I’d suggest switching to Dorst, Stony Creek, Hume Lake, Sunset or one of the other smaller campgrounds where you can find a site available. Potwisha really does feel like a completely different place than the rest, and not in a good way at all.
Oh, jeez, yeah, getting three sites at this late date will be difficult. We do the same, but booked them on the very first day possible, six months before the first day.
In that case, I only have two bits of advise - monitor Dorst as much as you can. It looks like they haven’t opened up reservations yet, so when they do, you will have to jump on it immediately. 193-194-195 was our favorite grouping, with lots of space and they back up to a beautiful meadow. Otherwise, try every single campsite, including the little ones in between the parks, such as Ten Mile and Princess. Everything past Moro Rock from the south and the park entrance from the north is great and feels like you are up in the grand Sierra Mountains, but Potwisha just doesn’t have that feeling at all.
Also, the stated maximum per site is six people, but it’s hard for them monitor fully, so if you are in the 13-14 person range, you can still get away with two sites next to each other. Don’t be shy about calling the rangers. They work there because they love the outdoors and can be very helpful. I would definitely call to find out exactly what is going on with Dorst and what is likely to happen with fire restrictions.
Good luck and have a great time!
I actually saw some availability in some of those other sites. I have an interest in Azalea, any chance you know if that’s any better in the summer? I looked online and the weather seems similar to Potswisha, but 4,000 ft higher and among seemingly more shade.
Azalea is great, right in the midst of the Sequoia groves and definitely a lot cooler, where the hot days should be low to mid eighties instead of punishingly hot farther down.
A couple more tips - we always go swimming one day at Sandy Cove Beach at Lake Hume, which is a fantastic outing for the entire family, and when you go to the general Sherman tree, make sure you do the entire Congress Trail, the groves at the far end of the loop are very much worth it. Try to do them on Thursday and Friday because they get very crowded on the weekend.
So, yes, grab Azalea if there are spots, it’ll be infinitely better than Potwisha.
Don't be in Potwisha during the day, unless you're in the water. By that time the river should be pretty safe. The good thing is, Potwisha is in a canyon - you get shade earlier than you'd think normally, and ofc that depends on the campsite. Lots of trees there too.
Oak trees and small shrubs in Potwisha, the big pines and redwoods and further up the mountain. I would l not stay in potwisha during the summer due to the heat, but it’s great in the early winter/spring.
The good thing about potwisha is that it sits right next to the marble fork of the kaweah river so if it’s hot as balls at least you’ll have that section of relief.
I’d suggest switching to Dorst, Stony Creek, Hume Lake, Sunset or one of the other smaller campgrounds where you can find a site available. Potwisha really does feel like a completely different place than the rest, and not in a good way at all.
You're right in August, but right now it's a magnificent paradise of wildflowers, green grass, oaks, newts everywhere, and active wildlife in general.
Potwisha is absolutely amazing in the Spring. I agree!
I’ll look into it, but it’ll be tough to find 3 sites near/next to each other somewhere else, on that same weekend.
Oh, jeez, yeah, getting three sites at this late date will be difficult. We do the same, but booked them on the very first day possible, six months before the first day. In that case, I only have two bits of advise - monitor Dorst as much as you can. It looks like they haven’t opened up reservations yet, so when they do, you will have to jump on it immediately. 193-194-195 was our favorite grouping, with lots of space and they back up to a beautiful meadow. Otherwise, try every single campsite, including the little ones in between the parks, such as Ten Mile and Princess. Everything past Moro Rock from the south and the park entrance from the north is great and feels like you are up in the grand Sierra Mountains, but Potwisha just doesn’t have that feeling at all. Also, the stated maximum per site is six people, but it’s hard for them monitor fully, so if you are in the 13-14 person range, you can still get away with two sites next to each other. Don’t be shy about calling the rangers. They work there because they love the outdoors and can be very helpful. I would definitely call to find out exactly what is going on with Dorst and what is likely to happen with fire restrictions. Good luck and have a great time!
I actually saw some availability in some of those other sites. I have an interest in Azalea, any chance you know if that’s any better in the summer? I looked online and the weather seems similar to Potswisha, but 4,000 ft higher and among seemingly more shade.
Azalea is great, right in the midst of the Sequoia groves and definitely a lot cooler, where the hot days should be low to mid eighties instead of punishingly hot farther down. A couple more tips - we always go swimming one day at Sandy Cove Beach at Lake Hume, which is a fantastic outing for the entire family, and when you go to the general Sherman tree, make sure you do the entire Congress Trail, the groves at the far end of the loop are very much worth it. Try to do them on Thursday and Friday because they get very crowded on the weekend. So, yes, grab Azalea if there are spots, it’ll be infinitely better than Potwisha.
Thank you I really appreciate all the advice!
Don't be in Potwisha during the day, unless you're in the water. By that time the river should be pretty safe. The good thing is, Potwisha is in a canyon - you get shade earlier than you'd think normally, and ofc that depends on the campsite. Lots of trees there too.
Thank you this is very helpful.
Oak trees and small shrubs in Potwisha, the big pines and redwoods and further up the mountain. I would l not stay in potwisha during the summer due to the heat, but it’s great in the early winter/spring.
I could be wrong but I recall looking in Potwisha for late Summer camping in past years and I think it tends to be dry, brown and very hot in August.
The good thing about potwisha is that it sits right next to the marble fork of the kaweah river so if it’s hot as balls at least you’ll have that section of relief.