Deep within the national forest, in a grove of Ponderosa pines and along babbling Peppermint Creek, Lower Peppermint Campground provides campers a rustic experience in a seldom-visited section of woods. If that doesn't sound magical enough, only a quarter-mile southeast of the campground’s parking lot, Peppermint Creek rumbles to effortlessly form a 200-foot cascade over a cliff face, and tumbles and rolls over smooth granite rock forms below. Appropriately named Peppermint Creek Falls, the cascade’s crash resonates all the way to campers in Lower Peppermint Campground.
Grizzly Falls is not a sight to skip on your visit to Sequoia National Park. The waterfall borders adjacent Kings Canyon National Park, so the closest campgrounds are actually in that park. The closest and best maintained is Sheep Creek Campground, in which you can camp, play at Sheep Creek and trek only 4 miles west to Grizzly Falls. Both campground and waterfall are conveniently located just off Highway 180, and both are also quite popular throughout spring and summer. The grizzly roar of 75-foot Grizzly Falls is best experienced during a period of snowmelt or after a healthy bout of rainfall.
At approximately 650 feet, its full range makes Salmon Creek Falls the tallest in the Southern Sierras. A trek to the falls is highly recommended for hiking and waterfall enthusiasts visiting Sequoia National Forest. Nearby, camping at Horse Meadow Campground is your best option if you plan to see Salmon Creek Falls. Salmon Creek bisects the campground, which is surrounded by pines and granite slabs, providing a natural camping experience that nears perfection. From here, you can easily locate the trailhead of Salmon Creek Trail -- saunter 4 miles creek-side until you reach the gargantuan falls.
Nobe Young Falls is arguably the most spectacular waterfall in Sequoia National Forest. The multitiered wall of water gives pause: it's a testament to nature’s toolbox. The 100-foot falls can be found off an unmarked fire road 6.7 miles south of Ponderosa Lodge. Here you will encounter Nobe Young Creek on the bottom of a roadside bank, where an upstream scramble brings you to the falls. To camp near Nobe Young Falls, you'll need to indulge in dispersed, primitive, find-your-own camping, or head about 10 miles south to Long Meadow Campground, where you will find basic amenities for a more comfortable camping experience.
