National Park Service · Sequoia National Park · CA

Cold Springs Campground (CA)

4Heads up3 park alerts · 1 fire 25 mi away
Wildfire
Land fire · 25 mi away · 20 acres · updated Oct 11, 2026
Information
Weekday Traffic Delays on Generals Highway North of Giant Forest Due to removal of hazard trees along Generals Highway between Highway 180 and Giant Forest, there are traffic delays on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Vehicles may experience delays of up to 30 minutes total. There will not be delays on…
Information
Fire Restrictions in Place Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in effect. Wood and charcoal fires are prohibited at all low-elevation campgrounds and picnic areas. Additional restrictions apply. Click "more" for details.
Information
Mineral King Road Construction Traffic Delays and Closures There are temporary daytime closures and traffic delays on Mineral King Road. A schedule of daily closures and delays can be found on our Road Construction webpage. Click "more" to go there.
Alerts: National Park Service alerts API · Oct 17, 2026
ReservableOut of season; the next season isn't published.
Book on recreation.govWe make nothing when you book
Right now
Nobody has saidNo season, no closure, no bookings to read
A night
$32From, per site
Sites
4038 on recreation.gov
20 ftLongest rig
7,470 ftElevation
145 ftWater · East Fork Kaweah River
12.5 miE of Three Rivers, CA
53%Tree cover

The place

the agency’s own description · what’s there · 3 notices

In the agency’s own words

The Mineral King area features the highest elevation campground in the parks. At 7,500 feet (2280 m), it is only open during the summer months. It takes approximately 90 minutes to drive the long narrow, winding, largely unpaved road that leads to the area and its two campgrounds. RVs and trailers are not recommended on Mineral King Road and are not permitted in campgrounds. Mineral King is not connected to the rest of Sequoia National Park by roads. Keep reading

Recreation

Trails to alpine lakes and mountain passes begin nearby.

Facilities

Nestled among amid aspen trees and conifers, the campground is located near the Mineral King Ranger Station. The campground has no sinks and no flush toilets, pit toilets only.

Natural Features

Hikes into the backcountry out of Mineral King will give visitors an ever deeper understanding of the beauty and uniqueness of Sequoia National Park. Hike to alpine lakes and over mountain passes, or climb a peak.

Nearby Attractions

There are limited services at Silver City Resort, 2.5 miles (4 km) west of the campground. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (559) 565-4404.

Charges & Cancellations

Payment in full will be charged to your credit card upon completion of the reservation. A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. Additional fees will apply for late cancellations If your campsite remains vacant for 24 hours after your arrival date it will be cancelled and made available on rec.gov. You will be charged for the first night's campsite fee and a $10 cancellation fee, all other fees after that will be refunded. Recreation.gov policies apply to all reservations, cancellations, refunds and date changes. Call (559) 565-4404 if you will be arriving 24 hours after your arrival date so your site won't be cancelled.

What the agency tells you

Rule

If your campsite remains vacant for 24 hours after your arrival date it will be cancelled and made available on rec.gov. You will be charged for the first night's campsite fee and a $10 cancellation fee, all other fees after that will be refunded. Recreation.gov policies apply to all reservations, cancellations, refunds and date changes. Call (559) 565-4404 if you will be arriving 24 hours after your arrival date so your site won't be cancelled. RV's and trailers are not recomended on Mineral King Road and are not permitted in the campground. Upon making a campground reservation: Site occupants agree to follow ALL campground rules. Failure to comply may result in a fine. You are responsible for your guests.

