LIVE OAK

The Camp

The entire campground is one group site tucked into oak trees, designed to handle everything from family reunions to corporate retreats. With space for 150 people and 30 vehicles or RVs, it's built for volume rather than solitude. The oak grove provides natural shade and character that many group sites lack.

Flush toilets, showers, and drinking water keep things civilized for large groups. The setup works better than most group facilities because the trees break up the space naturally rather than dumping everyone onto a big flat lot.

What to Know

Reservations aren't being accepted currently, which makes planning difficult for groups that need this much capacity. The campground sits directly across from Lake Isabella, putting water access within walking distance.

At 2,500 feet, the elevation keeps things cooler than the Central Valley floor but warmer than high Sierra camps. The location works as a base for day trips to Sequoia National Park and the sequoia groves in Giant Sequoia National Monument.

Lake Isabella

The 11,000-acre lake handles the full range of water sports: boating, water skiing, windsurfing, swimming, and fishing. Trout fishing picks up during colder months, while the warmer seasons bring out bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish. The lake marks where the Upper Kern River becomes the Lower Kern River at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada.

The Giant Sequoia Mercantile in Kernville, 5 miles away, stocks books, maps, and camping gear if you need to resupply. The Trail of a Hundred Giants and other sequoia groves are accessible for day trips, though you'll need to drive to reach them from camp.