Eshom Campground

Hidden Gem. So I used Apple Maps to find location and it worked just fine without us getting loss. When you start heading down there are signs as well for the camp so you can choose to follow them or GPS. Road goes down to pretty much 1 lane and average speed is 25-30mph - not a lot of vehicle traffic but be mindful when driving!
Some past reviews talked about road/ground conditions being poor but other then the very initial entry into the campground it was fine. We stayed on Lot 19 and it was great. There was a shallow creek right next to campground so kids can play as adults set up with no fear. Lot 19 easily fit 2 minivans and a huge lifted truck, and two very large tents. Camp host was right next door and came by to give us a welcome, explain the area, and give us vehicle tags. He was very relaxed about us having the extra truck and technically we were 3 people over but they were 3 toddlers so do they even really count? Haha.
The campground was very empty when we went so it was great, no loud parties of people and we were able to relax at night around campfire with smores.
Two bathrooms on site. The one by our lot was a single toilet which smelt really bad but was clean enough. There were 2 toliets in the one by the single lots on the other side (still walkable for us) that smelt a lot better. Water valves at both toilet areas. 3 large black bulls roamed freely on campgrounds at all hours but if you don’t bother them then they won’t bother you.
Lastly, if you plan on going to the National park usually you can take 245 from park up to 180 and get there in 75minutes but sit to the 245 being closed at the top it was impossible. No worries! Just travel 245 NB to Todd Eyman Rd that connects to Millwood road and then onto the 180. It’s maybe an extra 15 minutes but very doable. If my minivan can make it you can too!

Hidden Gem. So I used Apple Maps to find location and it worked just fine without us getting loss. When you start heading down there are signs as well for the camp so you can choose to follow them or GPS. Road goes down to pretty much 1 lane and average speed is 25-30mph - not a lot of vehicle traffic but be mindful when driving!
Some past reviews talked about road/ground conditions being poor but other then the very initial entry into the campground it was fine. We stayed on Lot 19 and it was great. There was a shallow creek right next to campground so kids can play as adults set up with no fear. Lot 19 easily fit 2 minivans and a huge lifted truck, and two very large tents. Camp host was right next door and came by to give us a welcome, explain the area, and give us vehicle tags. He was very relaxed about us having the extra truck and technically we were 3 people over but they were 3 toddlers so do they even really count? Haha.
The campground was very empty when we went so it was great, no loud parties of people and we were able to relax at night around campfire with smores.
Two bathrooms on site. The one by our lot was a single toilet which smelt really bad but was clean enough. There were 2 toliets in the one by the single lots on the other side (still walkable for us) that smelt a lot better. Water valves at both toilet areas. 3 large black bulls roamed freely on campgrounds at all hours but if you don’t bother them then they won’t bother you.
Lastly, if you plan on going to the National park usually you can take 245 from park up to 180 and get there in 75minutes but sit to the 245 being closed at the top it was impossible. No worries! Just travel 245 NB to Todd Eyman Rd that connects to Millwood road and then onto the 180. It’s maybe an extra 15 minutes but very doable. If my minivan can make it you can too!

Important to understand that access to Eshom Campground is via a 45 minute rugged forest road that doesn't seem suitable for low clearance cars. The remoteness adds a lot of driving time in and out. At the time we were at the campground there were prescribed fires in the immediate vicinity. While we appreciate the Forest Service's tireless work - had we known the situation, we would not have come due to the thick smoke.

Important to understand that access to Eshom Campground is via a 45 minute rugged forest road that doesn't seem suitable for low clearance cars. The remoteness adds a lot of driving time in and out. At the time we were at the campground there were prescribed fires in the immediate vicinity. While we appreciate the Forest Service's tireless work - had we known the situation, we would not have come due to the thick smoke.

I went here as a kid and this was my 1st time back with my 3 kids (12, 10, 8) We stayed at spot 13 and loved the privacy and creek access. It's right next to the meadow so an occasional cow may wander to your camp. Charles the host was a nice guy with wood for sale too! We hiked to bethany pools and got lost a bit but found our way by using our ears lol. It's at the end of the meadow off to the right. Controlled burns were happening all around and got a bit smokey at night but not too bad. We also found wild strawberries right by the campsites and per my oldest "tasted like candy." Plenty of dry wood on the ground so bring an axe. The water closer to the bathroom doesn't taste as much like pipes as some of the others.

