Upper Stony Creek sits along its namesake creek at 6,400 feet in the Sierra Nevada, positioned between Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks on the Generals Highway. The 23-site campground serves as a launching point for wilderness access and national park day trips, with the Jennie Lakes Wilderness region nearby.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Developed
- 🏕️Total Sites
- 23
- 💵Fee per Night
- $36
- 📋Reservations
- Reservation Required
- 🏔️Elevation
- 6,400 ft
- 📍GPS
- 36.66542, -118.83276
- 🌤️Best Seasons
- spring, fall
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- Yes
- 🗺️Address
- CA
Amenities
The Camp
The campground spreads 17 reservable sites along Stony Creek, below Shell Mountain. At this mid-elevation perch, you're high enough to escape valley heat but not so high that spring and fall become unworkable. The creek provides the soundtrack, and vault toilets, picnic tables, and potable water handle the basics.
Note the discrepancy: the metadata lists 23 sites total, but the source material mentions 17 reservable sites. The difference likely accounts for host sites or non-reservable overflow spots.
Strategic Location
Upper Stony Creek's real value lies in its position. You're parked on the Generals Highway corridor with the Stony Creek Trailhead right there for wilderness access. Day trips reach both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, plus the Giant Sequoia National Monument and General Grant Grove. Hume Lake sits within range for fishing and non-motorized boating.
The campground puts you in Sequoia National Forest's 1.1 million acres, where elevations span from 1,000 to 12,000 feet. This creates the dramatic terrain shifts that make the Sierra Nevada compelling — precipitous canyons, mountain streams, and waterfalls like Salmon Creek Falls and Grizzly Falls.
What to Know
Reservations are required, and at $36 per night, this isn't budget camping. The shoulder seasons of spring and fall offer the best conditions — summer heat at lower elevations makes the 6,400-foot elevation appealing, while winter access becomes problematic.
Rocky Mountain Recreation Company operates the facility, so direct any operational questions to (661) 702-1420. The creek provides fishing opportunities right from camp, and the area accommodates hiking, mountain biking, and off-road vehicle riding for those who brought the toys.