Remember: always follow the Leave No Trace principles when out in the wild.

From CampWiki

Buckeye Flats (Sequoia National Park, CA)

This is a fist-come first-serve campground. The road to the campground is not suitable for RVs, nor SUVs (if you own one of those massive Hummers, forget it). The road is narrow enough to only allow one car to pass, so be sure to use the turnouts to allow oncoming traffic to pass.

The campground is by a beautiful river, and in the late winter/early spring everything is very green (not so much in the winter). Buckeye Flats is below the conifer region, so you will only be seeing oak trees, not the sequoia and other pines until you head up to the higher elevations.

You will have to pay by dropping an envelope into a box by the bulletin board.

Buckeye Flats is an active bear area year around-- even in the winter. I personally have seen a rattlesnake cross my path, but they generally leave people alone, and will shake their rattle to alert you of there presence (if they have a rattle). It is advised to stay out of the tall grass, as ticks like to hang out there and jump off onto the legs of unsuspecting passersby.

Using clothing treated with permethrin (an insecticide/bug repellent not for use directly on the skin) will provide the greatest protection against ticks-- oh, and this applies only to wearing long pants, wearing shorts is well.. dumb. Permethrin should be applied to the outside of clothing (not the side in contact with skin) the night before your trip, and allowed to dry. It will remain active for 1-2 weeks, even after washings.

Buckeye Flats is one of the less used campgrounds in the park, and the smallest. Though, you get a slightly different crowd that you would in the higher elevations (mostly the local one-nighters/weekenders), many of whom didn't pay attention to the bear indoctrination speech by the rangers....

Activities and Attractions

Fishing, hikes. There is a river very near the campground, but swimming is not recommended.

Facilities

• Toilets: flush toilets,
• Showers: only at the Lodgepole market.
• Running Water: Yes, plus outdoor deep sink.
• Trash: yes, use bear bins
• RV Hookups: NO -- impossible to bring an RV to the campground

There is only 1 handicap campground, 28 tent campsites total.

Reservations

First come, first serve. $18/night, payable via drop box.

Seasonal Information

Hazards

Year Around

Black Bears are active year around (they do not truly hibernate), so it is important to always lock up your food. Black Bears are usually not aggressive, but will become so after tasting high energy human food. Don't feed the bears, but if they do get your food, don't take it from them (but be sure to notify a ranger of the incident).

Spring and Summer

Mosquitoes are active a month after the snow melts, especially in May/early June. Mosquitoes can carry diseases, but the actual risk of infection is very low in most parts of the world. Mosquitoes are known to carry the West Nile Virus and Malaria organisms (primarily only in south America and Africa). West Nile Virus only poses a danger to the very young, elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Those with the Sickle Cell trait are not affected as much by Malaria. Mosquitoes in this region are active in the morning and at dusk, and are very active in mid May-early June. The swift moving river makes it difficult for mosquitoes to propagate as compared to some of the other campgrounds with slower moving creeks.

Ticks can be found in the tall grass before and after the snow fall. If you find a tick, remove it with fine tipped tweezers by pulling straight out. Do not kill the tick while it's still attached, doing so will cause it to regurgitate into the blood stream greatly increasing the risk of infection. Some species of ticks may carry Lyme Disease, but your actual risk of infection is very low.

Rattlesnakes are active after the weather warms up. They normally won't attack humans and will rattle it's tail to alert you of it's presence. They can be found resting in the shade when the sun is high. Some rattlesnakes may be missing their rattle.

Directions

• GPS Location: Map

Head up the General's Highway past the main park entrance. You will first pass Potwisha. The campground is just past the picnic/parking area. Make a Right turn onto the road leaving to the campground.