4.39115 reviewsPrice
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
Varies
Season
Open all year around...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Price
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
Varies
Season
Open all year around...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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Learn more about alerts →Chico Flat Dispersed Camping
35.8235, -118.4620
We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.
Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans
256,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account
Learn more about alerts →River campers who pack in their own water and food storage will find good site privacy on large sandy flats right at the water's edge. Midweek in summer hits the sweet spot: stable river levels for swimming and fishing, temps in the mid-80s by day, and far fewer people competing
Bears have raided food left out at camp, so anyone without a hard-sided bear canister or locked vehicle should think twice. No potable water, no shade structures, no hookups, and virtually no cell signal on any carrier except AT&T edge means this is genuinely self-sufficient camp
Camper Report Card
Rated higher than 11% of graded campgrounds
Graded on what 37 campers actually wrote - graded on 14 things that make or break a trip. Each topic is graded against every other campground on it - A is among the best, C about average. No star ratings.
Strengths
Watch-outs
Each topic is graded against every other campground on it; a topic campers liked never grades below C−. ± shows the 95% confidence range from the sample size.
Reference information about Chico Flat Dispersed Camping sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>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. <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/stelprd3794624.jpg">See Larger Picture Here</a>. </p><p><a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sequoia/maps-pubs/?cid=fseprd883625">Dispersed Camping Rules, Regulations, and Tips</a></p>
Availability, what to pack, similar spots — ask anything and get an instant answer.
Summer brings the best conditions, with daytime highs in the mid-80s to low-90s and nights in the 50s-60s. River levels stabilize after spring runoff, making swimming, fishing, and casual boating easier. Weekends and holidays draw more campers, so midweek visits offer better solitude and site selection. Winter camping is possible but demands serious cold-weather gear.
Open year-round; fall likely offers good weather and scenery though fewer explicit reviews than summer.
Chico Flat Dispersed Camping provides minimal facilities, emphasizing a "pack it in, pack it out" ethic. Potable water is unavailable, and visitors are advised to bring their own drinking water or use eco-friendly filtration systems. Portable toilets and trash receptacles are available during the summer months. Picnic tables are not available, and restrooms are absent outside the summer season, emphasizing the importance of proper human waste disposal. This dispersed camping site is free and accessible all year round.
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