Featured amenities
Parking
Picnic Table
Restrooms
River Access
Available sites
36 total sites
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Tent Sites
About Goldledge Campground
Activities & Attractions
Nearby
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Year-round
Fishing
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Spring
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Summer
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Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Parking
Picnic Table
Restrooms
River Access
Water and Hygiene
- Restrooms
Cooking and Fire
- Picnic Table
Parking and Transport
- Parking
Water Access
- River Access
Rates, Sites & Availability
36 Sites Available
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Site Details
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36 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (125)
What Guests Are Saying
Goldledge Campground is a cherished destination for families, offering a beautiful and peaceful environment alongside the Kern River, perfect for bonding and outdoor activities. Many visitors appreciate the clean facilities, good host, and the ample space for camping, with shaded areas and scenic views. However, some concerns were raised about the restroom conditions and odors, as well as the need for better access for larger vehicles. Overall, it remains a popular choice for campers seeking a serene experience.
What Guests Are Saying
Goldledge Campground is a cherished destination for families, offering a beautiful and peaceful environment alongside the Kern River, perfect for bonding and outdoor activities. Many visitors appreciate the clean facilities, good host, and the ample space for camping, with shaded areas and scenic views. However, some concerns were raised about the restroom conditions and odors, as well as the need for better access for larger vehicles. Overall, it remains a popular choice for campers seeking a serene experience.
Review Summary
James R
VerifiedAugust 12, 2021 • Stayed at: 031, Loop: AREA GOLDLEDGE CAMPGROUND
Very nice camp host
Candice R
VerifiedJuly 26, 2021 • Stayed at: 029, Loop: AREA GOLDLEDGE CAMPGROUND
We arrived later in the day and our parking spots were taken. My husband and I asked around but we weren't able to find out who it was and ended up leaving after an injury.
Candice R
VerifiedJuly 26, 2021 • Stayed at: 029, Loop: AREA GOLDLEDGE CAMPGROUND
We arrived later in the day and our parking spots were taken. My husband and I asked around but we weren't able to find out who it was and ended up leaving after an injury.
Nolan B
VerifiedJuly 16, 2021 • Stayed at: 023, Loop: AREA GOLDLEDGE CAMPGROUND
The picnic table was missing supports and was rotting away. It had major lean to it and leaned more when just one person was sitting on it. We decided it was safest to not use it. The area for the tent was on the small side and it barely fit the 4 person tent I had. The restrooms smelled horrible and I think the seat lids are the same they had 30+ years ago when I was there last. They looked old and bent. The metal between the seat and floor on one side wasn't attached to the floor.
Nolan B
VerifiedJuly 16, 2021 • Stayed at: 023, Loop: AREA GOLDLEDGE CAMPGROUND
The picnic table was missing supports and was rotting away. It had major lean to it and leaned more when just one person was sitting on it. We decided it was safest to not use it. The area for the tent was on the small side and it barely fit the 4 person tent I had. The restrooms smelled horrible and I think the seat lids are the same they had 30+ years ago when I was there last. They looked old and bent. The metal between the seat and floor on one side wasn't attached to the floor.
Jorge L
VerifiedJuly 12, 2021 • Stayed at: 024, Loop: AREA GOLDLEDGE CAMPGROUND
Wonderful place to spend good family time away from the city and specially no phone service. You literally disconnect from the world..
Great for my teenage kids:)
Jorge L
VerifiedJuly 12, 2021 • Stayed at: 024, Loop: AREA GOLDLEDGE CAMPGROUND
Wonderful place to spend good family time away from the city and specially no phone service. You literally disconnect from the world..
Great for my teenage kids:)
Julia P
VerifiedJuly 4, 2021 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: AREA GOLDLEDGE CAMPGROUND
After having stayed in two wonderfully maintained national forest campgrounds on the same trip, Goldledge campground was a shocking departure from those standards. Our campsite, while spacious, contained a picnic table that was half-way rotted, so that the bench on one side was splintered, crumbling and unusable. It was apparent that the campground host had not looked at the campsite in several days, as there were racoon feces in the middle of the picnic table, and there was trash throughout the site. The paper tabs clipped by the parking space, used to show the upcoming reservations at the campsite, still had the two parties before us clipped on top of our name and dates, leading me to believe the camp host had not passed by in many days. This is not an especially large campground, and it would not be difficult for the camp host to look at each site on the day that a new camping party is scheduled to check in to make sure it is clean and usable. Indeed, in the other two national forest campgrounds we were at on the same trip, the employees said there were special COVID protocols in place that required extra cleaning before a new party checked in. Obviously, nothing of the sort was practiced at Goldledge.
