Lower Peppermint Campground

The Southern Sierra is being overrun by city folks. Last weekend huge piles of trash were left. The ranger put out over 20 abandoned fires. I witnessed human feces on a log over Peppermint Creek. Places I went to as a teen in the 70s have been discovered by crowds who have no idea how to clean up after themselves. Tagging with spray paint, empty plastic bottles, food wrappers, diapers, piles of shit.

Don’t go here. It’s unsafe.

Definitely, worth the drive! Quiet, clean and gorgeous.
A few things to note:
• There are pit toilets but they’re well maintained
• It was about 10 to 15 degrees cooler than what the weather apps said it would be. (It could be just a change in the weather when I visited but one may wish to plan for it being a little cooler if it’s late in the season.)
• No cell reception
• No nearby stores
• Potable water is available (but recommend filtering anyway … always filter!)
All of that said, pack wisely, allow for extra time on the roads around the campsite and it’ll be an epic time.

This campsite is in a very remote part of Sequoia. There's only one road in and out until you hit the fork in the road that takes you to the Trail of 100 Giants Trailhead. It was a great campsite to spend the weekend. Peppermint Falls is a must see, but it's a bit unmarked getting there. You'll have to do some exploring which I find is the best part of being in nature.

Don't camp here!! ;) Selfishly don't want to post anything on this site because it is AMAZING. Perfectly nestled in the trees, super spacious, and utterly quiet and peaceful. Looking forward to camping here for a second time soon!

The Good: This place was fantastic for a dude's weekend away from the city. Follow the creek behind the camp and you'll find amazing waterfalls to fish. Nearby, there are great natural water slides and jumpoff rocks. It was not at all crowded when were there but it did pick up a bit on Saturday night.

The Bad: This is a really remote campsite, so the bathroom facilities are nothing fancy. When the blazing sun hits them, you'll learn how long you can hold your breath. The flies (biting and otherwise) are the most persistent bugs ever. They go for your eyes and are not dissuaded by even the most powerful of our bug spray (98% DEET).

Head up to Ponderosa Tavern for to cool off. The added elevation really brings down the temperature.