Camp 3 Campground

Camp 3 is a large basic campground located along the Kern River about a 4.7 mile drive from the town of Kernville.

The campground has 52 sites, all containing only a picnic bench, fire pit and food lockers. There are no hook ups or electrical in the campground, and only a handful of spigots with potable water throughout the camp. 

Laid out on two opposing lollipop loop roads, the campground is paved, and most sites contain a fair amount of privacy, set amongst the boulderous landscape. A large group camp is located on the far northern end, and a watercraft launch point is set immediately outside camp bounds on its southern edge.

Sites themselves are a little small, most containing only the table and fire pit with a small clearing for a tent. Parking spots are not suitable for anything beyond a small trailer or RV.

There are only a couple river access points in the campground, and they will require climbing through brush and across possibly-slippery rocks to reach. Those who are going to bushwack to the water's edge should be aware of poison oak dispersed throughout some of the disturbed areas. 

Camp 3 is open seasonally from around mid-May through mid-September. Reservations can be made at Recreation.gov.