We contacted the camp host, showed him the problems, and he saw nothing wrong with it, saying no one had complained before. The condition of the grounds in general was also disgusting. For example, near the edge of the river swimming hole I saw multiple soiled disposal diapers on the ground.
Bottom line: don't stay here. I don't know how the other national forest campgrounds along the same road are maintained. But this one is decrepit and uncared for. You are much better off getting a campsite in one of the well-maintained private campgrounds in the town of Kernville nearby, which is where we were lucky to get a last minute site for the night after choosing not to stay at Goldledge at all.
Julia P
VerifiedJuly 4, 2021 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: AREA GOLDLEDGE CAMPGROUND
After having stayed in two wonderfully maintained national forest campgrounds on the same trip, Goldledge campground was a shocking departure from those standards. Our campsite, while spacious, contained a picnic table that was half-way rotted, so that the bench on one side was splintered, crumbling and unusable. It was apparent that the campground host had not looked at the campsite in several days, as there were racoon feces in the middle of the picnic table, and there was trash throughout the site. The paper tabs clipped by the parking space, used to show the upcoming reservations at the campsite, still had the two parties before us clipped on top of our name and dates, leading me to believe the camp host had not passed by in many days. This is not an especially large campground, and it would not be difficult for the camp host to look at each site on the day that a new camping party is scheduled to check in to make sure it is clean and usable. Indeed, in the other two national forest campgrounds we were at on the same trip, the employees said there were special COVID protocols in place that required extra cleaning before a new party checked in. Obviously, nothing of the sort was practiced at Goldledge.
We contacted the camp host, showed him the problems, and he saw nothing wrong with it, saying no one had complained before. The condition of the grounds in general was also disgusting. For example, near the edge of the river swimming hole I saw multiple soiled disposal diapers on the ground.
Bottom line: don't stay here. I don't know how the other national forest campgrounds along the same road are maintained. But this one is decrepit and uncared for. You are much better off getting a campsite in one of the well-maintained private campgrounds in the town of Kernville nearby, which is where we were lucky to get a last minute site for the night after choosing not to stay at Goldledge at all.
Mark P
VerifiedJune 20, 2021 • Stayed at: 032, Loop: AREA GOLDLEDGE CAMPGROUND
Great Location near the River & with a "Beach Area" to enter with your tubes... Host was super nice to us, too! Definitely coming back! Thank you!
Location & Directions for Goldledge Campground
Po Box 1640, Kernville, CA 93238 United States
Elevation: 977 ft
Getting There
From Bakersfield, take Highway 178 east to Lake Isabella. From Lake Isabella, take Highway 155 around the west side of the lake to the town of Kernville. From Kernville, go 10 mi north on Sierra Way (Mountain 99) to the campground.
Highway access
Goldledge Campground is accessible via Highway 178 and Highway 155. From Bakersfield, take Highway 178 east, which connects to Highway 155 leading to Kernville.
Policies & Rules
Cancellation policy
- Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
- Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
- Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
- Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
- Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
- Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
- Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.
Local regulations
- No glass containers allowed in specific areas.
Fees & deposits
- An additional vehicle fee of $8.00 per night applies to extra vehicles in campsites.
Safety & rules
- Swimming in the river is discouraged because of strong currents.
Amenities
- There are no hookups or showers at this campground.
Vehicles & parking
- Off-road vehicles are not permitted in the campground.
- The campground has limited space for turning around vehicles.
Fires & fuel
- Campfires and charcoal fires may be restricted due to weather conditions; contact the ranger district for updates.
- Purchase firewood locally and burn it on-site to prevent pest spread.
Site capacity
- The site length measurement includes your tow vehicle.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: October 20, 2026
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Population: 857
Elevation: 2,661 ft
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