Halfway Group Campground

About

Halfway Group Campground is located along the Kern Wild and Scenic River in Sequoia National Forest at an elevation of 3,200 feet. The campground offers five group sites ranging from small (12-person capacity) to large (50-person capacity), making it suitable for family reunions, scout troops, or organized outings. Gray pine, scrub oak, and shrubs line the steep canyon walls, while cottonwoods and willows shade the riverbanks. The Upper Kern River corridor is renowned for whitewater rafting and kayaking, with Class III-V rapids drawing paddlers from across California. Fishing and swimming holes are accessible, though swimming is not recommended due to strong currents. The Cannell Meadow National Recreation Trail begins just north of Kernville, climbing 11.5 miles through mixed pine and fir forest to a historic Forest Service cabin built between 1904 and 1909. This is a tent-only campground with no RV access. Each site includes picnic tables and a fire ring, though campfire restrictions may be in effect depending on fire danger conditions. Campers must bring their own drinking water as none is provided on site.

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.