Sequoia National Park Camping 2026: What's Open, What's Closed, and Exactly Which Sites to Book at Lodgepole

Three Sequoia campgrounds are closed for 2026. Here's what's actually open, the exact sites to book at Lodgepole, and how to land one.

If you started planning a Sequoia camping trip for summer 2026 and hit a wall of "closed for the season" messages on Recreation.gov, you're not imagining it. This is not a normal year for the park.

Three of the most popular campgrounds are closed. And Lodgepole, which was already hard to book, is now absorbing demand from everyone who would have gone elsewhere. If you want to camp in Sequoia this summer, you need a strategy and you need specific sites.

This post is that strategy. We've camped at Lodgepole with our three kids, and I'll tell you which sites to book (94 through 106 if you can get them), what's actually open this summer, what to do if Lodgepole is full, and which trails to prioritize once you're in. Let's get you a campsite.

What's Closed at Sequoia in 2026 (and Why)

Between these three campgrounds, Sequoia has lost over 250 sites heading into summer 2026. That demand is landing on Lodgepole, Potwisha, and the Mineral King campgrounds, which is why booking strategy matters more this year than ever.

Sequoia National Park sits in the southern Sierra Nevada of California, home to the largest trees on earth by volume. Four frontcountry campgrounds are open for the 2026 season across two zones: the Giant Forest area at higher elevation (Lodgepole) and the foothills and Mineral King areas at lower elevation (Potwisha, Cold Springs, Atwell Mill). Reservations run through Recreation.gov. Bear boxes are required at every site. Nearest airport is Fresno Yosemite International (FAT), about 75 miles west.

Where to Stay: A Deep-Dive on Lodgepole Campground

If you're camping in Sequoia for the first time with kids, Lodgepole is where you want to be. It sits along the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River in the heart of the Giant Forest area, a quarter-mile walk to Lodgepole Village (market, deli, showers, laundry), two miles from the General Sherman Tree, and the Tokopah Falls trailhead starts inside the campground itself.

The free park shuttle picks up at Lodgepole and loops to every major attraction. You can leave the car at your campsite for entire days and not miss a thing.

The Best Sites at Lodgepole (Site-by-Site)

There are 214 sites here split into loops, and not all of them are equal. These are the ones I'd fight for.

What every site includes

• Picnic table, fire ring, tent pad

• Bear-proof metal food storage box (47" wide x 33" deep x 28" high, so check your cooler fits)

• RV max length: 40 feet, no hookups

• Cost: $32/night (Senior & Access passholders 50% off)

• Nearby: market, deli, coin showers, laundry, gift shop, visitor center (all within a quarter-mile walk)

How to Actually Get a Lodgepole Reservation

With three campgrounds closed this year, Lodgepole sites go within minutes of release. If you're not logged in, ready to click, at the exact right moment, you will not get one. Here is the system that actually works.

The 7-step reservation system

• Create your Recreation.gov account weeks in advance. Verify email, save payment info, save your travel party details.

• Two browser tabs: one with Lodgepole open to your first-choice dates, one with backup dates.

• Be flexible. Wednesday to Sunday trips clear faster than Friday to Sunday.

• Target specific sites (94 to 106) instead of letting the system pick for you.

• If you miss the release window, set up a cancellation alert on Campnab or Campsite Assistant. Cancellations happen constantly.

• Check manually every morning at 8 AM PT, because that's when new cancellations get released.

If Lodgepole is full there is two realistic Sequoia alternatives. (For Kings Canyon campground options like Azalea and Sheep Creek, see my separate Kings Canyon camping guide.)

There are Forty sites at the Potwisha Campground which would be the easiest pivot, open year-round, at 2,100 ft in the foothills. It's a lower elevation than Lodgepole, which has real pros (no altitude sickness, easier for younger kids, open earlier and later in the season), but it's hotter in summer and further from the Giant Forest. About a 30-minute drive up the Generals Highway to the Sherman area. Good for a first family camping trip if you're easing in.

Another option would be the cold springs or atwell deep in the Mineral King area of Sequoia, these are remote, tent-first, smaller campgrounds with no cell service. Cold Springs has 40 sites at 7,500 ft (the highest frontcountry campground in the park), open June 15 through October 13, 2026, first-come first-served only, with no reservations. The road in is narrow, winding, and reconstruction work is ongoing through 2027 which can cause weekday delays. If you have older kids (or younger ones who handle car rides well) and want somewhere genuinely quiet, this is it. Not for first-time family campers.

The 4 Sequoia Trails to Prioritize

Once you're in, build your days around these four. All are in the Giant Forest area, all are doable with kids, and together they hit every iconic Sequoia experience.

Tokopah Falls Trail

If you're staying at Lodgepole, this is the most convenient trail you'll find. The trailhead is inside the campground itself. The path follows the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River through meadows and wildflowers to a 1,200-foot granite waterfall. Keep an eye out for marmots on the rocks. Best in late spring and early summer when the waterfall is at peak flow from snowmelt.

Moro Rock

Short, thrilling, and unforgettable. A staircase climbs up a massive granite dome to panoramic views of the Great Western Divide. No cables like Half Dome, but not for anyone uncomfortable with heights. Go early morning to beat both the heat and the crowds. Skip on smoky days when views are limited.

Crescent Meadow Loop

John Muir called this "the gem of the Sierra," and it lives up to the billing. A flat loop through wildflower meadows surrounded by towering sequoias. You'll pass Tharp's Log, a historic cabin built inside a fallen giant sequoia. This is one of the best places in the park to spot black bears, especially early morning and late afternoon. The gentle terrain makes it perfect for younger kids.

General Sherman Tree + Congress Trail

The General Sherman Tree is the largest tree on earth by volume, and seeing it in person is genuinely a moment. Most visitors take the photo and leave. Don't be those people. The Congress Trail extension loops you through peaceful groves of massive sequoias in clusters called "The Senate" and "The House," and you'll often have long stretches of trail almost to yourself.

If you want to pack the most trails into one day without a lot of driving: start at the General Sherman Tree parking, walk down to the tree, then continue onto the Congress Trail. Keep going and you'll connect to Crescent Meadow, Tharp's Log, and eventually Moro Rock. The free park shuttle loops you back to your starting point. This is a full, well-paced day for a family.

If you're camping with kids, the Junior Ranger program is worth the stop. Kids complete an activity booklet and earn an official Junior Ranger badge at the visitor center. Free, educational, and the kind of thing they'll remember for years. In Sequoia, you can grab badges at the Lodgepole Visitor Center and the Foothills Visitor Center near the Ash Mountain entrance.

Start Planning Your 2026 Trip