About this campground
The Monarch Wilderness, shared with Sierra National Forest, is split into two areas by the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. Beautiful and dramatic, this wilderness rises from 2,000 feet in elevation at the South Fork of the Kings River to over 11,000 feet. The vegetation ranges from chaparral to sub-alpine, with Giant Sequoia groves dominating the southern sections of the area. Numerous mountain meadows, lakes, creeks, and spectacular geological formations add to the beauty. Three trailheads access over 30 miles of trails within the Monarch. In the northern section of the wilderness, several of these trails also lead you into Kings Canyon National Park's spectacular backcountry. There are three trailheads into the Monarch Wilderness: Deer Cove Trailhead - Open Deer Meadow Trailhead - Open up to the wilderness boundary (near where it links to the Kanawyer Trail) Kennedy Meadow Trailhead - (Kanawyer Trail) – Closed due to lingering post-fire safety concerns Wilderness Blogs you may want to visit! Monarch – https://monarchwilderness.wordpress.com/ JLW – https://jennielakeswilderness.wordpress.com/
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Monarch Wilderness doesn't take campsite reservations — but plenty of nearby California campgrounds do, and we'll alert you the moment a sold-out site opens up.
Browse California camping →Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.