Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Success Lake - Sequoia National Park - Tuttelville Recreation Area


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Success Lake Campground -  Sequoia National Park -  Tuttleville Recreation Area

Tule Lake Success - Porterville, California

Lake Success and it's clear blue waters are in stark contrast to the otherwise brown lifeless landscapes surrounding the park. The park is a Corp of Engineers managed facility that is managing the scarce water of the surrounding areas. We didn't get a lot of photos here but we were able to capture some great sunsets.
(to view full sized photos just click on one of them for a slideshow) 






Sequoia National Park

What can you say about seeing Sequoia's for the first time. I am closer to seventy years old than I am sixty years old. This place has been on my bucket list for many years. There are simply no words to that adequately describe these trees.  The Sequoia's are in a word incredible. Some of the trees are 3200 years old with an average age of about 1700 years old.  Biologists don't know how long they will live because most show no sign of dying.  The only real thing that kills them is becoming so big that their root systems won't hold them up in winds and they simply topple over.

Trying to photograph these behemoths is difficult at best because by the time you walk away from them to get the entire tree they seem to blend with the rest of the forest. But, when you stand beneath them and touch them you understand that man is truly insignificant in this magnificent forest.  Enjoy the photos.

The drive into the park is impressive on its own


















Rock Cairn's along a scenic outlook














The Root System of a fallen Giant







We hope you enjoyed the photos from our visit. If you ever get a chance go see these giants.

Our campground reviews for Lake Success and Tuttleville

Tule - Success Lake Campground  - RATING - 4.5/5

WIFI - No
AT&T - Yes, two to three bars and fairly fast
VERIZON - No, This is in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada

COST - $30 ($15 with all access pass)

SERVICES - 20/30/50 Amps., water (dump station on site)

REVIEW - Big, clean sites. Pull through's and back in sites all very large. The park hosts said that all of the sites would accommodate a 40'  RV. We got into our site with a tow dolly and still could park our car in front of the RV.  There are 103 sites and the day we arrived (weekend) only one non-electric site was available. Most sites do not have electric all have access to drinking water but bring a long hose at least 75' is needed and bring a "Y" valve for hooking up your water hose as you will share your water spigot with your neighbor.  

The lake is pristine and fairly large and is nestled in the foot hills of the Sierra, Nevada Mountains. Sunsets here are magnificent. The county the park is in has been in a 5 year drought so the surrounding hills are brown and lifeless but Orange Groves and Grape production are irrigated and provide a glowing green contrast to the brown hills.  Porterville is an easy 8 mile drive from the park and provide many opportunities for grocery shopping.

(Afternoon summer sun is brutal on the passenger side choose space wisely)

Our site #002 





WIFI - No
AT&T - Yes, three bars
VERIZON - Yes, three bars
COSTS - $22 Nightly, $11 with all Access Pass
SERVICES - None, potable water available, generator run times are 8 AM until 10 PM, Check out 2pm, Dump station not currently working 6/9/18 in Acorn Campground Call for information

REVIEW - Remote, beautiful, pristine lake. Be selective about your site. We only had four feet to spare getting our 40' Newmar into our spot #069 in the Acorn Campground. There is no electric, no potable water or sewer on site. #69 afforded us a view of the lake albeit through the trees. Each site has a picnic bench and fire pit. Very clean park, no litter on our site. No lights so the stars are spectacular at nigh. 9 miles to Sonora, good grocery shopping and all around nice town to poke around in. 

Our Site #069



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