Smalley Cove Campground
Kerckhoff Reservoir

Kerckhoff Lake, California
Kerckhoff Lake, California

Smalley Cove Campground
Kerckhoff Reservoir


Smalley Cove Campground

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 and float tubes for 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.

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.

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Smalley Cove 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 at Smalley Cove Campground
Reservations Recommended: Mid-May through early September
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: 2:00 PM, 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.

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Pacific Gas & Electric Company
Campground Reservation Information for 2023

PG&E has updated its reservations dates for 2023:
April 10, 8:00 AM - Reservations become available for camping dates one week or longer.
April 17, 8:00 AM - Reservations become available for stays less than one week.

Many PG&E campgrounds (except group campgrounds), including those with reservations available, also have some first-come, first-serve sites.




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Key Smalley Cove Campground Regulations

  1. Personal/portable outside showers are not allowed within the campground.
  2. Dogs must be on leash and attended at all times in the campground.
  3. Campfires must be confined to the provided fire ring.
  4. Quiet time extends from 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM.
  5. Avoid bringing in invasive pests by obtaining firewood locally.

    Check PG&E - Smalley Cove Campground for any campground updates.

Smalley Cove Campground, Kerkhoff Reservoir, Sierra National Forest, CA

Smalley Cove Campground

High Sierra Lakes Attractions

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.

Nearby Bass Lake Attractions

Another PG&E operated lake is Bass Lake in the Sierra National Forest south of Yosemite and not too far from Smalley Cove Campground.

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General Camping Information

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.

Accessible Sites

Designated Accessible sites are usually reserved for people with disabilities who have a vehicle displaying an accessible parking placard or license plate