Hospital Flat spreads across a single loop along the Kern River, 6.5 miles north of Kernville. The setting is open and exposed at 3,000 feet, with cottonwoods and willows marking the riverbank and gray pine clinging to the canyon walls. It's a solid base camp for river activities and Sierra Nevada exploration.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Developed
- 🏕️Total Sites
- 41
- 💵Fee per Night
- $36
- 📋Reservations
- Reservation Required
- 🏔️Elevation
- 3,000 ft
- 📍GPS
- 35.82805, -118.45811
- 🌤️Best Seasons
- spring, fall
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- Yes
- 📞Phone
- 760-376-1815
- 🗺️Address
- CA
Amenities
The Camp
The 41 sites sit on one loop overlooking the Kern Wild and Scenic River. Each comes with a picnic table and fire ring, plus access to vault toilets and drinking water. The campground occupies open terrain rather than dense forest — expect sun and canyon views more than shade. Cottonwoods and willows line the water's edge, while gray pine, scrub oak, grasses, and shrubs cover the steep canyon walls rising around you.
The River Draw
The Kern River drives most of the action here. Kayaking and rafting are popular pursuits, with local outfitters available for those who need gear or guidance. Fishing draws anglers to the designated Wild and Scenic waters. The river's accessibility from camp makes it easy to spend days on the water and evenings around the fire ring.
Beyond Base Camp
The Cannell Meadow National Recreation Trail starts just north of Kernville — an 11.5-mile climb through mixed pine and fir forest to Cannell Meadow and a Forest Service cabin dating to 1904-1909. The trail rewards hikers with Kern River Valley views during the ascent.
Day trips to Sequoia National Park and Giant Sequoia National Monument put you among the giant sequoias that give the surrounding Sequoia National Forest its name. The forest itself covers 1.1 million acres with elevations ranging from 1,000 to 12,000 feet, creating the precipitous canyons and mountain streams that define this landscape.