Tillie Creek

About

Tillie Creek Campground is nestled among oak trees on the shores of Lake Isabella, one of California's largest reservoirs at 11,000 acres. Located in the Sequoia National Forest's Kern River Ranger District, it marks the division between the Upper and Lower Kern Rivers. The campground's 159 family sites feature paved roads with natural surface camping pads, each equipped with a picnic table and fire ring with grill. Seven concrete block flush toilet buildings and potable water serve the facility. Lake activities are the focal point here. Swimming, water skiing, and windsurfing are popular during warm months, while the lake offers excellent fishing for trout in cooler weather, along with year-round catches of crappie, bluegill, catfish, and largemouth bass. Fish cleaning stations with 12 stand-up positions serve anglers. The campground also provides a good base for day trips to Sequoia National Park, Trail of a Hundred Giants, and various sequoia groves in Giant Sequoia National Monument. Operated by Rocky Mountain Recreation under a Forest Service concessionaire permit, the campground offers reservations through Recreation.gov along with first-come, first-served overflow sites during busy holiday weekends. An amphitheater hosts interpretive programs on summer weekends.

Directions

From Bakersfield, take Highway 178 east to the town of Lake Isabella. From Lake Isabella, take Highway 155 north for 6 miles to the Tillie Creek Campground entry station.