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Halfway Group Campground

Notice

To protect natural resources and provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited below 5,000 feet in elevation within the Sequoia National Forest.
1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, except in the designated Campfire Areas listed in Exhibits A, B or C. C.F.R. § 261.52(a).
2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building or within the areas listed in Exhibits A, B or C. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(d).
3. Operating an internal combustion engine, except on a designated National Forest System road, trail, or within the areas listed in Exhibits A, B or C. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(g).
4. Welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame, except within the areas listed in Exhibits A, B or C.

Alert Start Date: June 10, 2026

Alert End Date: November 30, 2026

Jun 12, 2026 – Dec 1, 2026

Overview

Halfway Group Campground is situated along the Kern River, 4.5 miles north of the town of Kernville. Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities.

Recreation

Hiking, fishing, kayaking and rafting are popular activities in the Upper Kern River area. Click here to learn more about the area, including safety and permitting requirements and a listing of local outfitters.

Facilities

The campground offers five group sites available for tent camping. Picnic tables and campfire rings are provided, as are portable toilets. There is no drinking water available at this facility.

Natural Features

The campground sits within Sequoia National Forest at an elevation of 3,200 feet in an open area with limited shade, overlooking the Kern Wild and Scenic River. Gray pine, scrub oak, grasses and shrubs cling to steep, canyon walls along the river, and cottonwoods and willows dot the riverbanks.

Sequoia National Forest, located at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada in central California, is named for the giant sequoia, the world's largest tree, which grows in more than 30 groves on the forest's lower slopes.

The forest comprises about 1.1 million acres. Elevations range from about 1,000 to 12,000 feet, creating precipitous canyons and mountain streams with spectacular waterfalls such as Salmon Creek Falls and Grizzly Falls.

Nearby Attractions

The Cannell Meadow National Recreation Trail begins just north of Kernville. The trail stretches 11.5 miles as it climbs through mixed pine and fir forest to Cannell Meadow and a historic Forest Service cabin built between 1904 and 1909. Hikers are awarded beautiful views of the Kern River Valley along the trip.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (760) 376-1269.

Camp site features

Across 5 camp sites:

Picnic table: all 5 sites
Pets allowed: all 5 sites
Group sites: all 5 sites
Longest rig: 20 ft
Largest party: 50 people

Directions

From Bakersfield, take Highway 178 east to Lake Isabella. From Lake Isabella, take Highway 155 around the west side of the lake to the town of Kernville. From Kernville, go 4.5 miles north on Sierra Way (Mountain 99) to the campground.

Stay Limit

Check in from 2 PM, check out by 12 PM.

Reviews

Ratings (11)

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

juan l

Loop:Halfway Group Campground

Site:Group 4

Reviewed 22 days ago

Meh

James H

Loop:Halfway Group Campground

Site:Group 2

Reviewed 3 months ago

Spacious campsites, good river access

Moshe W

Loop:Halfway Group Campground

Site:Group 3

Reviewed 3 years ago

It was very nice. The river was very nice to swimming, but it was a little buggy.

Mia G

Loop:Halfway Group Campground

Site:Group 1

Reviewed 4 years ago

Reservation said there would be porta potties at the campground. The first day there were no bathrooms in site. Around 4 o’clock the next day, the porta potties arrived but one of them was locked. We went a whole day without a bathroom when it started there would be.

Joseph Q

Loop:Halfway Group Campground

Site:Group 1

Reviewed 4 years ago

Great site. Spacious. Close to the river. Loved the experience.

Rosa M

Loop:Halfway Group Campground

Site:Group 4

Reviewed 4 years ago

Portable restroom where only served the day of the arrival check in 8/26/22 check out 8/29/22 3 days with out service all campground were reserved. Dirty and smelly. Trash was also picked up one day 8/29/22.

Eric S

Loop:Halfway Group Campground

Site:Group 1

Reviewed 4 years ago

This is a great spot, but there aren't any markers telling you where your campsite is. So, we took over the shady tree spot that seemed like it was in front of Spot 1 and when Group 2 arrived around 4pm, we had to move all of our stuff that we had already set up. It kinda sucked in 100 degree heat, so just be aware. Also, the river at around 150 cfs is perfect for tubing down the ~1 mile run.

Mark D

Loop:Halfway Group Campground

Site:Group 2

Reviewed 4 years ago

The camp sites were not properly marked, no map online either. Access to the river was bad.

walter m

Loop:Halfway Group Campground

Site:Group 3

Reviewed 4 years ago

Camp area was nice. Covered and fire ring wish we could use but restriction is good reason. River area was nice. To bad we didn’t use all day’s reserved.

Vivien T

Loop:Halfway Group Campground

Site:Group 2

Reviewed 4 years ago

It was right by the river and it was a nice spot to hang out to cool off from the heat. The downside from our experience was that the portapotties were clean on Friday (when we arrived), but the other larger parties on the campground definitely made use of the 7-8 portapotties available and the heat intensified the smells that made it unbearable to sit through. I wish this campsite made it clear where your designated area was supposed to be as well. I feel like the other parties that arrived there before us took our campsite so we had to expand farther away. There is a dumpster next to the portapotties so throwing away our trash was easy. The bugs during the daytime were not as present as the night time so definitely stock up on insect repellant. This campsite is about 2 miles away from markets and gas stations so if you do forget anything, you'll have closeby resources. Overall, my group and I had a very fun experience here.

Lily O

Loop:Halfway Group Campground

Site:Group 3

Reviewed 7 years ago

We have visited and used this campground in the past and we really like the spot. This time around we didn’t so much. This time we experienced a large group from the other campsite take over the camp area assigned to our group. The had more people at the reservation than allowed, so they setup there campsites before we arrived. When we did arrive we asked them to please move, but they didn’t and instead threatened our group. My brother then went to the camp area where the staff are and the personnel their didn’t do anything. They came to the campground but didn’t move them. They just told them that they needed to expand further. It was disappointing. The same group also had two dogs running around the campground, pooping and nobody ever picked up behind them. We do like the place, but it gives us reservation to return if the staff doesn’t do anything when other people take over someone else’s campground.

Popularity

Moderate · 41%

Busiest in July, when about 41% of sites are booked. Based on 5 years of reservations.

Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

Reserve Watch

Location

P.O. Box 1640
Kernville, CA 93238

Phone: 760-379-1815

Email: sschmidt@goexplorus.com

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