Upper Billy Creek CG

Campground · California · 37 bookable sites ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

Sierra National Forest (NF) · Open Access

37
Bookable sites
40 ft
Max rig length
up to 10
People per site
15
Accessible sites
6,973 ft
Elevation
Upper Billy campsite located mostly in the sun but surrounded by a pine forest. The site include a picnic table and campfire pit.
Photo: Mercy Ramirez · Recreation.gov

Overview

Upper Billy Creek Campground is located across the road from Huntington Lake near the Kaiser Wilderness. The adjacent Billy Creek Guard Station Museum provides historical overviews of Huntington Lake, Native Americans and the Forest Service. Some sites at Upper Billy Creek offer lake views and others overlook Billy Creek and its abundant wildflowers. The location makes it possible to discover all the activities and attractions at Huntington Lake, and it's an excellent base for further exploration of the Kaiser Wilderness.

Recreation

Many hiking trails are in the area, including Rancheria Falls (1 mile), Indian Pools (1 mile) and Black Point (.7 miles). Hikers and horseback riders can access the 12-mile Kaiser Loop Trail, which connects to a network of trails within the Kaiser Wilderness.

Huntington Lake offers swimming, sailing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, fishing and water skiing. Additionally, California Land Management sponsors a variety of interpretive programs and nature walks throughout the summer at several locations in the area, including the amphitheater at Upper Billy Creek.

Facilities

This campground has paved spurs, some of which have a slight slope. Each campsite has a picnic table, food storage locker, and campfire ring. Vault toilets, flush toilets and drinking water are provided.

Natural Features

The campground is tucked beneath a grove of large cedar, fir and pine trees within the Sierra National Forest on the western slope of the central Sierra Nevada. Many sites have a view of Huntington Lake. The forest is known for its spectacular mountain scenery and abundant natural resources.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (559) 893-2308.

Nearby Attractions

The 83-mile Sierra Vista Scenic Byway (Highway 168) makes a great day trip from the Huntington Lake area.

Charges & Cancellations

Rules & Reservation Policies

As you make travel plans that include reservations on Recreation.gov, there are standard policies that apply to most locations of which you should be aware. Do keep in mind, however, that there are many exceptions, so it is best to review reservation information listed on individual facility pages for those policies and procedures that pertain to your specific locations. 

Any location or activity requiring a permit or lottery will have unique requirements and policies. Please check individual facility pages for pertinent information for those sites. 

Booking Window

For most locations, you can reserve six months in advance of your stay for individual sites and 12 months in advance for group sites. There are some exceptions, so it is best to check with each facility. 

Change and Cancellation Policies and Fees

Overnight and Day Use Facilities: To ensure fairness, reservation arrival or departure dates may not be changed beyond the booking window until 18 days after booking the reservation. 

Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount.

You can cancel or change reservations through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.

Tours & Tickets: You may request changes to tour dates at no cost before the arrival date. If you cancel before your tour date, you may be eligible for a refund. Cancellation fees apply. Please check the tour facility description details page for cancellation policies. 

Permits: Varies by location. Please check the permit details for the permit location. 

Late Cancellations

Overnight and Day Use Facilities: Late cancellations are those cancelled between 12:01 a.m. (Eastern) on the day before arrival and check out time on the day after arrival.

Individual Campsites: If a customer cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival they will be charged a $10.00 service fee and will also forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a single night's reservation will forfeit the entire use fee but no cancellation fee will apply.

Cabins / Lookouts: Customers will be charged a $10.00 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee if a cabin or lookout reservation is cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee.

Group Facility: If a customer cancels a group overnight facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date they will be charged the $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee.

Group Day Use Area: If a customer cancels a group day use facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date, they will forfeit the total day use fee with no service fee charge.

No-Shows

Camping / Day Use: A camping no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Reserved campsites and group overnight facilities will be held until check-out time on the day following your scheduled arrival. Group day-use facilities will be held until check-in time on your scheduled arrival date. 

If a customer does not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by the times listed under "Late Cancellations" above, the customer may be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit use fees. 

Tours: A tour or ticket no-show is one who does not cancel a ticket before arrival and does not arrive for the tour. Tour no-shows are not entitled to a refund. 

Refunds

Customers must request refunds no later than 14 days after the scheduled departure date. Recreation.gov will not grant refund requests after 14 days of departure. 

Reservation Fee: For some facilities, tours or permits an additional reservation fee is charged. For some overnight and day-use facilities, an additional non-refundable reservation fee may apply. The non-refundable reservation fee for tours and tickets is $1.00. The non-refundable reservation fee for permits varies by location.

Refunds for Bankcard Purchases: Refunds for bank card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank card.

