The Sentinel Campground at Kings Canyon National Park reopens Wednesday/NPS file
The Sentinel Campground in the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park in California will reopen Wednesday, just in time for the 4th of July holiday weekend.
Reservations opened Tuesday morning through Recreation.gov. During the busy summer months visitors expecting to camp in the parks should ensure they have a reservation prior to arrival.
This reopening announcement was initially scheduled for the week of June 24 but was delayed due to wildfire activity in the region. Wildfires are still active, but not threatening this area of the parks at this time. Campers and visitors can expect smoky conditions with poor air quality, although conditions vary day by day. Reservations will be available on a one-month rolling window to allow flexibility should fire and smoke conditions change.
The Cedar Grove area was closed in 2023 due to severe road damage on Highway 180 outside the park from the early 2023 winter storms. This area of the park reopened for the season on June 10 and will close for the winter on October 28.
Hiring the necessary staffing levels required to operate all Kings Canyon National Park campgrounds has been unsuccessful this season. The parks' short-term solution is to temporarily close Sunset Campground in Grant Grove (except for group sites) in order to open Sentinel Campground in Cedar Grove. Officials are actively working on an alternate staffing model that may enable the opening of all campgrounds later this season. Campers are advised to watch for updates.