Rule

Campground Rules and Regulations:  • Food Storage- You are in an ACTIVE BEAR AREA. Black Bears are active day and night. When not in arms reach, you must properly store all food, drinks, scented items, coolers, and equipment used to prepare food, inside provided food storage lockers. These items must be stored day and night. Bear Locker dimensions for campsites 14-18 are 21" high x 24" deep x 47" wide. Campsites 33-41 bear lockers are 16" high x 17" deep x 51" wide. All remaining bear lockers are 28" high x 37" deep x 47" wide • 6 Person Limit- There is a maximum of 6 people per campsite. If you exceed this number, purchase 2 sites and spread your group and equipment out evenly between campsites. This is to preserve the natural resources and minimize noise levels. Reservations can be made in advance to accommodate a larger group size at a group campground.   • Check-In and Check-Out is at 12 NOON- Please be prepared to show a screen shot (limited cell service) or printout of your reservation confirmation email upon arrival to the campground.  Campsites need to be vacated (vehicles and occupants) by 12:00 NOON. • Parking Pad- Vehicles must be parked with all four wheels on pavement. Vehicles that do not fit on the provided parking pad must be parked in overflow parking areas.   • Quiet Hours 10pm to 6am- Music, talking, and generators should not be audible beyond your immediate campsite. Unreasonable noise is prohibited any time of day.    • Generator Hours- 9am to 9pm  • Fire Restrictions- Check current fire restrictions at nps.gov/seki . Fires must be attended.  DO NOT build additional fire rings. Glass, aluminum, and food are prohibited in fire rings. Firewood is sold locally. Dead and down wood may be gathered for your campfire. Logs must fit within the fire ring. Chainsaws are not allowed. Fires must be extinguished completely with water and be cool to the touch before leaving your campsite or going to bed.   • Tents- Pitch tents only on tent pads or within campsite boundaries.    • Dogs/Pets- must always be kept crated, caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Pets are allowed in campgrounds and picnic areas. Pets may not be left unattended. Pets are not allowed beyond 100 feet of public roads or parking areas. Pets are not allowed on any Park trails.   • Preserve Natural Resources- Injuring plants or trees by cutting, breaking, or attaching nails or other hardware is prohibited. Driving off pavement is prohibited.   • Bicycles- Helmets required if under 18 years of age. Bicycles are not allowed on any park trails.    • Trash Disposal- Please keep your campsite clean. Place all litter/trash in bear proof campground trash dumpsters. To prevent bears from getting trash please DO NOT forget to lock or relatch the dumpster. Do not leave cigarette butts, bottle caps, confetti or litter on the ground.   • Water Disposal- Do not dump grey-water on the ground or at the water spigots. Bring a tub to wash dishes or to collect shower water. All grey-water must be disposed of at the restrooms, dish sinks, or at a RV dump-station. Used water must not be allowed to run onto the ground.   • Propane Tank Disposal- DO NOT leave in the park. We are unable to recycle your used propane tanks. Please take them home with you and dispose of them properly.

Rule

Tire Chains may be required at any time. Be prepared at any time of year for a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions. Check Road Conditions at nps.gov/seki   Vehicles longer than 22 feet (including trailers) are not advised between Potwisha Campground and the Giant Forest Museum. Visitors with vehicles over 22 feet in total length hoping to visit the Giant Forest or camp at Lodgepole and Dorst Creek Campgrounds are advised to enter via the northern, Highway 180, entrance to these parks.   Dangerous Rivers! Many drowning victims were playing near rivers. Rivers present a far greater danger than lakes or pools. Surfaces may look calm, but strong currents often run below. Be cautious walking near rivers as rocks can be slippery. Getting out of a cold, swift river is often impossible.    Falling Objects - Don't linger under dead, cracked, or broken branches. Run if you hear cracks or snapping from tree roots, trunks, or branches (know that sometimes there is no sound, and very little time to react). Report falling branches or trees to a ranger.

Tents and rigs

Sites
40 · 29 tent-only, 9 walk-in
Hookups
None
Longest rig
20 ft
Accessible sites
None listed
Pets
Allowed
Campfires
Allowed, barring fire bans
Source: Recreation.gov campsite records · Aug 23, 2026

Facilities

Toilets
Vault Toilets - seasonal
Drinking water
Yes
Stay limit
14 nights
recreation.gov facility rule maxStay
Source: National Park Service and agency records

Around the campground

On the water
Lake
Hiking
Night sky · 533rd darkest of 1,201 in CA
Bortle 3
Source: Recreation.gov activity records · Aug 23, 2026

No reading yet, book on recreation.gov

recreation.gov lists 38 of the 40 campsites the agency files here. The rest aren’t on its booking system, so a reservation won’t get you one.

No availability snapshot inside the last 36 hours, so this page draws nothing rather than ageing a reading into fiction.

