Enjoy your trip to Lodgepole. It is our favorite place to camp - hands down. Hope you have an absolutely wonderful time in this beautiful place. Thanks for stopping by to watch!
I grew up going to the Lodgepole as a little girl with my family once a year and can’t wait for the day that I can take my own little girls to one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to.
The first National Park I visited as a child, our first campground as a couple, and the first campground where we took our kids. A beautiful place for special memories indeed. Thanks for stopping by.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. For the love of camping, we deeply appreciate the details of your discovery and the history you provided in this informative video.
Heading out here later next month. Great to get all the information! Thanks for mentioning the passport, wish I had known that when my family did Yosemite earlier this year
We just returned from Lodgepole today for a few day getaway. Just about mid-June, a good amount of snow in the area, the river through Lodgepole is running fast. We hope to have some video updates posted over the next couple of weekends.
Wonderful - hope you have a wonderful time. You might also check out the video we just posted on Lodgepole from a few days ago as we visited last weekend, and Lodgepole is in a bit of a different state than typical.
Thanks for stopping by to watch. We are heading there tomorrow for the first day of the summer 2023 camping season. It's a late opening this year due to the damage caused by the winter storms.
@@ThePlacesWhereWeGo some campgrounds have been closed due to winter damage. Make sure to double check to see if your reservation is still available to you, and there have been some road closures. Check those out also.
Thank you so much for the information! I’m camping there for the first time with weekend and as much as i did my research actually seeing it and from your personal experience has given me so much! Hopefully we’ll see it!
Deidre, glad you found the video helpful and we thank you for watching. We just returned yesterday from a weekend trip to Lodgepole. A few things you may want to know. The campground market is closed due to damage sustained from the winter storms. It is not scheduled to reopen until July so do come prepared with your supplies as you won’t be able to purchase items at the campground. The entire upper loop is also closed as there is a lot of cleanup still to be done from the storm season. The shuttles are running from Lodgepole so you can easily get to Giant Forest, Moro Rock and Wuksachi Lodge. The Tokopah Falls trail is open for hiking and is probably the easiest and most popular trail at Lodgepole. Upon arrival at the falls, there was still quite a bit of snow at the very end of the trail. And because there is still snow around the campground, the river is high and fast (e.g., dangerous). Even though we had rain each day in the late afternoons, we were able to get in several hikes and had a great time. Sequoia is beautiful. We hope you have a wonderful and memorable visit.
Yes - we think so too. Though we just learned yesterday morning that Lodgepole will be closed through about June 8 or 9 so we have to adjust our upcoming reservations. So much snow this year causing many road problems in Sequoia National Park.
Thanks for watching. We LOVE Wales! Visited there two years ago, and barring any Covid related travel restrictions, hope to set foot back in Wales next summer.
Thanks for stopping by to watch! We try to get in at least one new national park every year - working on our summer 2022 plans at the moment. Happy travels!
We suggest viewing the Lodgepole map at this URL: www.recreation.gov/camping/campsites/2541- from there, it's best to identify several sites that will work for you. Then be ready with your selections at 10am Eastern Time (7am PST) four months from the day you want to arrive to try and secure a spot. Our attempt last week for sites in July failed at 1 second after PST. We were lucky to get a site this morning for the first week of July at Lodgepole. Best wishes on your travel planning for Sequoia.
We are going to Lodgepole the end of next week. We’ve been before, but I’m thinking this year the river will be pretty low. When were you last there & how was it? Hearing that river is one of the best parts of this campground! I see you were in #197. We will be in 196 & I think it we’ll have the same challenges getting in but we’re only 17’ so should be ok
We were there on Memorial Day weekend this year. River not nearly as high as in prior years - plus by this time of the summer, it will likely be a bit lower. Still, a wonderful campground. 196 was right next to us, should be pretty easy back in access.
Hello Ryan. Yes, there has been an RV dump station and water fill at Lodgepole (historically during our past visits). When we visited last summer, the crews were working on this section of the campground and the Dump/Fill station was closed. We were unable to arrange a trip this summer so not entirely sure if the dump station was been repaired yet. Last summer, we brought a 5 gallon water container with us and were able to use that with spigots near our site to manually fill water during our stay (another approach).
I love this video! It brought tears to my eyes because I’m so excited to start planning my trip! Question, is lodgepole open for reservations yet ? I keep checking and it seems like it’s not yet open.
It's our favorite place to camp - an almost annual event. I called the Sequoia National Parks office several weeks ago and was told that reservations for Lodgepole are set to open one week from today - so mark your calendar for bright and early April 25 to get yourself a spot. It is an absolutely beautiful area. Best wishes getting a reservation.
