Hospital Flat
Campground · California · 36 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Sequoia National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 36
- Bookable sites
- 40 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 24
- People per site
- 2,970 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Hospital Flat Campground is situated along the Kern River, 6.5 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
The campground offers several single-family sites on a single loop along the river. 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 3,000 feet in an open area overlooking the Kern Wild and Scenic River. Gray pine, scrub oak, grasses and shrubs cling to steep, canyon walls along the river, and cottonwoods and willows line the riverbanks.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: May – September — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
- 36 bookable sites
- Vehicles up to 40 ft
- Up to 24 people per site
- Loops: AREA HOSPITAL FLAT
Site types
- 32 Standard Nonelectric
- 3 Walk To
- 1 Group Walk To
Amenities
- Campfires allowed
- Fire pits
- Picnic tables
- Shade
- Pets allowed
- Water hookups — not available
- Sewer hookups — not available
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, grills.
36 campsites at Hospital Flat
Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 002 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 003 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 004 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 005 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 006 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 007 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 40 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 008 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Walk To | Back In | Paved | 10 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 009 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Walk To | Back In | Paved | 10 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 010 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Walk To | Back In | Paved | 10 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 011 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 20 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 012 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 013 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 014 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 016 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 20 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 017 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 20 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 018 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 20 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 019 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 20 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 020 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 20 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 021 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 20 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 022 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 20 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 023 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 20 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 024 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 20 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 025 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 20 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 026 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 20 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 027 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 028 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Group Walk To | Back In | Paved | 10 ft | 24 | 🐾 |
| 032 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 033 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 20 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 034 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 20 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 035 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 036 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 037 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 038 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 039 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 20 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
| 040 | AREA HOSPITAL FLAT | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 20 ft | 6 | 🐾 |
Getting there
From Kernville, go 6.5 miles north on Sierra Way (Mountain 99) to the campground.
35.82805, -118.45811 · 35°49'41.0"N 118°27'29.2"W
Typical weather
Typically 99°F in Jul, down to 60°F in Dec.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 61 | 63 | 67 | 72 | 80 | 91 | 99 | 98 | 92 | 81 | 69 | 60 |
| Low °F | 32 | 33 | 36 | 41 | 48 | 56 | 63 | 62 | 56 | 46 | 36 | 31 |
| Precip in | 2.3 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 1.9 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 3.3 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Hospital Flat
- Can you reserve a site at Hospital Flat?
- Yes, Hospital Flat is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Hospital Flat have?
- 36 sites.
- What is the maximum RV length at Hospital Flat?
- 40 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Hospital Flat?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Hospital Flat.
- Does Hospital Flat have hookups?
- No hookups are recorded here.
- Are campfires allowed at Hospital Flat?
- Campfires are allowed at Hospital Flat. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Also listed by
Hospital Flat also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Hospital Flat'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. Group Campsite 30pp - $145.00 Maximum trailer length 30’
Restrictions:
- Camping and campfires within 25 feet of the water's edge are prohibited due to Kern River's Wild and Scenic Designation.
Camping near Hospital Flat
- Thunderbird Group Campground 0.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Camp Three Campground 1.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Halfway Group Campground 1.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Headquarters 2.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Goldledge Campground 3.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Fairview Campground 7.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Chico Flat Dispersed Camping 0.4 mi · Facility
- Camp 3 Campground 1.5 mi · Campground
- Corral Creek Dispersed Camping 2 mi · Facility
- Riverkern Beach Picnic Site 3.1 mi · Facility
- Kern River Ranger District 5.3 mi · Facility
- Horse Meadow Campground 7.1 mi · Campground
Contact
- Phone 760-376-1815
- Email jhumphries@goexplorus.com
- Book Recreation.gov
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.
Comments