Reservations possible?
No
RV Hookups
No
Potable water
Yes
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Of the two campgrounds available to visitors to Sequoia National Park's stunning Mineral King Valley, Cold Springs Campground is perhaps the most convenient base for adventures in the area. While Atwell Mill Campground is closer to the Atwell Trailhead and the amenities offered at Silver City Resort, Cold Springs enjoys easy walking access to the Sawtooth and Eagle-Mosquito trailheads in addition to a close proximity to the East Fork of the Kaweah River. If pulling a trout out of a mountain stream and frying it in a pan over your site's fire pit sounds interesting, you may want to consider making this campground your base as you explore the area. Miles of trails are accessible from the trailheads near this campground, so it is a very popular place to camp before longer trips into the backcountry. The Mineral King Ranger Station is located just across the road from the campground, so grabbing backcountry permits and bear canisters couldn't be easier.

As with Atwell Mill Campground, staying at Cold Springs is a straightforward proposition. All 31 sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis, all are tent-only, and all have picnic tables and fire pits. An area dedicated to walk-in sites extends off of the west end of the campground, and vault toilets and bear boxes are centrally located. Potable water is also available for most of the campground's open season. The tree canopy is slightly more open here than in Atwell, and between the increased sunlight and the nearby river you'll notice more understory and aspen growing around the sites. This is a great choice for campers with multiple tents, as the sites are large and mostly well separated from one another.

This campground closes in the winter, roughly the end of October through the middle of May when Mineral King Road is also closed.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Summer
Fall

Parking Pass

National Park Pass

Price per night (basic site)

12.00 $ (10.08 €)

Pros

Camping in Mineral King Valley. Hiking Nearby. Low cost campground

Cons

Seasonal access.

Pets allowed

Allowed

Managed by

National Park Service

Features

Vault toilet
Potable water

Total number of sites

48

Location

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