Tule River

Southern Sierra Nevada Foothills
Great Western Divide

2021 – MUCH OF THIS RIVER may be INACCESSIBLE,
due to the Castle Fire 2020

One of the smallest rivers in the Sierra Nevada, the Tule River has three forks and is located within Tulare County. Tule drains the Golden Trout Wilderness on the Great Western Divide, part of the Sierra Nevada range. California Highway 190 connects the upper elevations of the Giant Sequoia to the farm town of Porterville. Tule River parallels this main Sierra highway as it flows west into the Central Valley.

Inside Mountain Home State Forest – Hidden Falls & Moses Gulch Campgrounds, both have small waterfalls & swimming holes. Dirt roads access these back woods camp spots, but they are both popular among the locals in summer months. Off season is best for minimal crowds. Mosquitoes can be fierce; bring the repellent or a screen room.

Clear, cold, snowmelt water, flowing west – out of the Golden Trout Wilderness. Deep within the Western Sierra Nevada, lined with granite cliffs and neighboring the oldest Sequoia groves, the north fork of the Tule River descends down the forested canyons to meet the oak-land foothills at Springville, CA.

Tule River Camping

Campgrounds along Tule River:

 (South Fork)

• Coy Flat Campground
• Onion Meadow @ Western Divide
  Forest Road #21N93 – Giant Sequoia NM
• Tule River Tribal Lands (private)
• Tule Recreation Area @ Success Lake

(Middle Fork)

• Camp Wishon Campground
• Wishon Cabin Rental
• Moses Gulch Campground
• Hidden Falls Campground
• Golden Trout Wilderness Trailheads
• Coffee Camp Picnic Area – on Hwy 190
  (no more camping; day use only)

(North Fork)

• Balch Park Campground
• Frazier Mill Campground

Forests, Lakes & Parks along Tule River:

• Balch Park
• Sequoia National Forest
• Giant Sequoia NM
• Mountain Home State Forest
• Success Reservoir

Towns & communities along this River:

Camp Nelson, CA
Pierpoint Springs, CA
Springville, CA
Tule River Tribe (South Fork)
Porterville, CA

Maps along the Tule River:

Golden Trout Maps
Sequoia National Forest Map
Sequoia Forest Atlas

Golden Trout Wilderness

backpacking, hiking, horse packing, fishing in the Great Western Divide

Mountaineering routes and hiking in Tule River Canyons