We think the campsites are spread apart fairly well. We've never had a feeling of being cramped up at Lodgepole. As most of the sites are for tents, there is ample room between most sites. Given a number of RV places we've stayed at where you can feel you are right on top of your next door neighbor, Lodgepole is far from that type of experience. It is a good place to have a first stay at which you scope out sites that look good to you for subsequent visits. There are quite a few that afford ample privacy. Happy travels.
Have you guys ever gone to the Sentinel campground? What campground would you recommend more for families with kids? Also considering the situation with bears.
Hello Jose - it's been a long time since we've been near Sentinel campground. Honestly, I'm not a fan of Highway 180 through certain sections before getting to Sentinel. This driver is extremely scared of heights, and I seem to recall some very significant drops - though during our last time on that road in late May, there were some icy conditions, and unless things have changed, too many sections of the road without guardrails. Our absolute favorite campground is Lodgepole. It is extremely good for families, as you are about as close as possible to some of the more popular destinations in Sequoia, such as Giant Forest. A river runs alongside the campground, which offers some fun wading areas during summer. Keep your food in the bear box - we've never had a problem with bears there (we have seen them many times) - keep your distance if you see them wandering near any trails.
@@ThePlacesWhereWeGo Thx for the response. I noticed that with the guardrails here when I went to Europe. There they have them all over the place, here they won't put them. There is this section from Lake Isabella to Bakersfield that always scares me along the Kern river. As for the campground, thanks for your insight. I never see anyone talking about Lodgepole, yet it's such a massive campground. I hope I'll get something there. There are also always so many no shows at some campgrounds. This entire idea of camping with bears I am not all that crazy about, so I was looking into a camping spot with people.
Hello Jose, it may have been nearly 20 years since we camped in that area though drove through it on our last visit about a year ago. It appears to be a nice area too. We just booked some days at Lodgepole last week. The strategy is to be on the computer, logged into your recreation.gov account, ready to hit "reserve" the second the clock strikes 7am PST. We missed our first choice site by a split-second but got a very good campsite a few seconds later.
@@ThePlacesWhereWeGo I tried the exact same thing. I noticed that some people are able to get many campsites and then dump some of them at some later point. The booking dates correspond perfectly. I have no clue how they get all those sites so easily. Some people talk of bots or codes that are able to get those sites more easily that you ca. Do you think it's better to use the app or website?
@@Jose-sy1je I always make the reservation on my computer - I log into recreation.gov on my browser. I haven't used the app. I usually have a first-choice campsite, and then a few alternates. Ready to go at 7am. It looks now as if Sequoia reservations open up four months in advance - so tomorrow, somebody could log in and look for sites that are open on June 23. You should be able to log on today to see what may be up for reservation tomorrow (Find the campsites that are labeled NR). The few times we have found nothing available, I just set a new date on the calendar - either the next day or a few days later to try again. Best of luck to you in finding a campsite.
@@ThePlacesWhereWeGo I have also obtained a campsite that wasn't one of my primary choices. Basically a site someone dropped, just like you. That is actually the only way I get campsites these days. People always tell me that it was much easier back in the day. No idea how the system worked before the internet came around. But having a spot is better than no spot lol.
Ok with a fishing license. In the campgound, it really depends on the status of the river when you visit. Just outside the campgounrd, you can find good fishing spots along the Kaweah River as you get closer to Three Rivers.
We are about to take our first camping trip ever at lodgepole this weekend. This is such a lovely and informative video! Thank you very much!
Enjoy your trip to Lodgepole. It is our favorite place to camp - hands down. Hope you have an absolutely wonderful time in this beautiful place. Thanks for stopping by to watch!
By far, this is my favorite video on lodge Pole.
Oh, that's so kind - thank you very much. And it's our favorite campground in our all time favorite National Park. Can't get enough. Happy travels!
I grew up going to the Lodgepole as a little girl with my family once a year and can’t wait for the day that I can take my own little girls to one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to.
The first National Park I visited as a child, our first campground as a couple, and the first campground where we took our kids. A beautiful place for special memories indeed. Thanks for stopping by.
Same, been going there since I was 5. The smell of the trees never leaves your brain.
We're going back this weekend for our 2024 Sequoia trip. Thanks for stopping by to watch. Happy travels!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. For the love of camping, we deeply appreciate the details of your discovery and the history you provided in this informative video.
Thanks so much for stopping by to watch. Lodgepole is our favorite camping spot and the one we return to the most. A most beautiful area.
This is one of the best camp sites
Going to sleep next to the river 👍
Fantastic! A wonderful place to camp - we love it next to the river too.
A beautiful place to stay and hike. Like much the view of big trees in the forest. Tks for sharing.
Thanks for visiting
Heading out here later next month. Great to get all the information! Thanks for mentioning the passport, wish I had known that when my family did Yosemite earlier this year
Thanks for stopping by to watch. We wish you a fantastic trip to Sequoia National Park. Happy travels!
I love camping during spring , it’s cold out so worth it , there no reservation!
