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A white Tacoma with a camper shell parked on a rise above a broad, empty basin under building cloud.

Forest Service campground

Tillie Creek

Forest Service campground in Sequoia National Forest, Kern County, California. 2,656 feet.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Forest Service Sequoia National Forest
Elevation
2,656 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
137 133 standard non-electric, 4 group standard non-electric
Longest rig
40 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Kern County

Overview

Tillie Creek campground is nestled in oak trees on the shores of Lake Isabella, a popular destination for water activities, especially windsurfing and fishing.

The 11,000-acre lake is actually a reservoir, one of California's largest, and it marks the division between the Upper Kern and Lower Kern Rivers.

Recreation

Lake activities are the focal point of this campground. Options include swimming, water skiing and windsurfing. The lake is known for trout fishing during the colder months. Lake Isabella offers anglers a variety of species, including black and White crappie, bluegill, catfish and largemouth bass.

Facilities

This campground can accommodate family reunions and other large parties, from 60 up to 150 guests. The campground is located 6 miles from the town of Lake Isabella. One group area is wheelchair accessible. A marina and boat ramps are available just to the south. Other facilities include a fish cleaning station and a playground.

Natural Features

The Sequoia National Forest, located at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada in central California, takes its name from the giant sequoia, the world's largest tree, which grows in more than 30 groves on the Forest's lower slopes.

The Forest comprises about 1.1 million acres, and elevations range from about 1,000 to 12,000 feet, creating precipitous canyons and mountain streams with spectacular waterfalls such as Salmon Creek Falls and Grizzly Falls.

Nearby Attractions

The campground provides a good base for day trips to the Sequoia National Park, Trail of a Hundred Giants, and numerous Sequoia groves in the Giant Sequoia National Monument.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • boating
  • camping

The land around Tillie Creek

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated June 19, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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