 93621
Teresa Fraser
Office Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Mon.-Fri.
For specific and up-to-date information on trails, roads, campgrounds and
activities please call the District Office.
CAMPGROUNDS: Mill Flat, Camp 4 and Camp 4-1/2 are open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. All other campgrounds are closed for the winter season. The four group campgrounds: Fir, Cove, Logger Flat and Aspen Hollow are also closed for the season. The group campgrounds are available for reservations for next year through NRRS.
CAVERNS: Boyden Cavern is closed for the season. Call (209)736-2708 for more information.
WILDERNESS: Trailheads are closed for access into Jennie Lakes and Monarch wilderness areas.
PACK STATION: Horse Corral Pack Station is closed for the season.
ROADS: Most district roads are closed. State Hwy. 180 is closed at the Hume Lake intersection. Be prepared for closures of the General's Highway due to road construction after the Ash Mountain
Headquarters.
WOODCUTTING: Personal use fuelwood season is closed.
OTHER: For up-to-date road and weather information for Sequoia National
Park, please call 209-565-3341 and select #4. For information on
the Grant Grove area, please call 209-335-2856.
TULE RIVER RANGER DISTRICT
(209) 539-2607
32588 Hwy 190, Springville, CA 93265
Tom Burns
Office Hours: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Mon.-Fri.For specific and up-to-date information on trails, roads, campgrounds and activities please call the District Office.
CAMPGROUNDS: Wishon campground is open year-round, subject to snow, with a S12/night fee. All other campgrounds are closed for the season. Campground reservations can be made by contacting NRRS. Campgrounds also operate on a first-come first-served basis.
PARKING/DAY
USE AREAS: Lower Coffee Camp is open for DAY USE ONLY from 6am to 10pm. A
S5 parking fee is charged. Upper Coffee Camp is closed for the season.
TRAILS: All trailheads are open.
WILDERNESS: Lloyd Mdw. Rd. to Forks of Kern and Jerkey Trailhead is closed. North Road (21S50) is closed. Check for specifics with the District office. Permits are required for overnight stays in the Golden Trout Wilderness. USE CAUTION CROSSING STREAMS AND RIVERS. Check weather prior to wilderness entry - snow is possible at any time.
ROADS: Western Divide Hwy. and Parker Pass Rd. are closed for the season. Lloyd Mdw. Rd., North Rd. and Needles Rd. are closed. Crawford road is closed. Most Forest Service roads are closed for the season.
FISHING AND
HUNTING: Fishing season is open on the TULE DRAINAGE YEAR-AROUND. Be sure and check the regulation book for specifics. Planting will be done as weather and water temperatures allow.
WOODCUTTING: Fuelwood cutting season is closed.
OTHER
CAMPGROUNDS: BALCH PARK CAMPGROUND - Contact 209-733-6612 or 209-539-2896
(Closed)
MOUNTAIN HOME STATE FOREST - Contact 209-539-2855
(Closed)
HOT SPRINGS RANGER DISTRICT (Calif. Hot Springs RD. J22)
(805) 548-6503 (TDD avl)
Nolan Fritz
43474 Parker Pass Drive
Mailing Address: Rt. 4 Box 548, Calif. Hot Springs, CA 93207
Office Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Mon.-Fri.
CAMPGROUNDS: Leavis Flat Campground is open - S10/night fee. All other campgrounds are closed.
TRAILS: Most trails on the District are closed. Check with district for current information.
ROADS: Some Forest Service roads are closed. Mule Peak Rd. is closed due to weather. Mill Creek Rd (23S16) from Portuguese Pass N. to Thompson Camp is restricted to sedan and pickup travel only, due to storm damage. The following roads are closed: Last Chance, Powderhorn, Parker Mdw., Parker Forks, Deer Creek Mill, Capinero, Jack Ranch, Sandy Creek Fire roads. Lloyd Meadow Rd. is open.
FISHING: Fishing season is closed.
WOODCUTTING: Fuelwood cutting season is closed.
GREENHORN RANGER DISTRICT
(760) 379-5646 (TDD avl)
4875 Ponderosa Dr., Lake Isabella, CA 93240
Dave Baskin/Geri Adams
Mailing Address: PO Box 3810, Lake Isabella, CA 93240
Office Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Mon.-Fri.
Bakersfield Visitor Center
(805) 391-6088
3801 Pegasus Dr., Bakersfield, CA 93308
Pam Killian/Colleen Robidoux
Office Hours: 7:30 AM - 4:15 PM, Mon.-Fri.
For specific and up-to-date information on trails, roads, and campgrounds please
call the District Office.
CAMPGROUNDS: Hobo Campground is open with a fee of S12/night. Reservations can be made by calling NRRS. Sandy Flat Campground is closed for the season. Cedar Creek Campground is open on a first-come, first-served basis, free of charge, no water.
LAKE ISABELLA
CAMPGROUNDS: Pioneer Point, Tillie Creek, and Paradise Cove Campgrounds are
open at a cost of S14/night. Additional vehicles are S5/night.
