Sequoia National Forest
1839 South Newcomb Street
Porterville, CA 93257

559-784-1500

The questions people ask the most are answered below, or links are provided to more detailed information.

For any questions related to EMPLOYMENT, please start in our employment section of the web site. This includes career advice, fire jobs, and summer hires.

How can I purchase maps?

Recreation, Wilderness, and other maps are available and may be purchased at any Forest Office. Some sporting goods stores, outfitters, and map stores also sell these maps. You can also purchase Forest Service Maps online at http://www.nationalforeststore.com.

USGS Maps can be obtained at http://store.usgs.gov/

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How can we obtain a California Campfire permit?

At any Forest Service Office, Bureau of Land Management, or California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) Offices, also from any Forest Service field personnel. Please read the permit information page for additional information.
Is there a cost? No, there is no cost for the campfire permit.

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How can I get a camping space?

The ideal camping time in most Forest areas is May to October, prior to winter storm activity. Reservation campgrounds are available, however the majority of Forest campgrounds are operated on a first-come, first-served system. For group camping sites you may make reservations, for additional information please contact one of our offices. The maximum stay in most campgrounds is 14 days and a 21 day maximum stay per Ranger District, per calendar year. Most campgrounds fill quickly during holiday weekends, therefore visitors should come prepared to camp in undeveloped areas. Wherever you camp, be sure to Leave No Trace.

For reservations, call the National Forest Reservation Center at 1-877-444-6777. Remember to obtain a campfire permit if you plan to make your own camp. Visitors with Internet access can find out about campsite availability on the World Wide Web at: www.reserveusa.com

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Do I need a wilderness permit to access wilderness lands on the Forest?

A permit is required for overnight visits to the Golden Trout Wilderness. These permits are free of charge and may be obtained at one of our offices. One permit is required per trip per group. If you choose to have a campfire you will need a campfire permit. These may also be obtained free of charge at the same time you obtain your Wilderness permit.

Permits for overnight visits to other wilderness areas or for day use are not required but we ask that you sign the register at the trailhead.

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Can I camp in areas outside developed campgrounds?

You may camp outside of developed campgrounds in most parts of the Forest, at no cost. Potable water, toilets, and other amenities are not generally available. If you choose to camp outside developed areas, be sure to bring adequate water or be prepared to purify spring water before drinking. Water on the Sequoia National Forest may be contaminated with Giardia or other microorganisms. Also be sure you have a Campfire permits if you plan to build a fire, and a Wilderness Permit if you plan to spend the night in the Wilderness. Wherever you camp, be sure to Leave No Trace.

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Can I have dogs in the campgrounds and trails?

Your canine companions are welcome in National Forests. The few rules that apply to dogs are meant to assure that you and other National Forest visitors have an enjoyable outdoor recreation experience. Please practice the following, (these rules will be enforced in developed reaction areas). If you are traveling in a National Forest Wilderness, dogs are permitted. However, if you leave a National Forest Wilderness and enter into a National Park, dogs are not permitted.

• Leave vicious or unusually noisy dogs at home.
• Please keep your dog on a leash no more than 6 feet long, or otherwise restrict its freedom to roam at will.
• At night keep your dogs and other pets inside an enclosed vehicle or in a tent.
• Developed campgrounds are for people, not animals. Please do not bring more than two dogs or other pet to any one campsite.
• Do not bring dogs onto developed swimming beaches, even if they are restrained. Guide dogs are an exception.

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Where can I ride an Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) or Over-Snow Vehicle (OSV)?

OHV recreation is just one of the many uses allowed on National Forest lands. OHV travel is restricted to designated routes and areas. Many routes are open and accessible to those who enjoy recreating on OHVs.  It is your responsibility to know and abide by regulations relating to motor vehicle travel. California state law requires registration of all motor vehicles before being operated on public lands. You must have either a current Green Sticker or highway license, both issued by the State Department of Motor Vehicles. If highway licensed, the vehicle must meet all standards for operating on a public highway. Many areas are open and accessible to those who enjoy recreating on ATVs and OSVs during the winter months. Motorized over-snow travel is prohibited in some areas. Federal law prohibits operation of any mechanical or motorized equipment within the boundaries of a designated Wilderness except for persons with disabilities. The Wilderness Act allows the use of wheelchairs (a device designed solely for use by a mobility-impaired person for locomotion, that is suitable for use in an indoor pedestrian area) in a Wilderness Area. Please contact us for specific information about routes that are open to OHV/OSV use on the Sequoia National Forest.

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What is the difference between Sequoia National Forest, Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Park?

FOREST, MONUMENT, OR PARK? (pdf 133k)
You may see signs for Sequoia National Forest, Giant Sequoia National Monument, and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, and wonder what is the difference between these places? All are on federal land. Each exists to benefit society. Yet each has a different history and purpose. Together they provide a wide spectrum of uses.

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Where is the tree you can drive through? (pdf 420k)

This question is asked hundreds of times each year by visitors to Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument.

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What is the difference between a sequoia and a redwood tree?

Giant Sequoias and Coast Redwood Trees are closely related and they are both in the redwood family, Taxodiaceae. However, they are different species. Giant Sequoias (scientific name Sequoiadendron gigantea) are considered the largest trees in the world as measured by the volume of their trunk. The biggest Giant Sequoias can be 40 feet wide at their bases and 275 feet high for a total trunk volume of up to 52,500 cubic feet. Giant Sequoias grow naturally only on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California.

Coast Redwoods (scientific name Sequoia sempervirens) are considered to be the world's tallest trees and they can get as tall as 365 feet. Coast Redwoods grow naturally only along the Pacific coast of northern California and into southern Oregon.

There is another redwood tree that was once thought to be extinct. It is the Dawn Redwood and it grows naturally only in central China. Its scientific name is Metasequoia glyptostroboides and does not grow to any great size and it is deciduous, meaning it loses its needles in the fall.

Other trees in the family Taxodiaceae include the bald cypress and Japanese Cedar. Most of the trees in this family, including Giant Sequoias, Coast Redwoods, and Dawn Redwoods, have been planted by people worldwide as ornamental trees.

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