Camping around Lake Isabella?

[EMrider]

I know there are a LOT of camping options in the area...........

But I'd appreciate some guidance on the best places to camp for a long weekend MTB/camping trip.

The more remote the campsite the better. We'll have everything we need for 3 days. Proximity to good MTB trails is also important too. Most likely we'll do an MTR shuttle run on one day (probably cannell plunge). But the other two days it would be ideal to ride from camp if possible, or have a relatively short drive to the trailhead. I've not yet ridden the Keyesville trails and would like to give them a try.

I've identified a few campsites that look promising:

Evans Flat
Adler Creek
Cedar Creek
Horse Meadow

Any input from others with experience would be appreciated.

Thanks
Rob

[gregg]

When are you going? The high country will be snowed in until around June.

I have found some great remote spots up there by just taking a dirt road and following it until I found a good spot.

Stop by the Ranger Station and get your campfire permit, get a map and ask them for suggestions. I camped in a little meadow near Black Rock Gap Ranger Station one year. The meadow was full of different colored flowers.

Good Luck..

[EMrider]

Originally Posted by gregg

When are you going? The high country will be snowed in until around June.

I have found some great remote spots up there by just taking a dirt road and following it until I found a good spot.

Stop by the Ranger Station and get your campfire permit, get a map and ask them for suggestions. I camped in a little meadow near Black Rock Gap Ranger Station one year. The meadow was full of different colored flowers.

Good Luck..

We'll be going up in July so snow should not be an issue. I think that Black Rock is farther north, up closer to Troy Meadows and Sherman peak? If so, that is a great area. I camped and rode dirtbikes in that area last summer.

This year, it will be an MTB only trip and we're looking to camp farther south.
Thanks
R

[jeffj]

Keyesville is free, but has minimal 'facilities'.

Several other less primitive, but still simple govt. camping areas along the lake and above along the north fork of the Kern River.

If you like to have a bit nicer camping amenities, there are some private campgrounds in Kernville right on the river.

Also, I think Mountain River has some limited camping in behind their shop on the river. Call them for details.

Also, contact jfsh and ask for his input.

[jfsh]

What date are you planning on going? That will help a lot. Also, are you tenting, travel trailer, or what? If you are self contained there are more options than I can possibly mention. If you are planning to do Cannell you will need to be here late June at the earliest. By that time everything else will be open to.

I would camp at elevation if I were you. Keysville will be hot that time of year.
Alder Creek and Cedar Creek campgrounds are not very high elevation and not to remote either. They are both on the west side of the 155. That road is very popular with motorcyclists on the weekends. Not much biking right there.

Evans Flat is a much better choice. It is about 5 miles from the start of Just Outstanding. There are some other dirt roads and trails in the area that you could ride from camp. You could also do Badger Gap from there. You would just need to set up a shuttle beforehand.

Horse Meadow is North of Kernville and is sort of along the Cannell trail. It is a nice campground along a creek. It takes over an hour to drive there from Kernville because of the bumpy dirt road. You can ride on some trails and roads around there. I would advise getting a map. If you go to this campground and you want more remote, just keep driving. You could drive another 45 minutes or so on dirt roads. The further back you go the less people you will see.

If I was going to camp here and Biking was my main activity during the trip, I wouldn't camp too far out there. There are many good rides but most take a little driving and a shuttle. Most of them start at elevation and end down at lake level. You would really be limiting yourself if you just wanted to ride from camp.

Hope this helps.

Jeff

[EMrider]

Originally Posted by jfsh

What date are you planning on going? That will help a lot. Also, are you tenting, travel trailer, or what? If you are self contained there are more options than I can possibly mention. If you are planning to do Cannell you will need to be here late June at the earliest. By that time everything else will be open to.

I would camp at elevation if I were you. Keysville will be hot that time of year.
Alder Creek and Cedar Creek campgrounds are not very high elevation and not to remote either. They are both on the west side of the 155. That road is very popular with motorcyclists on the weekends. Not much biking right there.

Evans Flat is a much better choice. It is about 5 miles from the start of Just Outstanding. There are some other dirt roads and trails in the area that you could ride from camp. You could also do Badger Gap from there. You would just need to set up a shuttle beforehand.

Horse Meadow is North of Kernville and is sort of along the Cannell trail. It is a nice campground along a creek. It takes over an hour to drive there from Kernville because of the bumpy dirt road. You can ride on some trails and roads around there. I would advise getting a map. If you go to this campground and you want more remote, just keep driving. You could drive another 45 minutes or so on dirt roads. The further back you go the less people you will see.

If I was going to camp here and Biking was my main activity during the trip, I wouldn't camp too far out there. There are many good rides but most take a little driving and a shuttle. Most of them start at elevation and end down at lake level. You would really be limiting yourself if you just wanted to ride from camp.

Hope this helps.

Jeff

Very helpful info, thanks.

July is the most likely timeframe. We'll be fully self contained with tents and 4x4 vehicles, although a water source in camp would be nice.

I noticed that Evans Flat is relatively close to the Keyesville course, Just outstanding and Badger gap. I've got GPS tracks for all of those. That might be our best bet for trail access, but as you point out, a shuttle is still necessary unless you want to log 40+ miles round trip. That should be doable since we'll have several vehicles. And it is at about 6200 elev. so that should moderate the July temps a bit. Looks like that is where we'll be camping.

I wish it was July already!

Rob

[jfsh]

That would be a good choice. If you are going to stay there for sure let me know. I can give you some ideas on some rides in the area.

[EMrider]

Originally Posted by jfsh

That would be a good choice. If you are going to stay there for sure let me know. I can give you some ideas on some rides in the area.

Absolutely will do.

[dstepper]

In July I would be getting out of the heat and heading up into the Sequoias. Camping at either Peppermint, Quacking Aspen, Belknap Campgrounds. But there again I am partial to the big trees. We have posted some ride reports on Camp Nelson Trail, Needles Lookout Trail and Freemean Creek Trail on this site....all start near Quaking Aspen.

Dean

[EMrider]

Originally Posted by dstepper

In July I would be getting out of the heat and heading up into the Sequoias. Camping at either Peppermint, Quacking Aspen, Belknap Campgrounds. But there again I am partial to the big trees. We have posted some ride reports on Camp Nelson Trail, Needles Lookout Trail and Freemean Creek Trail on this site....all start near Quaking Aspen.

Dean

I'll do a search for those ride reports and read more about those areas. Thanks
R