The largest area of Giant Sequoia National Monument lies in the Western Divide Ranger District of Sequoia National Forest, on the west side the Sierra Nevada Mountains south of Sequoia National Park. In addition to cozy car camping, the national monument offers access to giant sequoia groves and several fine trails.
Of the ten campgrounds in the Western Divide Ranger District, Quaking Aspen is one of the largest, with 32 well-spaced sites that can be reserved online (for a fee) or on a first-come first-serve basis. Campsites start at $14.
Quaking Aspen provides vault toilets, potable water, picnic tables, fire rings, and plenty of shade. Quaking Aspen is a nice place to camp on holiday weekends when other campgrounds can feel feel claustrophobic. The trees around each site offer privacy and serenity.
Once at Quaking Aspen Campground, there is plenty to do. A trail from the campground leads to Slate Mountain, and Needles Lookout and Dome Rock are a short drive away. Trail of 100 Giants and a natural water slide are only a bit farther.
To get to Quaking Aspen: From Southern California, take the 5 north to the 99 north. After Bakersfield, head north on Route 65 to Porterville. Head east on the 190 and climb up the windy road into the mountains.
Campground address: Western Divide Highway, Sequoia National Forest, Springville, CA 93265
Campground coordinates: 36.121133, -118.543621 (36° 07′ 16.07″N 118° 32′ 37.03″W)
Beyond Quaking Aspen, four other nearby campgrounds are located along the Western Divide Highway (CA 190). Redwood Meadow offers 15 sites, Coy Flats has 20, and Belknap Campground has 15. Their locations are marked on the map below.
Campgrounds in the Western Divide Ranger District
Coy Flat Campground | 20 sites | reservations accepted | potable water, picnic tables, fire rings, bear boxes, and vault toilets | elevation 5,000 feet | near the town of Camp Nelson
Belknap Campground | 15 sites | reservations accepted | potable water, picnic tables, fire rings, bear boxes, and vault toilets | elevation 5,000 feet | near the town of Camp Nelson
Frog Meadow Campground | 9 sites | first-come first-serve | picnic tables, fire rings, bear boxes, and vault toilets (no water) | elevation 3,000 feet
Leavis Flat Campground | 17 sites | reservations accepted | potable water, picnic tables, fire rings, bear boxes, and vault toilets | elevation 5,300 feet
Lower Peppermint Campground | 17 sites | first-come first-serve | potable water, picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets | elevation 5,300 feet
Quaking Aspen Campground | 32 sites | reservations accepted | potable water, picnic tables, fire rings, bear boxes, and vault toilets | elevation 7,000 feet
Redwood Meadow Campground | 15 sites | reservations accepted | potable water, picnic tables, fire rings, bear boxes, and vault toilets | elevation 6,100 feet | on Western Divide Highway across from the Trail of 100 Giants
Upper Peppermint Campground | undeveloped sites | first-come first-serve | vault toilets (no water) | elevation 7,100 feet
White River Campground | 12 sites | reservations accepted | potable water, picnic tables, fire rings, bear boxes, and vault toilets | elevation 4,000 feet
Wishon Campground | 30 sites (and 4 double sites) | reservations accepted | potable water, picnic tables, fire rings, bear boxes, and vault toilets | elevation 3,900 feet
 | Needles Lookout This 5-mile hike visits a fire tower with unbeatable views of the region. |
 | Dome Rock This short hike just off Western Divide Highway provides a great view of the valley below. |
 | Trail of 100 Giants This paved 0.5 to 1.3-mile loop visits a grove of Giant Sequoias alongside Western Divide Highway. |
 | Natural Water Slide This 1.5-mile hike visits a refreshing natural water slide on the eastern side of the Great Western Divide. |
 | More trails in the Sierra Nevada Mountains Explore other destinations in the Sierra including Sequoia National Park. |
 | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Campgrounds Fourteen campgrounds with over 1,000 total sites are spread throughout the park to facilitate your visit. |
 | Hume Lake Ranger District Campgrounds There are fourteen campgrounds in the Hume Lake Ranger District of Sequoia National Forest and Giant Forest National Monument, including the 74-site Hume Lake Campground. |
We went last summer to the lower peppermint campground. You information is not correct about he camp ground. They do not have bear boxes and there is water there.
We got a great spot and ended up staying an extra night. We wish there was more water running at the falls. Along with the slides close to that campground. Hopefully we will get a huge snow pack to help our water problem.
I have updated the information for Lower Peppermint Campground. Thank you.
Seth
I was told that there are no bear boxes at Redwood Meadows.