Refunds for Check or Cash Purchases: Refunds for Recreation.gov payments made by check or money order, and cash payments at selected campgrounds will be issued a check refund. A refund will be processed within 30 days of receipt and approval. Please Note: Refund requests made during or after departure can only be processed when approved by the facility management staff based upon local policy.

Refunds for Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team will attempt to notify users and offer alternate dates (as appropriate). If this is not possible, reservations will be cancelled and all fees paid will be refunded. Reservation fees for free tickets are non-refundable in the event of an emergency closure.

Recreation.gov Billing Information

Reservation transaction will appear on customer's credit card statements as "Recreation.gov 877-444-6777." 

Changes to Policies and Procedures

Recreation.gov reserves the right, when necessary, to modify reservation policies. These policies were last updated July 

The facts

  • Season: June – September — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
  • 37 bookable sites
  • 15 accessible sites
  • Vehicles up to 40 ft
  • Up to 10 people per site
  • Loops: UPPER BILLY CREEK CG

Site types

  • 30 Standard Nonelectric
  • 6 Tent Only Nonelectric
  • 1 Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric

Amenities

  • Campfires allowed
  • Fire pits
  • Picnic tables
  • Shade
  • Pets allowed

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, grills.

Book on Recreation.gov

37 campsites at Upper Billy Creek CG

Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM

SiteLoopTypeEntrySurfaceGradeMax rigPeople
001UPPER BILLY CREEK CGTent Only Nonelectric————6 🐾
002UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight40 ft6 🐾
003UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight30 ft6♿ 🐾
004UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight30 ft6♿ 🐾
005UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight30 ft6 🐾
006UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight23 ft6♿ 🐾
007UPPER BILLY CREEK CGTent Only Nonelectric————6 🐾
008UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard Nonelectric———30 ft6 🐾
009UPPER BILLY CREEK CGTent Only Nonelectric————6 🐾
010UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard Nonelectric———30 ft6 🐾
011UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard Nonelectric———30 ft6♿ 🐾
012UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard Nonelectric———30 ft6 🐾
013UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Moderate30 ft6 🐾
014UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard Nonelectric———30 ft6 🐾
015UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Moderate29 ft6♿ 🐾
016UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard Nonelectric———30 ft10 🐾
017UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight30 ft6♿ 🐾
018UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Moderate30 ft6♿ 🐾
019UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight30 ft10♿ 🐾
020UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight28 ft10 🐾
021UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight27 ft6♿ 🐾
022UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard Nonelectric———30 ft6♿ 🐾
023UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight29 ft6♿ 🐾
024UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight30 ft10♿ 🐾
025UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Moderate28 ft6 🐾
026UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Moderate30 ft10♿ 🐾
027UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Moderate30 ft6 🐾
028UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Moderate30 ft6♿ 🐾
029UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight24 ft6 🐾
030UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight26 ft10 🐾
031UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight30 ft6 🐾
032UPPER BILLY CREEK CGTent Only Nonelectric————6 🐾
033UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight30 ft6 🐾
034UPPER BILLY CREEK CGTent Only Nonelectric————6 🐾
035UPPER BILLY CREEK CGStandard NonelectricBack In—Moderate26 ft6 🐾
036UPPER BILLY CREEK CGTent Only Nonelectric————6 🐾
Munahoo Group SiteUPPER BILLY CREEK CGGroup Tent Only Area NonelectricBack In—Slight27 ft10♿ 🐾

Getting there

Take Highway 168 east from Clovis to Shaver Lake. Continue through Shaver Lake to Huntington Lake. Continue around Huntington Lake for 3.2 miles to Upper Billy Creek Campground.

37.23826, -119.22704 · 37°14'17.7"N 119°13'37.4"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 74°F in Aug, down to 43°F in Jan.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F434446505666747468584944
Low °F242326293643494944373125
Precip in8.57.86.84.02.40.70.70.10.42.33.96.8

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 0.8 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 Upper Billy Creek CG

Can you reserve a site at Upper Billy Creek CG?
Yes, Upper Billy Creek CG is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Upper Billy Creek CG have?
37 sites.
What is the maximum RV length at Upper Billy Creek CG?
40 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Upper Billy Creek CG?
Yes, pets are allowed at Upper Billy Creek CG.
Are campfires allowed at Upper Billy Creek CG?
Campfires are allowed at Upper Billy Creek CG. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Also listed by

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

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

  • $30.00 per night, single site $56.00 per night, double site Premium sites - Single $30.00 Additional vehicles $7 per night

Restrictions:

  • Maximum stay = 14 days Maximum vehicle length = 30 foot Maximum group size = 6 per site Reservations can be made up to 1 day before arrival. 2 Night Minimum on weekends; 3 Night Minimum on holiday.

Accessibility:

  • null

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Upper Billy Creek CG

Comments

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-06-19.

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