Western Divide Ranger District

Area Status: Open

The 319,491-acre Western Divide Ranger District encompasses the southern portion of the Giant Sequoia National Monument and is centrally located in Sequoia National Forest. Visitors don't want to miss meandering along the Trail of 100 Giants, scenic view from the top of Dome Rock, or perhaps a backcountry hike into the Golden Trout Wilderness.

The district offers nine developed campgrounds (including groups sites), rental cabins, developed day use areas, 296 miles of trails, 338 miles of off-highway vehicle routes that offer miles of winter-time ski or snowmobile routes and much more.

Latest Recreation and Roads Report Available Here

At a Glance

Current Conditions:	Weather Information The National Weather Service is a good resource for information about weather.
Operational Hours:	Western Divide Ranger District In-person Western Divide Ranger District 32588 Highway 190, Springville, CA 93265 Ranger Station (559) 539-2607 By email at SM.FS.SequoiaNF@usda.gov
Reservations:	Campgrounds Available: Reservations available at Recreations.gov or call 877-444-6777.
Open Season:	Year round

General Information

General Notes:

POINTS OF INTEREST

Mountain Home Area – Mountain Home, Middle Tule, and Upper Tule Groves of Giant Sequoias; Long Meadow Trail to Redwood Crossing and the Golden Trout Wilderness

Tule Canyon – Upper and Lower Coffee Camp Day Use Areas; The Stairs Day Use Area; Wishon Campground; Wishon Rental Cabin, Doyle Springs Trail to Wishon Grove, Fox Farm Road to Alder Creek Grove

Camp Nelson Area – Belknap and Coy Flat Campgrounds; Nelson Trail through Belknap, McIntyre and Wheel Meadow Groves; McIntyre and Soda Springs Recreation Residence Tracts; Roger’s Camp Road to Black Mountain Grove, Red Hill Grove, and Windy Gap

Great Western Divide – Trail of 100 Giants; Dome Rock; trails to the Needles, Summit National Recreation Trail; Slate Mountain Botanical Area; Quaking Aspen Campground; Quaking Aspen Group Campground; Quaking Aspen Historic Guard Station Rental Cabin; Quaking Aspen Winter Trailhead; Redwood Meadow Campground; Long Meadow Group Campground; Holey Meadow Campground; Upper Peppermint Dispersed Camping Area; Summit, Click’s Creek and Lewis Camp Trailheads to the Golden Trout Wilderness; Golden Trout Wilderness Pack Station

Golden Trout Wilderness – Maggie Lakes, Maggie Mountain, Coyote Lakes, Little Kern and Kern Rivers, Little Kern and Kern Lakes, Grey Meadow and Trout Meadow Historic Guard Station Cabins, Silver Knapsack Trail, Farewell Gap and Kern Canyon entrances to Sequoia National Park Wilderness Areas

Lloyd Meadow Road – George Bush Tree and Freeman Creek Trail; Jerkey Meadow and Forks of the Kern Trailheads leading to the Golden Trout Wilderness; Lower Peppermint Campground; Camp Whitsett Boy Scout Camp; Pyles Boys Camp; Whitewater boating and rafting on the Kern River

Portuguese Pass Area – Tobias Peak Fire Lookout; Frog Meadow and Panorama Dispersed Camping Areas; Historic Baker Point Lookout and Baker Point Botanical Area; Sunday Peak Trailhead; Starvation Road leading to the Starvation and Packsaddle Groves

California Hot Springs Area – CA Hot Springs Resort (private); Leavis Flat Campground; White River Campground; White River and Deer Creek Grove (southernmost grove of giant sequoias)

Poso/Sugarloaf Area – Poso Historic Guard Station Rental Cabin; Sugarloaf Winter Trailhead

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Activities

Mountain Biking

Areas for Mountain Biking at Western Divide Ranger District

Campground Camping

Areas for Campground Camping at Western Divide Ranger District

Group Camping

Areas for Group Camping at Western Divide Ranger District

Dispersed Camping

Dispersed camping is camping outside of a designated campground. It is allowed in many areas of the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument.

There are certain areas where dispersed camping is prohibited and these areas are posted.

Dispersed camping is free but you do need to have a CAMPFIRE PERMIT. These can be obtained free of charge at any Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management or California Department of Forestry Office. Be aware of fire restrictions, typically in forced by mid-summer, banning open fires outside of designated campgrounds.

The maximum length of time you may camp in dispersed areas is 14 DAYS at a time and 30 DAYS in a year.

Dispersed camping is a activity enjoyed by many visitors to the forest. Each year the number of people taking advantage of dispersed recreation opportunities has increased, making it more and more essential that these areas be left clean and undamaged.

The following acts are prohibited on the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument and are subject to a fine:

1. Driving off designated roads inside the Monument.

2. Leaving campfire unattended.

3. Leaving trash buried, stashed or left in campfire ring. Abandoning or leaving personal property. PACK IT IN-PACK IT OUT.

4. Cutting or otherwise damaging trees for use as a lean-to or a horse corral. Do not leave anything tied to trees.

5. Destruction of government property such as signs, posters, gates, etc.

6. Removing forest products without a permit.

7. Discharging any firearm within 150 yards of any building, occupied area, across forest development roads, or body of water

Here are some tips to appropriate dispersed camping:

1. Protect standing trees from nails and scars from axes, knives and hatchets. Use only dead and down trees for firewood.

2. Bury human waste at least six inches deep and 200 feet from any waterway or trail. DO NOT bury toilet paper–PACK IT OUT

3. Wash at least 200 feet away from any water source using biodegradable soap.

4. Set up camp more than 200 feet from any waterway or trail.

5. Take a litterbag to carry out all refuse. Do not leave trash in fire rings. Do not bury trash.

6. A campfire permits is required to have a campfire, charcoal barbeque, or camp stove. Use existing fire grates or fire rings. If none exist, please use the fire pit method and disassemble it after you extinguish your fire. Gather only dead and down firewood. Firewood may not be transported off of the Forest without a permit.

7. Avoid leveling or digging trenches around tents. Place tent on bare ground and not on vegetation.

8. Protect your food from the bears and other animals. Keep your food and anything with a scent stored in an airtight container in your car truck. If your vehicle has no trunk, put everything on the floor, cover it well and close the windows. Always, Keep a clean campsite.

9. LEAVE YOUR CAMPSITE BETTER THANK WHEN YOU ARRIVED!

Cabin Rentals

Areas for Cabin Rentals at Western Divide Ranger District

River and Stream Fishing

Areas for River and Stream Fishing at Western Divide Ranger District

Day Hiking

Areas for Day Hiking at Western Divide Ranger District

Horse Riding

Areas for Horse Riding at Western Divide Ranger District

Interpretive Areas

Areas for Interpretive Areas at Western Divide Ranger District

Western Divide Ranger District

At a Glance

Weather Information