Headquarters

Campground · California · 42 bookable sites ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

Sequoia National Forest (NF) · Open Access

42
Bookable sites
30 ft
Max rig length
up to 10
People per site
1
Accessible site
2,788 ft
Elevation
Headquarters view
Photo: Local staff · Recreation.gov

Overview

Headquarters Campground is situated along the Kern River, 6 miles north of the town of Kernville. Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities.

Recreation

Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities in the Upper Kern River area. Click here to learn more about the area, including safety and permitting requirements and a listing of local outfitters.

Facilities

Headquarters Campground offers a mix of standard, RV and tent-only sites. Picnic tables and campfire rings are provided, as are vault toilets and drinking water.

Natural Features

The campground sits within Sequoia National Forest at an elevation of 2,800 feet in an open area overlooking the Kern Wild and Scenic River. Some sites overlook the river and lie in the shade of oak, juniper and cottonwood trees. Sites sitting further from the river are more open and have little to no shade.

Sequoia National Forest, located at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada in central California, is named for 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. 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.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (760) 376-1269.

Nearby Attractions

The Cannell Meadow National Recreation Trail begins just north of Kernville. The trail stretches 11.5 miles as it climbs through mixed pine and fir forest to Cannell Meadow and a historic Forest Service cabin built between 1904 and 1909. Hikers are awarded beautiful views of the Kern River Valley along the trip.

Visitors enjoy making day trips to Sequoia National Park and Giant Sequoia National Monument.

The facts

  • Season: Open Year Round — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
  • 42 bookable sites
  • 1 accessible site
  • Vehicles up to 30 ft
  • Up to 10 people per site
  • Loops: A, B, C, Yurt

Site types

  • 25 RV Nonelectric
  • 13 Tent Only Nonelectric
  • 2 Standard Nonelectric
  • 2 Yurt

Amenities

  • Campfires allowed
  • Fire pits
  • Picnic tables
  • Shade
  • Pets allowed
  • Water hookups
  • Sewer hookups

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, grills.

Book on Recreation.gov

42 campsites at Headquarters

Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM

SiteLoopTypeEntrySurfaceMax rigPeople
001ATent Only NonelectricBack InPaved—6
003ARv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
004ATent Only NonelectricBack InPaved—6 🐾
005ARv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
006ATent Only NonelectricBack InPaved—6 🐾
007ATent Only NonelectricBack InPaved—6 🐾
008ATent Only NonelectricBack InPaved—6 🐾
019ATent Only NonelectricBack InPaved—6 🐾
020ARv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
021ARv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
022ARv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6♿ 🐾
023ARv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
024ATent Only NonelectricBack InPaved—6 🐾
025ARv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
026ARv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
027ARv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
028ARv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
029ARv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
030ARv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
032ARv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
033ARv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
034 - Host SiteARv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
035BTent Only NonelectricBack InPaved—6 🐾
036BRv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
037BRv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
038BStandard NonelectricBack InPaved—6 🐾
039BTent Only NonelectricBack InPaved—10 🐾
042BTent Only NonelectricBack InPaved—6 🐾
043BRv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
044BStandard NonelectricBack InPaved—6 🐾
009CRv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
010CTent Only NonelectricBack InPaved—6 🐾
011CTent Only NonelectricBack InPaved—6 🐾
012CRv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
013CRv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
014CTent Only NonelectricBack InPaved—6 🐾
015CRv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
016CRv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
017CRv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
018CRv NonelectricBack InPaved30 ft6 🐾
002YurtYurtBack InPaved20 ft6
031YurtYurtBack InPaved20 ft6

Getting there

From Bakersfield, take Highway 178 East to Lake Isabella. From Lake Isabella, take Highway 155 around the west side of the lake to the town of Kernville. From Kernville, go 4 miles north on Sierra Way (Mountain 99) to the campground.

35.79630, -118.45001 · 35°47'46.7"N 118°27'0.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 99°F in Jul, down to 60°F in Dec.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F616367728091999892816960
Low °F323336414856636256463631
Precip in2.32.41.70.70.40.10.10.10.20.61.41.9

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 1.1 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

More photos

HEADQUARTERS
HEADQUARTERS

Member photos

Common questions about Headquarters

Can you reserve a site at Headquarters?
Yes, Headquarters is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Headquarters have?
42 sites.
What is the maximum RV length at Headquarters?
30 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Headquarters?
Yes, pets are allowed at Headquarters.
Does Headquarters have hookups?
No hookups are recorded here.
Are campfires allowed at Headquarters?
Campfires are allowed at Headquarters. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Also listed by

Headquarters also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Headquarters's operator.

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

  • Campsite fees range from $34/night for single unit, $8/night for extra vehicle. Yurts - $106.00 Maximum vehicle length 27’

Restrictions:

  • No camping or campfires outside designated campsites.

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Headquarters

Comments

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-06-13.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.