Thunderbird Group Campground
Campground · 3 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Sequoia National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 3
- Bookable sites
- 20 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 30
- People per site
- 2,868 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Thunderbird Group 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 three group sites. Picnic tables and campfire rings are provided, as are portable toilets. There is no drinking water available at this facility.Natural Features
The campground sits within Sequoia National Forest at an elevation of 3,200 feet in an open area with limited shade, 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 dot 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.The facts
- 3 bookable sites
- Vehicles up to 20 ft
- Up to 30 people per site
- Loops: THUNDERBIRD GROUP CAMPGROUND
Site types
- 3 Group Standard Area Nonelectric
Amenities
- Campfires allowed
- Picnic tables
- Grills
- Shade
- Pets allowed
- Water hookups — not available
- Sewer hookups — not available
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, fire pits.
3 campsites at Thunderbird Group Campground
Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Grade | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | THUNDERBIRD GROUP CAMPGROUND | Group Standard Area Nonelectric | Back In | — | Slight | 20 ft | 30 | 🐾 |
| Group 2 | THUNDERBIRD GROUP CAMPGROUND | Group Standard Area Nonelectric | Back In | — | Slight | 20 ft | 12 | 🐾 |
| Group 3 | THUNDERBIRD GROUP CAMPGROUND | Group Standard Area Nonelectric | Back In | — | Slight | 20 ft | 12 | 🐾 |
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 6.5 miles north on Sierra Way (Mountain 99) to the campground.
35.81522, -118.45693 · 35°48'54.8"N 118°27'24.9"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, 2.4 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
Member photos
Common questions about Thunderbird Group Campground
- Can you reserve a site at Thunderbird Group Campground?
- Yes, Thunderbird Group Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Thunderbird Group Campground have?
- 3 sites.
- What is the maximum RV length at Thunderbird Group Campground?
- 20 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Thunderbird Group Campground?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Thunderbird Group Campground.
- Does Thunderbird Group Campground have hookups?
- No hookups are recorded here.
- Are campfires allowed at Thunderbird Group Campground?
- Campfires are allowed at Thunderbird Group Campground. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Camping near Thunderbird Group Campground
- Camp Three Campground 0.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Hospital Flat 0.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Halfway Group Campground 0.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Headquarters 1.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Goldledge Campground 4.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Live Oak 7.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Camp 3 Campground 0.6 mi · Campground
- Chico Flat Dispersed Camping 0.6 mi · Facility
- Riverkern Beach Picnic Site 2.3 mi · Facility
- Corral Creek Dispersed Camping 2.8 mi · Facility
- Kern River Ranger District 4.4 mi · Facility
- Horse Meadow Campground 7.7 mi · Campground
Contact
- Phone 760-376-1815
- Email sschmidt@goexplorus.com
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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