I went here as a kid and this was my 1st time back with my 3 kids (12, 10, 8) We stayed at spot 13 and loved the privacy and creek access. It's right next to the meadow so an occasional cow may wander to your camp. Charles the host was a nice guy with wood for sale too! We hiked to bethany pools and got lost a bit but found our way by using our ears lol. It's at the end of the meadow off to the right. Controlled burns were happening all around and got a bit smokey at night but not too bad. We also found wild strawberries right by the campsites and per my oldest "tasted like candy." Plenty of dry wood on the ground so bring an axe. The water closer to the bathroom doesn't taste as much like pipes as some of the others.

Site 15 and 14 share a driveway. It’s not well marked but something to keep in mind when reserving 15 or 14. The campsites in this loop are super close to each other as well. If you want privacy look for 16 or 13.

Host was great and the area is remote and quiet. There was very few people in camp most likely due to the burn.

Only issue was a control burn going on in and around the campground. 3 days of smoke and trees falling.

Be prepared to drive for at least 2 hours to get into either of the parks. 245 was closed when we were there and it made the drive even longer.

Overall, good campground with clean facilities. Just wish the burn was done earlier in the spring.

Site 15 and 14 share a driveway. It’s not well marked but something to keep in mind when reserving 15 or 14. The campsites in this loop are super close to each other as well. If you want privacy look for 16 or 13.

Host was great and the area is remote and quiet. There was very few people in camp most likely due to the burn.

Only issue was a control burn going on in and around the campground. 3 days of smoke and trees falling.

Be prepared to drive for at least 2 hours to get into either of the parks. 245 was closed when we were there and it made the drive even longer.

Overall, good campground with clean facilities. Just wish the burn was done earlier in the spring.

First, we stopped at the nearest Ranger Station to Eshom CG because there was confusion between recreation.gov and USFS website whether the CG had in fact opened for the year. We were told by the Ranger that the CG WAS NOT open and would be opening the NEXT day. There was no mention that the USFS was conducting a prescribed burn in the area. We got to Eshom CG and the USFS was conducting a prescribed burn in Sequoia NF which included active burns in Eshom Campground. Our site alone had 3 active burns, plus what was occurring in the other campsites, the communal areas of the campground, and the surrounding forest. Needless to say, we did not stay the first night which left us scrambling for a campsite and managed to reserve the LAST campsite in the area. The 3 active burns at our site were out and we decided to stay the night even though there were still some active burns and the air was very heavy with smoke (we spoke with a Supervisor who was driving though monitoring the burn and he said it was safe to camp) and we were forced to stay because there were no other available campsites in the area. The car was covered in soot the next morning and we had to stop at a car wash in Visalia to clean the car. Everything smelled like the inside of a BBQ pit ad there was a fine layer of ashed inside the car.

Our campsite was right beside a creek and large. I was surprised that the campgrounds had trash about considering the CG opened late 'to clean up from winter storms'...

I'm giving Eshom two stars instead of only one star because our CG Host was super nice.

First, we stopped at the nearest Ranger Station to Eshom CG because there was confusion between recreation.gov and USFS website whether the CG had in fact opened for the year. We were told by the Ranger that the CG WAS NOT open and would be opening the NEXT day. There was no mention that the USFS was conducting a prescribed burn in the area. We got to Eshom CG and the USFS was conducting a prescribed burn in Sequoia NF which included active burns in Eshom Campground. Our site alone had 3 active burns, plus what was occurring in the other campsites, the communal areas of the campground, and the surrounding forest. Needless to say, we did not stay the first night which left us scrambling for a campsite and managed to reserve the LAST campsite in the area. The 3 active burns at our site were out and we decided to stay the night even though there were still some active burns and the air was very heavy with smoke (we spoke with a Supervisor who was driving though monitoring the burn and he said it was safe to camp) and we were forced to stay because there were no other available campsites in the area. The car was covered in soot the next morning and we had to stop at a car wash in Visalia to clean the car. Everything smelled like the inside of a BBQ pit ad there was a fine layer of ashed inside the car.

Our campsite was right beside a creek and large. I was surprised that the campgrounds had trash about considering the CG opened late 'to clean up from winter storms'...

I'm giving Eshom two stars instead of only one star because our CG Host was super nice.