Paradise Cove RV and Camp 9 sites are S6/night. Additional
vehicles are S5/night. Reservations can be made by calling
NRRS. Campgrounds are also available on a first-come
first-served basis. Tillie Creek, French Gulch, and Live Oak
South group area fees vary and reservations must be made by
calling NRRS. Lake shore camping is permitted from Auxiliary
Dam past Old Isabella Road to the South Fork Recreation Area,
Hanning Flat and Stine Cove.
PICNIC/DAY
USE AREAS: Upper Richbar, Lower Richbar and Live Oak Picnic Areas are open
with fees of S5 on weekends and S2 on weekdays for parking.
Democrat RAFT TAKE-OUT and Miracle Hot Springs are open with a
S5 charge for parking (up to 4 persons and S1/additional person
in a vehicle above 4). No launch fees at Miracle Hot Springs.
DISPERSED
CAMPING: Dispersed camping is allowed in most areas. There are no fees,
but services are limited. To protect the Kern River, no camping
is allowed from Live Oak Day Use Area up-canyon 6 miles (mile
mark 24), within 100 feet of the water's edge.
WINTER SPORTS: Shirley Meadows Ski Area will open to the public when additional
storms bring more snow, usually around the Christmas holidays.
Call (760) 376-4186 for current conditions and hours of
operation. Cross-country skiing, smowmobiling, and snowboarding
opportunities are available.
OHV TRACK: Cyrus Canyon OHV Track is located on the east side of Lake Isabella. The motorcross track is great for family outings, race practice or even organized motorcycles events.
GOLF COURSE: Kern Valley Golf Course is open daily to the public and is under
a Special Use Permit with the Forest Service.
MARINAS: French Gulch Marina (760) 379-8774; Red's Kern Valley Marina (760) 379-1634 and Dean's North Fork Marina (760) 376-1812.
OAK FLAT
LOOKOUT: Historical Oak Flat Lookout in the Greenhorn Mountains is
available for overnight lodging. Reservations can be made by
calling the Bakersfield Visitor Information office at (805)
391-6088. Cost per night is S25.
TARGET RANGE: Target Range, located on the northeast end of Lake Isabella near
Cyrus Canyon, is operated by the Kern River Valley Gun Assn.
under a Special-Use Permit. It is open to the public on Sundays
from 8am to 1pm year-round, weather permitting, except for
holiday weekends.
WHITE WATER
FUN: Whitewater boating permits will be available January, 1998, at
the District office or the Bakersfield Visitor Center for the
1998 season. Four approved commercial companies host guided day
and overnite trips on the lower Kern River.
FISHING AND
HUNTING: Fishing season is open in Kern County with a 5 trout limit.
ROADS/TRAILS: Call the District office for current conditions.
CANNELL MEADOW RANGER DISTRICT
(760) 376-3781
105 Whitney Rd., Kernville, CA
Cheryl Bauer
Mailing Address: PO Box 6,
Kernville, CA 93238
Jill Slater
Office Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Mon.-Fri.
UPPER KERN RIVER
CAMPGROUNDS: Headquarters is open year-round with a S12/night fee. A S5 fee
is charged for each additional vehicle. Call the district
office for current information. Dispersed areas are open.
PLATEAU
CAMPGROUNDS: Kennedy Mdw. is open with no water, access depends upon snow
conditions. Horse Mdw., Fish Creek, Troy Meadows are closed.
PLEASE PACK OUT WHAT YOU PACK IN.
TRAILS: Sherman Pass and Monache 4x4 roads are closed. The Rincon and
Cannell OHV Trails are open. All other OHV trails are closed.
All hiking trails are open. OSV Trails are open. Use caution
when crossing rivers and streams. Please report trail conditions
to the District office.
ROADS: Sherman Pass Road is open to the snow line. Cherry Hill Road is
closed. Please contact the district for current road
conditions.
WILDERNESS: Access to Golden Trout, Domelands and South Sierra Wilderness
areas is limited due to snow. The GTW requires a visitor's
permit when staying overnight. PLEASE OBEY ALL SIGNS IN THE
KIAVAH WILDERNESS AREA.
PUBLIC PASTURES: All are closed.
FISHING: Fishing season is open year-round in Kern County. In Tulare
County fishing season is open year-round along the Kern River
from the Kern/Tulare County line north to the Johnsondale Bridge
and along the Tule River drainage. Special fishing regulations
are in effect from the Johnsondale Bridge north to Sequoia Kings
Canyon National Parks. Check with California Dept. of Fish and
Game regulations.
WOODCUTTING: Fuelwood cutting season is closed.
WHITEWATER
FUN: Permits for whitewater boating on the Upper Kern River are
required year-round. The Upper Kern is running at 385 CFS.
Permits for whitewater boating on the Forks of the Kern River
are required May 15 to Sept. 15.
OFFICE HOURS: Blackrock Visitor Information Station is closed for the season.
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