USDA Forest Service · California
Belknap
USDA Forest Service · California, United States · in Giant Sequoia National Monument
- Sites
- 15
- Hookups
- 15 no hookups
- Season
- April 10 to October 24
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 5,075 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- BELKNAP C.G. (NFSR 20S05) · bituminous surface treatment · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Sequoia National Forest
- Nearest town
- Camp Nelson
- Address
- CA
- Phone
- 559-539-5230
- Activities
- Biking, Camping, Fishing, Hiking
13 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Belknap Campground, elevation 4,800 feet, is located east of Porterville, CA off state highway 190 in the Giant Sequoia National Monument in the Western Divide Ranger District. It sits within the Belknap and McIntyre giant sequoia groves.
Recreation
Trails in the monument are open to hikers, horseback riders and bikers. The trails wind through giant sequoia groves, up mountains and alongside wild rivers.
A hiking trail also starts within the campground, leading into the sequoia grove, with fishing in Tule River along the way.
Facilities
Belknap offers about 13 tent camping sites that can accommodate up to 6 guests each. Vault toilets, campfire rings and picnic areas are all provided.
Natural Features
The Sequoia National Forest, located at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada in central California, takes its name from 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, and elevations range from about 1,000 to 12,000 feet, creating precipitous canyons and mountain streams with spectacular waterfalls, such as Salmon Creek Falls near Fairview and Grizzly Falls on the Kings River.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (661) 455-6010.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 51° | 32° | 10° | 68° | 8 of 11 |
| February | 50° | 32° | 10° | 68° | 9 of 11 |
| March | 52° | 32° | 9° | 80° | 8 of 11 |
| April | 58° | 37° | 26° | 73° | 8 of 11 |
| May | 68° | 44° | 32° | 78° | 1 of 11 |
| June | 79° | 53° | 35° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 88° | 62° | 49° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 86° | 60° | 54° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 79° | 55° | 40° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 71° | 45° | 31° | 84° | 1 of 10 |
| November | 62° | 39° | 22° | 73° | 4 of 10 |
| December | 53° | 34° | 13° | 68° | 7 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
- Coy Flat · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 19 sites
- Quaking Aspen · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 39 sites
- Quaking Aspen Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 1 sites
- Wishon · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi · 35 sites
- Wishon Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi · 1 sites
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.