Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest RV & Campground Guide
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- Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest
Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest is located in California’s Southern Sierra Nevada range. It was established in 1946 after the state conserved over 5,000 old-growth sequoias, following years of logging. Some of the world’s oldest trees are within the park, including the four largest known sequoias. With park elevations ranging from 4,800 feet to 7,800 feet, Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest temperatures stay cool all throughout the year. This allows visitors to enjoy the park’s many rivers, streams, and ponds during every season.
Nearby Cities:
Porterville, CA
Lindsay, CA
Exeter, CA
Woodlake, CA
Spring 33-68 F
Summer 45-78 F
Fall 37-66 F
Winter 20-45 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest
Campground Accommodations
Shake Camp Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 20 feet
Other amenities: Fire rings, gravel parking pads, and picnic tables
Balch Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 40 feet
Other amenities: Showers, water spigots, flush toilets, two fishing ponds, fire rings, picnic tables, and gravel parking pads
Frazier Mill Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 35 feet
Other amenities: Fire rings, picnic tables, gravel parking pads, water spigot, and vault toilets
Hedrick Pond Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 20 feet
Other amenities: Fire rings, picnic tables, gravel parking pads, vault toilets, and a water spigot
Nelson Falls RV Park
Nelson Falls RV Park is located among the beauty of Sequoia National Forest. It's a full-service RV park with lots of activities on-site, including horseshoes and volleyball. Pricing starts at $45, and there's a two-night minimum stay.
• Water hookup: No
• Electrical hookup: No
• Sewer hookup: No
• Wi-Fi: No
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Other amenities: Potable water, flush toilets, showers, picnic tables, fire ring
Quaking Aspen
Quaking Aspen is in Sequoia National Forest about 27 miles east of Springville. It's home to lots of luscious green quaking aspen trees that turn golden in the fall. There are 32 single-family campsites and a few group sites as well. The campground is open between May and October. Pricing starts at $28.
• Water hookup: No
• Electrical hookup: No
• Sewer hookup: No
• Wi-Fi: No
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Other amenities: Picnic tables, barbecue pits, sanitary facilities, potable water
Coy Flat
Located in the Sequoia National Forest, Coy Flat is open from May through October. It's situated at 5,000 feet near Belknap Grove, which is about a 35-mile drive from Mountain Home. You can choose from single or double sites. Pricing starts at $28.
• Water hookup: No
• Electrical hookup: No
• Sewer hookup: No
• Wi-Fi: No
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Other amenities: Vault toilets, picnic tables, fire pit
What to Do at
Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest
Activities in Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest include hiking, horseback riding, and biking on the many trails and roads within the park. Fishing enthusiasts will enjoy spending a day on Tule River and Hedrick Pond, and if you love nature, you’ll certainly appreciate the flora and fauna found here, including the giant sequoia trees. Photographers will want to bring along a good camera to capture all of this beauty.
In addition to viewing the sequoias and camping, visitors can enjoy picnicking and scenic drives. There is something for everyone visiting the park regardless of the season and your particular interests.
Inside Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest
Thanks to the many roads and trails within the protected area, there are plenty of hiking and biking opportunities at Mountain Home. If you're an angler, head over to Hedrick Pond, which is stocked by the Forest Service. There's also good fishing on the Wishon Fork of the Tule River.
Fishing
Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest has three ponds that provide excellent fishing opportunities. Two of them are in Balch Campground. The third is Hedrick Pond. All of these man-made bodies of water are annually stocked with trout by the Forest Service. Trout can also be found in Rancheria Creek and Bear Creek.
Nature Watching
Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest is home to black bears, bald eagles, mule deer, wild turkeys, and coyotes. Smaller animals include rabbits and squirrels. Bird watchers will discover many species here, such as red-breasted nuthatch, Steller’s Jay, Common Raven, dark-eyed junco, and mountain chickadees.
Flora and Fauna
One of Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest’s biggest attractions is the giant sequoia trees that are over 273 feet in height. This includes the Genesis Tree, Summit Road Tree, Euclid Tree, and Adam Tree, which are among the world’s largest sequoias. You’ll also find ponderosa pine, white fir, sugar pine, and incense cedar within the forested area.
Hiking
The one-mile Forestry Information Loop Trail is a family-friendly hiking trail in Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest. Those looking for more of a challenge will enjoy either Balch Park Trail or the Griswold Trail. Moderate hiking can be found on the two-mile Loop Trail that takes you to the granite Indian Bathtubs and the Adam Tree.
Climbing
The Needles has a granite rock that offers excellent climbing opportunities with rock faces that hurl toward the sky. Scaling the rock face is rewarded with stunning views. You need to take Needles Lookout Trail to reach this climbing location.
How to Get to
Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest
When coming from Porterville, go north on Highway 190 until you reach Springfield. Take a left on Balch Park Road (J37). Continue until you reach Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest.
When coming from the northwest, take Highway 198 until you reach Yokohl Drive. Take Yokohl Drive into the park.
By Car
Entering Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest
There is no fee for day use of Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest. Parking can be found at each of the main camping areas with no fee for parking.
If you love mountain landscapes, you won't regret checking out the Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest. The old sequoia trees are certainly a sight to see. Showing up in an RV will make the trip that much better and more convenient. Make sure to snap a few photos for RVshare and send them to [email protected]. The site may want to feature them on its travel blog or social media channels.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest
The summer season is the best time to visit. From late June through late August, you’ll have warm temperatures that are perfect for enjoying the park’s many outdoor activities.
Wildlife in the forest ranges from small rabbits and squirrels to large game such as black bears and mule deer. There is also a large variety of bird species, which includes bald eagles, mountain chickadees, ravens, and the red-breasted nuthatch. You’ll also find that the ponds are stocked with trout.
Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest has seven campgrounds. Four of them are available for camper, trailer, and RV use. The campgrounds are open from May through October unless snow conditions make them unsuitable.
No reservations are accepted. All Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. It is $15 per night to camp here, and a $5 fee is added to this for each additional vehicle you bring.
Yes. Your pets are welcome in Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest, however, you need to keep them on a leash at all times and have them under your control. You must also clean up after them throughout your entire visit.
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