Atwell Mill is near the East Fork of the Kaweah River, situated in an old logged sequoia grove with the southern Sequoia National Parks impressive Mineral King Canyon. Located 19 mi from Highway 198 near Three Rivers, CA. About 1 mi West of Silver City and 6 miles before the end of road at Mineral King.

Meadows with pines at this campground

• Elevation: 6,650′
• Number of Sites: 21
• Camping Reservations: No
• Sites Available: First come, First serve
• Vehicle Accessibility: No RVs; tents only
• Length of Stay: 14 Days
• Toilet: Pit
• Water: Piped
• Season: Closed in Winter Snow
• Fee: Yes

Bear Box in Mineral King Campground

Bear lockers for food storage are required in this region. Nice shady camp spots spaced out well at this small developed campground. Hikers parking lot is located at one end of the campground. Big bonus for hiking trails nearby.

FOOTBRIDGE HIKE: Great half day hike down to the Kaweah River. Small wooden bridge down at the river crossing and numerous trails lead off into plenty backpacking destinations around Mineral King.

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Balch Park Campground

Hedrick Pond lined w/ Sequoia trees

Balch County Park is right in the middle of Mountain Home State Forest, which is within the bigger Sequoia National Forest (aka Giant Sequoia National Monument). But don’t let all the bureaucracy mislead you, this is an ideal park and location, well worth your trip. The campground is the most developed one within the area – with paved roads, RV spaces, flush toilets and a fee to go along with all that. Even gotta fishing pond.

• Bears are a big deal in these neck of the woods. Please store all your food properly to avoid a un-welcomed visitor
• A Sequoia Grove is nearby with plenty of creeks & meadows.
• Trailers not recommended due to the long curvy road leading up the mountain.

Balch Park & Campground NOT TO BE CONFUSED with utility company residences of BALCH CAMP between Pine Flat & Blackrock Reservoirs

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Helpful Maps:

Nearby cities & towns:

Tulare County Parks & Recreation

The north coast of California is the Redwood Empire, or so they say. With over 150 mile stretch between the wine country Ukiah & Crescent City, on the Oregon border, coastal redwoods thrive in this wet climate. All along Highway 101 you can find every assortment of lodging, from standard hotels walking distance to village shops, to small secluded cottages tucked behind a winery. Yes, Sonoma & Mendocino wineries blend, on the edge of countryside, with these redwood forests & recreational rivers.

Towns w/ Redwood Lodging in NorCal –

• Albion CA
• Arcata CA
• Boonville CA
• Crescent City CA
• Garberville CA
• Gasquet CA
• Guerneville CA
• Klamath CA
• Laytonville CA
• Leggett CA
• Orick CA
• Philo CA
• Scotia CA
• Shelter Cove CA
• Willits CA

Redwood Parks in NorCal -

(from south to north, with closest town)

• Hendy Woods State Park, Philo CA
• Navarro River Redwoods State Park, Albion CA
• Mendocino Woodlands State Park, Mendocino CA
• Admiral William Standley SRA, Laytonville CA
• Standish Hickey SRA, Leggett CA
• Smithe Redwoods State Park, Leggett CA
• Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, Shelter Cove CA
• Richardson Grove State Park, Garberville CA
• Kings Range National Conservation Area, Shelter Cove CA
• Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Scotia, CA
• Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park, Scotia, CA
• Redwood National Park, Orick CA
• Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Orick CA
• Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, Klamath CA
• Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park, Crescent City CA
• Six Rivers National Forest, Crescent City CA
• Smith River NRA, Crescent City CA

REDWOOD MAP

maps of region -

• Redwood National Park Map
• Six Rivers National Forest Map
• Smith River NRA Map
• Six Rivers National Forest Atlas

The redwood north coast of California is very forested region with many rivers & streams running throughout. Fishing, kayaking, rafting, camping & backpacking are all superb here. The wilderness rules, as the majority of the landscape is wild & untouched by development. Mountain ranges near the north California coast span in elevation from 1000′ to 8000′. The Klamath River, Eel River & Trinity River are the predominate waterways in this region, with designated National Forest lining their canyons. There are over 10 parks along the coast that feature the redwood trees as the main attraction. The ones listed below are the inland, mountainous areas of Northern California.

Mendocino National Forest

• Mendocino National Forest Map
• Snow Mountain Wilderness Map
• Yolla Bolly Wilderness Map

Clear Lake, Kelseyville, Ukiah

Redwood National Park

• Redwood Map by National Geographic
• Redwood National Park Online Map

Klamath, Orick

Six Rivers National Forests

• 6 Rivers National Forest Map
• Red Buttes Wilderness Map
• Siskiyou Map (Oregon)
  
• Trinity Alps Map – outta print

Smith River Recreation Area

• Smith River Map

Crescent City, Orleans

As if the government wasn’t confusing enough, now they have named so many areas of the Sierra Nevada “Sequoia” that it confuses people even more. For Pete’s sake, all we wanna do is see some big trees, hike, fish, camp and really relax.

The largest trees in the whole wide world are grounded right here in Cali, deep in the forests of the incredible Sierra Nevada mountains. The giant Sequoia groves are found in several parks in the Sierra, and are not specific to just the parks boundaries. You can find them as far south as the Western Divide Hwy, up past California Hot Springs – in the newest Giant Sequoia park, and you can find them as far north as Gold Rush Country.

• Sequoia National Park
• Sequoia National Forest
• Giant Sequoia National Monument
  (the newest NationalMonument, currently administered by Sequoia National Forest)

These massive Sierra redwoods are not be be confused with the tallest trees – the California Coastal Redwoods, which are found along the Pacific Ocean, from the canyons of Big Sur to rocky shores of Crescent City. The oldest living trees are the Ancient Bristlecone Pines, east of Bishop CA

Big, Tall, Old Trees

A break down of all the redwood parks by geographic regions, so you can find exactly what you are looking for, without the confusing name games.

Wikipedia: an excellent list of Giant Sequoia Groves

Sequoia Area Maps:

• Sequoia National Forest Map
• Sequoia / Kings Canyon National Park Map
• Monarch Wilderness Map w/ Jennie Lakes
• Mineral King Hiking Map
• El Dorado National Forest Map
  
• Tahoe National Forest Map
• Mokelumne Wilderness Map
• Sierra National Forest Map
• Dinkey Lakes Wilderness Map
• Yosemite National Park Map