We just returned from Lodgepole today for a few day getaway. Just about mid-June, a good amount of snow in the area, the river through Lodgepole is running fast. We hope to have some video updates posted over the next couple of weekends.
I’ll be taking my family there in three days so excited
Wonderful - hope you have a wonderful time. You might also check out the video we just posted on Lodgepole from a few days ago as we visited last weekend, and Lodgepole is in a bit of a different state than typical.
Yes this video did inspire us to visit Sequoia National Park! Thank you Like#4
Thanks for watching!
One of the most informative video. Thank you from a novice.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for stopping by to watch.
Fantastic place indeed, thanks for sharing this nice vlog
Thanks for visiting
Wow wonderful campground there my friends. Should stay there next time. Please take care and stay safe.
Thanks for watching!
I was curious about their overflow parking lot, and you showed it in the video. Thanks for being thorough 🙂
Thanks for stopping by to watch. We are heading there tomorrow for the first day of the summer 2023 camping season. It's a late opening this year due to the damage caused by the winter storms.
@@ThePlacesWhereWeGo some campgrounds have been closed due to winter damage. Make sure to double check to see if your reservation is still available to you, and there have been some road closures. Check those out also.
Thank you so much for the information!
I’m camping there for the first time with weekend and as much as i did my research actually seeing it and from your personal experience has given me so much! Hopefully we’ll see it!
Deidre, glad you found the video helpful and we thank you for watching. We just returned yesterday from a weekend trip to Lodgepole. A few things you may want to know. The campground market is closed due to damage sustained from the winter storms. It is not scheduled to reopen until July so do come prepared with your supplies as you won’t be able to purchase items at the campground. The entire upper loop is also closed as there is a lot of cleanup still to be done from the storm season. The shuttles are running from Lodgepole so you can easily get to Giant Forest, Moro Rock and Wuksachi Lodge. The Tokopah Falls trail is open for hiking and is probably the easiest and most popular trail at Lodgepole. Upon arrival at the falls, there was still quite a bit of snow at the very end of the trail. And because there is still snow around the campground, the river is high and fast (e.g., dangerous). Even though we had rain each day in the late afternoons, we were able to get in several hikes and had a great time. Sequoia is beautiful. We hope you have a wonderful and memorable visit.
That’s good to know! I was hoping that the store was open just in case i forgot anything, plus i wanted to use the showers after our hikes.
Would the bathrooms still be open?
Great information.
Thank you - hope you're able to get experience Lodgepole!
Wow ... thank you so much for sharing your camping experience at Lodgepole ... your video is great ... ;-)
Glad you enjoyed it!
Logepole is the best ❤
Yes - we think so too. Though we just learned yesterday morning that Lodgepole will be closed through about June 8 or 9 so we have to adjust our upcoming reservations. So much snow this year causing many road problems in Sequoia National Park.
Beautiful place, gretings from Wales
Thanks for watching. We LOVE Wales! Visited there two years ago, and barring any Covid related travel restrictions, hope to set foot back in Wales next summer.
I will put this spot on my list! Thank you for sharing. :)
Thanks for watching and hope you make it to Lodgepole.
Love your videos! Hopefully I can meet you both in person one day! I've made it a goal this year to visit more national parks.
Thanks for stopping by to watch! We try to get in at least one new national park every year - working on our summer 2022 plans at the moment. Happy travels!
I'm planning a camping trip there soon. Which sites would be best for being right there on the edge next to the river?
We suggest viewing the Lodgepole map at this URL: www.recreation.gov/camping/campsites/2541- from there, it's best to identify several sites that will work for you. Then be ready with your selections at 10am Eastern Time (7am PST) four months from the day you want to arrive to try and secure a spot. Our attempt last week for sites in July failed at 1 second after PST. We were lucky to get a site this morning for the first week of July at Lodgepole. Best wishes on your travel planning for Sequoia.
Nice video. We have beem to SNP in late 2019. Hard drive for a VW bus :)
Glad you were able to make it to Sequoia - beautiful landscape.
Great video! I highly recommend Jed Smith campground in Del Norte. Not so close, though.
Yes, we need to get there too! Would love to do some camping along the beach areas around Crescent City land someday.
We are going to Lodgepole the end of next week. We’ve been before, but I’m thinking this year the river will be pretty low. When were you last there & how was it? Hearing that river is one of the best parts of this campground! I see you were in #197. We will be in 196 & I think it we’ll have the same challenges getting in but we’re only 17’ so should be ok
We were there on Memorial Day weekend this year. River not nearly as high as in prior years - plus by this time of the summer, it will likely be a bit lower. Still, a wonderful campground. 196 was right next to us, should be pretty easy back in access.
@@ThePlacesWhereWeGo Thanks! 😊
Hi there! love the informative video. Do you know if there is an RV dump station and a potable water fill station at Lodgepole? Thanks!
