USDA Forest Service · California
South Fork Rec
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Sites
- 4
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 2,608 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile good · AT&T good · Verizon good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- SOUTH FORK (NFSR 26S22) · bituminous surface treatment · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Sequoia National Forest
- Nearest town
- Mountain Mesa
- Address
- CA
- Phone
- N/A
- Activities
- Camping, Fishing, Picnicking
About
Overview
This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.
If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
Facilities
Located off Highway 178 on the southern side of Lake Isabella, this facility offers flush toilets, trash service, drinking water, a visitor information station, and campsites with stoves and picnic tables above the high-water mark.
Below the high-water mark, visitors can drive their vehicles to the shoreline and camp at the water’s edge. Below the high-water mark portable toilets and trash receptacles are provided for visitor convenience during the summer.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 57° | 40° | 28° | 77° | 3 of 11 |
| February | 58° | 39° | 22° | 75° | 4 of 11 |
| March | 60° | 44° | 26° | 90° | 4 of 11 |
| April | 68° | 48° | 34° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| May | 80° | 57° | 42° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 91° | 67° | 44° | 106° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 100° | 77° | 57° | 109° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 98° | 75° | 61° | 107° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 90° | 68° | 50° | 99° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 80° | 56° | 37° | 95° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 70° | 48° | 30° | 83° | 1 of 10 |
| December | 59° | 41° | 25° | 76° | 3 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Paradise Cove · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 51 sites
- Auxiliary Dam · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 4 sites
- Boulder Gulch · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 65 sites
- Hungry Gulch · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 81 sites
- Camp 9 Group Site #2 · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.