Smalley Cove Campground is off the beaten track on the shore of pretty little Kerckhoff Reservoir. The campground is operated by Pacific Gas and Electric.
A boat dock and hiking trails are adjacent to the campground. Kerckhoff Reservoir is open to fishing from shore, low HP boats, or float tubes. Anglers land eastern brook trout, smallmouth bass, bluegill and catfish. Boats with motors greater than 5 HP are not allowed. A swim beach is close to the campground, but no lifeguards are on duty.
Smalley Cove Campground has 5 campsites intended for tent camping; no RVs are permitted. They are spread across a grassy and lightly forested area above the reservoir. Campsites may be reserved. There is a 2-night minimum when reserving. During the summer the campground can be quite hot.
| Campground Basics | |
|---|---|
| Smalley Cove Campground Location: | Rd. 222, 7 miles south of North Fork
11 miles north of Hwy 168 near Prather |
| Elevation: | 980 feet |
| Mileage from gateway cities: | Fresno - 49 miles |
| Camping Season: | Open year-round |
| Number of Sites: | 5 |
| Max. People per Site: | 6 (including children) |
| Vehicles per Site: | 2, $5 fee per night for 2nd vehicle |
| Pets: | On leash, always attended, 2 maximum, $2 each per night |
| Operated by | Pacific Gas and Electric |
| Information: | PG&E (916) 386-5164 or
Bass Lake Ranger Station (559) 877-2218 |
| Reservations | |
|---|---|
| Reservations Recommended: | Smalley Cove Campground reservation can be made for camping dates from late April through early September. Otherwise open for first-come, first servesd. |
| Booking Window: | See PG&E's Reservation Information below |
| Maximum Vehicle Length: | 28 feet |
| Wheelchair accessible sites: | yes, available sites and facilities |
| Fees: | $20 per night |
| Reservations: | Smalley Cove Campground Reservations |
| Check-in, check-out: | Check-in: 2:00 PM Check-out: 11:00 AM |
| Smalley Cove Campground Amenities | |
|---|---|
| Campsites: | Picnic table, fire pit |
| Campground: | Vault toilets, piped water |
| Showers: | No |
| Dump Station: | No |
| Attractions near Smalley Cove Campground: | Enjoy 160-acre Kerckhoff Lake for swimming, fishing, slow speed or paddle boating. Find a nearby hiking trail. Do some blackberry picking in the early fall. Drive to lakes about an hour away such as Bass Lake or Shaver Lake.
Trout Fishing Best Sellers |
| Updates | Last Updated February 2025 |
April 15, 2025, 8:00 AM - Reservations become available for camping dates of one week or longer
April 22, 2025, 8:00 AM Reseervations become available for camping dates of less than one week.
Many PG&E campgrounds (except group campgrounds), including those with reservations available, also have some first-come, first-serve sites.
Check PG&E - Smalley Cove Campground for any campground updates.
Smalley Cove Campground
While PG&E operates Kerckhoff Reservoir, Southern California Edison Company maintains a series of nearby lakes which provide wonderful opportunities for outdoor recreation. Among the lakes are Lake Thomas A. Edison, Florence Lake, Huntington Lake, and Shaver Lake. Our sister websites below provide recreation information about each of the lakes.
Another PG&E operated lake is Bass Lake in the Sierra National Forest south of Yosemite and not too far from Smalley Cove Campground.
Opening and closing dates of campgrounds are only estimates, usually dependent on weather conditions. Not all campsites can accommodate trailers or RVs of all lengths. If using a reservation website, check to be sure your vehicles will fit in the parking space for your campsite.
In order to prevent the spread of invasive insects, obtain firewood locally.
Designated Accessible sites are usually reserved for people with disabilities who have a vehicle displaying an accessible parking placard or license plate