Hello Ryan. Yes, there has been an RV dump station and water fill at Lodgepole (historically during our past visits). When we visited last summer, the crews were working on this section of the campground and the Dump/Fill station was closed. We were unable to arrange a trip this summer so not entirely sure if the dump station was been repaired yet. Last summer, we brought a 5 gallon water container with us and were able to use that with spigots near our site to manually fill water during our stay (another approach).
I love this video! It brought tears to my eyes because I’m so excited to start planning my trip! Question, is lodgepole open for reservations yet ? I keep checking and it seems like it’s not yet open.
It's our favorite place to camp - an almost annual event. I called the Sequoia National Parks office several weeks ago and was told that reservations for Lodgepole are set to open one week from today - so mark your calendar for bright and early April 25 to get yourself a spot. It is an absolutely beautiful area. Best wishes getting a reservation.
@@ThePlacesWhereWeGo wow thank you so much for your response ! I added the date to my calendar! 🤩
Hi … did see there’s like 200 campsites .. does it get really cramped ??
We think the campsites are spread apart fairly well. We've never had a feeling of being cramped up at Lodgepole. As most of the sites are for tents, there is ample room between most sites. Given a number of RV places we've stayed at where you can feel you are right on top of your next door neighbor, Lodgepole is far from that type of experience. It is a good place to have a first stay at which you scope out sites that look good to you for subsequent visits. There are quite a few that afford ample privacy. Happy travels.
Have you guys ever gone to the Sentinel campground? What campground would you recommend more for families with kids? Also considering the situation with bears.
Hello Jose - it's been a long time since we've been near Sentinel campground. Honestly, I'm not a fan of Highway 180 through certain sections before getting to Sentinel. This driver is extremely scared of heights, and I seem to recall some very significant drops - though during our last time on that road in late May, there were some icy conditions, and unless things have changed, too many sections of the road without guardrails. Our absolute favorite campground is Lodgepole. It is extremely good for families, as you are about as close as possible to some of the more popular destinations in Sequoia, such as Giant Forest. A river runs alongside the campground, which offers some fun wading areas during summer. Keep your food in the bear box - we've never had a problem with bears there (we have seen them many times) - keep your distance if you see them wandering near any trails.
@@ThePlacesWhereWeGo Thx for the response. I noticed that with the guardrails here when I went to Europe. There they have them all over the place, here they won't put them. There is this section from Lake Isabella to Bakersfield that always scares me along the Kern river. As for the campground, thanks for your insight. I never see anyone talking about Lodgepole, yet it's such a massive campground. I hope I'll get something there. There are also always so many no shows at some campgrounds. This entire idea of camping with bears I am not all that crazy about, so I was looking into a camping spot with people.
@@Jose-sy1je Ah yes, you will be surrounded by many people if you camp at Lodgepole. It is a wonderful place and very family-friendly.
How would you say Azalea campground compares with Lodgepole? I haven't been able to get anything at Lodgepole.
Hello Jose, it may have been nearly 20 years since we camped in that area though drove through it on our last visit about a year ago. It appears to be a nice area too. We just booked some days at Lodgepole last week. The strategy is to be on the computer, logged into your recreation.gov account, ready to hit "reserve" the second the clock strikes 7am PST. We missed our first choice site by a split-second but got a very good campsite a few seconds later.
@@ThePlacesWhereWeGo I tried the exact same thing. I noticed that some people are able to get many campsites and then dump some of them at some later point. The booking dates correspond perfectly. I have no clue how they get all those sites so easily. Some people talk of bots or codes that are able to get those sites more easily that you ca. Do you think it's better to use the app or website?
@@Jose-sy1je I always make the reservation on my computer - I log into recreation.gov on my browser. I haven't used the app. I usually have a first-choice campsite, and then a few alternates. Ready to go at 7am. It looks now as if Sequoia reservations open up four months in advance - so tomorrow, somebody could log in and look for sites that are open on June 23. You should be able to log on today to see what may be up for reservation tomorrow (Find the campsites that are labeled NR). The few times we have found nothing available, I just set a new date on the calendar - either the next day or a few days later to try again. Best of luck to you in finding a campsite.
@@ThePlacesWhereWeGo I have also obtained a campsite that wasn't one of my primary choices. Basically a site someone dropped, just like you. That is actually the only way I get campsites these days. People always tell me that it was much easier back in the day. No idea how the system worked before the internet came around. But having a spot is better than no spot lol.
Fishing ?
Ok with a fishing license. In the campgound, it really depends on the status of the river when you visit. Just outside the campgounrd, you can find good fishing spots along the Kaweah River as you get closer to Three Rivers.
Found your channel while searching videos on camping. Looks like we both could use some channel support. So, ive subscribed. Im number 177.
Thanks for stopping by and nice to meet you - will be checking out your vids too.