Booking windowOut of seasonOut of season, no booking. The last reservable season the agency published ended October 13, 2026, and it hasn't published the next one.recreation.gov
Max stay14 nightsthe facility record
A night$32plus $8 to reserve, once per bookingthe agency’s rate schedule
A weekend$72DerivedFriday and Saturday, everything includedours, from the lines above
If plans change$10 to cancel$10 to change a reservation; this campground publishes its own terms toorecreation.gov’s schedule
Runs itNational Park ServiceBooked through recreation.govthe agency’s record
Watch for a cancellation

Full? Watch it.

One email when a night opens, plus More Than Just Parks dispatches. Unsubscribe any time.

We read recreation.gov once an hour, at 40 minutes past, and write the first time a site in your window is free for the nights you asked for.

Scanners that check every few minutes exist, and most of them charge. This one is free, it reads the same calendar, and it won’t always be first.

Free forever, no booking kickbacks.
Book on recreation.gov

We make nothing when you book. The link goes straight to the government.

Every line of the receipt · 19

What you actually pay

The sign priceNational Park Service
A night$32
Tent Only Nonelectric$32
Rates for the season the campground is in now, Jun 24, 2026 to Oct 13, 2026.
ENTRANCE FEES APPLY in Mineral King - buy your pass ahead of time.
CAMPING FEES: $32 per night for Regular Camping and $16 per night for valid lifetime Access Pass, lifetime Senior Pass, and annual Senior Pass.
No other passes receive reduced rates.
If your campsite remains vacant for 24 hours after your arrival date it will be cancelled and made available on rec.gov.
You will be charged for the first night's campsite fee and a $10 cancellation fee, all other fees after that will be refunded.
Recreation.gov policies apply to all reservations, cancellations, refunds and date changes.
Call (559) 565-4404 if you will be arriving 24 hours after your arrival date so your site won't be cancelled.
The booking feerecreation.gov
Reservation fee, booked online$8
One fee per reservation, however many nights you book, and it’s non-refundable. $9 if you book by phone, $3 in person.
Pass discounts only apply to the recreation (or use) fee for the facility. Other charges such as electricity or water hookups, reservation or other fees are not eligible for a discount.
What a stay costs
One nightDerived$40
A weekend, Friday and SaturdayDerived$72

Derived by CAMPANAC: the agency’s published rate for this season, $32 a night, plus one $8 recreation.gov reservation fee for the booking. A weekend here means Friday and Saturday night, booked once. Optional charges (an extra vehicle, a second tent, a dump-station fee) are listed separately and aren’t in this total.

If your plans changerecreation.gov
Change fee, moving to dates outside your booking$10
Cancellation fee$10
Cancelling the day before, or the day of$10 + your first night
No-show$20 + your first night

“A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. You will be charged for the first night's campsite fee and a $10 cancellation fee, all other fees after that will be refunded.” · this campground’s own terms

Who keeps the booking fee

The agency’s own policy text says the reservation fee and the cancellation processing fee are “retained by the reservation service contractor”, and that a campground concessionaire will decline to refund them because “they did not receive these fees”. Recreation.gov is run under contract by Booz Allen Hamilton. What share of your booking fee the contractor keeps isn’t published in any federal dataset we can read, so we print no number for it. Our reporting on the contract →

How we know this receipt · 6

rules read Sep 9, 2026 · rates Sep 10, 2026 · How we know all this

Seen something wrong here? Tell us.

The sites

40 sites · which ones have room · the site map

The sites, ranked

from 38 mapped sites
73 ftbetween you and the next site, typically
Least roomSite: 40 33 ftSite: 41 33 ftSite: 39 39 ft

All 40 sites

40 of 40 sites located
Tent only29Walk, hike or boat in9Type not stated2
SleepsUp to

The price is derived by CAMPANAC, not published per site: the per-night rate this campground publishes for each site’s own site type. 38 of the 40 sites listed carry one, and a site whose type has no published rate sits out of the price rather than being called free.

Measured shade is NLCD Tree Canopy Cover 2024 (USDA Forest Service / MRLC) read at the site’s own coordinate, 27% canopy or more, and only for the sites the agency gave no Shade value. It never changes the agency’s own shaded count beside it.

