pioneer point campground

PROS:Campground is a short distance drive to Lake Isabella and hike at Boulder Gulch campgroundAmazing service from Sandy & her husbandRecommend site 76 which is in front of Lake Isabella (beautiful!)Great stopover before you hit the Sequoias Lots of off road-ing trailsCONS:This area can get REALLY hot ... just be aware and check weather 1stThere aren't many trees and shade on the hikes around the areaKern River and Lake Isabella are drying out (please come and enjoy before it becomes extinct!)

Campground:Stayed here for a weekend at the end of March, it was one of the only campgrounds open this time of year. While the campground itself was great. The area around it was lacking with stuff to do this time of year. We stayed at Site 55, which is in the back corner of the grounds. It's more separated from the other sites. There are a few small tress but not much shade. There is water right across from the site but the bathrooms are at the other end of the site. I would recommend site 55 if you want privacy. The woman that runs the campground is really friendly and checked on us often. Things to Do: Beware if you go to the Sequoia National Forest before May the road that goes to most of the hiking trails and the Sequoia National Monument is closed until May so you can't get to anything. This was really disappointing to us. Since we couldn't do the hike we wanted we checked out the Kern river, it was so low because of the drought, we swam in the river, it is freezing so you can't swim for long. We saw a few people tubing but they were getting stuck and having trouble. There were no rafters. The water was too low. We ended up finding one hiking trail that we could get to via another road right where the main road closed. You had to drive 26 miles to the end of the road, once you get to the end of the road it's a 13 mile hike there and back, it was a very steep and challenging hike, take your time. At the end of the hike is the river and an awesome bridge. The hike is beautiful, great views and totally secluded. We actually saw 2 mountain lions on the hike. In Kernville there wasn't much, a few gift shops, a sports bar, and a couple places to eat. Lake Isabella itself is actually really disappointing. It's on the verge of extinction. Most of the lake is completely dried out and the little bit of water that is there is too small to really swim or do anything.

I'm a fisherman and use to not so great condition's, but lake is Extremely hot and windy in August.Campsite was O.k but the fire pit is too shallow for the high wind conditions (P.S don't leave your campfire unattended at any time, site manager will come unglued and go crazy on you).Restrooms at the campeite are from the 50's.Walked in others by the lake and they seem to be far too nasty to use.Fish cleaning station at campsite is the nastiest I've ever been to,a ton of flies covering cleaning tables and trash cans.All said fishing was great.

The campground is decent. Enough shade to hide from the sun during the day. Biggest problem is that rules are not enforced here. They say they have "quiet hours" pick your neighbors wisely or you'll be up all night listening to their drunken parties til 3 am. Just camp on the lake if you're wanting that true nature vibe. Not worth the cost. Won't be camping here again.