Smalley Cove

Smalley Cove Campground sits on the shore of Kerckhoff Reservoir in the Bass Lake Ranger District of Sierra National Forest, about 45 minutes from Oakhurst near the community of North Fork. It's a small, quiet alternative to the busier campgrounds inside the park itself — five sites tucked under scrub oak and gray pine, with reservoir access right at the edge of camp.

What's There

The campground has five campsites, each with a picnic table and grill, and the site provides drinking water and vault toilets — a step up from the fully primitive dispersed camping common in this stretch of forest. Sites run $14 a night, with a $3 charge per additional vehicle and a $1 pet fee. It's managed by Pacific Gas & Electric, and reservations go through PG&E's own recreation booking site rather than Recreation.gov. Smalley Cove is tent-only — RVs and trailers aren't permitted — and the campground stays open year-round.

On the Water

Kerckhoff Reservoir is set up for swimming and non-motorized boating — canoes, kayaks, and float tubes, since motorized craft aren't part of the scene. Regional guides also note fishing here for trout, bass, bluegill, and catfish, plus informal hiking and trail-running routes along the cove and surrounding forest roads — this is a spot for wandering rather than following a mapped, signed trail.

Getting There

From Clovis, it's about 26 miles northeast via Highway 168, then Auberry Road and Powerhouse Road. Cell service thins out fast once you're off pavement, so download directions ahead of time, and pack out everything you bring in — there's no trash pickup at the site.