Cold SpringsSite: 01tent only nonelectric20 ft99 ft110 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 02tent only nonelectric20 ft65 ft96 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 03tent only nonelectric20 ft65 ft58 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 04tent only nonelectric20 ft82 ft28 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 05tent only nonelectric20 ft92 ft54 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 06type not stated20 ft120 ft
Cold SpringsSite: 07tent only nonelectric20 ft109 ft182 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 08tent only nonelectric20 ft109 ft212 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 09tent only nonelectric20 ft123 ft168 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 10tent only nonelectric20 ft62 ft201 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 11tent only nonelectric20 ft62 ft227 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 12tent only nonelectric20 ft63 ft311 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 13tent only nonelectric20 ft63 ft303 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 14type not stated20 ft360 ft
Cold SpringsSite: 15tent only nonelectric20 ft81 ft283 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 16tent only nonelectric20 ft81 ft310 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 17tent only nonelectric20 ft86 ft290 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 18tent only nonelectric20 ft86 ft305 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 19tent only nonelectric20 ft97 ft208 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 20tent only nonelectric20 ft137 ft250 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 22tent only nonelectric20 ft99 ft84 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 23tent only nonelectric20 ft57 ft82 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 24tent only nonelectric20 ft57 ft37 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 25tent only nonelectric20 ft109 ft81 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 26tent only nonelectric20 ft56 ft43 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 27tent only nonelectric20 ft52 ft76 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 28tent only nonelectric20 ft50 ft49 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 29tent only nonelectric20 ft50 ft43 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 30tent only nonelectric20 ft109 ft124 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 31tent only nonelectric20 ft89 ft54 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 32tent only nonelectric20 ft89 ft142 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 33walk to20 ft193 ft211 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 34walk to20 ft58 ft130 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 35walk to20 ft58 ft141 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 36walk to20 ft66 ft171 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 37walk to20 ft66 ft223 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 38walk to20 ft81 ft267 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 39walk to20 ft39 ft68 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 40walk to20 ft33 ft59 ft$32
Cold SpringsSite: 41walk to20 ft33 ft44 ft$32

25 of 40 listed

Getting there

the map and the coordinate · the agency’s directions · the phone number
Coordinate36.45210, -118.61216
The phone559 565 3341
The agency’s pageOfficial page ↗

Where it is

Getting there

Cold Springs campground is located 23 miles (37 km) from Highway 198 on the Mineral King Road. It is an approximately 90 minute drive. The road is narrow, winding and steep, deeply rutted in sections, and mostly unpaved. It is not advised for longer vehicles, including trailers and other recreational vehicles. RVs and trailers are not permitted in campgrounds.

The weather

the next four days · the thirty-year normal

Next four days, and the thirty-year normal

Forecast

Overnight36°Clear
Saturday56°Sunny1% rain
Saturday Night34°Mostly Clear1% rain
Sunday55°Sunny

NWS forecast for Silver City, CA

Typical weather

Typical October night 31°F, day 59°F.

Coldest month of the year: typical December night 17°F, below freezing. Bring a bag rated colder than that, and expect ice in the water bottle.

90°32°10°

Daily high and lowDays with 0.10 in or more

A normal is the 1991-2020 average for the month, not a forecast: about half of all Julys are colder than the July line. The seven-day forecast above answers the other question.

Measured at: LODGEPOLE, CA (USC00045026), 13 miles away and 735 ft lower

The land, and who answers for it

who answers for it

Who answers for this land

Vince Fong, official portrait

Cold Springs Campground (CA) is in California’s 20th congressional district. Its representative, Vince Fong (R), votes on the laws that decide what happens to this land. Public-lands grade so far: F. See every public-lands vote →

Seen something wrong here? Tell us.

How we know

every fact on this page, and where it came from
Right now: National Park Service publishes no season and no closure for this campground, and it takes no bookings we can read. That’s a gap in the record and not a locked gate: the number below is the only way to be sure.
Cell signal: the Park Service’s own campground description, read as text by CAMPANAC. None of this is a measurement. It’s what the land manager published about the place, and phones, carriers and weather all disagree with each other; treat it as a warning, not a promise.
Nearest place of any size: Silver City, CA, 2 mi ESE (a census designated place). Straight line.