San Diego county has numerous recreational lakes, but only a few that allow overnight camping. Oak filled valleys and pine forests are nearby, but if you are seeking alpine lakes, surrounded by granite peaks and towering forests – then look to north for the Sierra Nevada mountains. Southern California landscape is nearly a desert terrain, with seasonal creeks and minimal rivers, so you won’t find lush greenery with natural lakes down here.
Camping Los Angeles – Angeles Crest Camping
| campground | elev | spots | veg | toilet | water | notes |
| Appletree Campground | 6,200′ | 8 | pines | vault | piped | Big Pines Hwy |
| Basin Campground | 3,400′ | 15 | – | – | – | CLOSED |
| Bear Campground | 5,200′ | 15 | – | vault | no | – |
| Big Rock Campground | 5,000′ | 8 | – | vault | crk | sm RV, 4WD |
| Blue Ridge Campground | 8,000′ | 8 | pines | vault | no | May-Nov, sm RV |
| Buckhorn Campground | 6300′ | 40 | pines | vault | no | May-Nov, sm RV |
| Cabin Flat Campground | 5,300′ | 12 | – | vault | no | CLOSED |
| Cienaga Campground | 2,100′ | 12 | oaks | vault | no | May-Dec |
| Coldbrook Campground | 3,350′ | 22 | – | vault | piped | sm RV |
| Cottonwood Campground | 2,600′ | 22 | – | vault | no | – |
| Guffy Campground | 8,300′ | 6 | – | vault | no | May-Nov, 4WD |
| Horse Flats Campground | 5,700′ | 25 | pines | vault | no | April-Nov |
| Jackson Lake Campgr | 6,100′ | 8 | pines | vault | summer | May-Dec |
| Live Oak Campground | 2,000′ | 7 | oak | – | – | CLOSED |
| Manker Flats Campground | 6,000′ | 21 | – | flush | piped | sm RV |
| Messenger Flats Camp | 5,500′ | 10 | pines | vault | no | Corrals, April-Nov |
| Millard Campground | 1,900′ | 5 | oaks | vault | no | Altadena, Chaney Trail |
| Monte Cristo Camp | 3,600′ | 19 | oaks | vault | piped | RV, Hwy 2, N3 |
| Mount Pacifico | 7,100′ | 7 | pines | vault | no | May-Nov |
| Mountain Oak | 6,200′ | 17 | oak | flush | piped | May-Nov |
| Peavine Campground | 6,100′ | 4 | – | vault | piped | Big Pines Hwy |
| Prospect Campground | 2,100′ | 22 | – | – | – | CLOSED |
| Rocky Point Camp | 3,400′ | 3 | – | vault | summer | – |
| Sage Campground | 3,400′ | 4 | – | vault | no | Cheseboro Rd |
| Sawmill Campground | 5,200′ | 8 | – | vault | no | sm RV |
| Soledad Campground | 2,000′ | 6 | – | – | – | CLOSED |
| South Fork | 4,500′ | 21 | oaks | vault | no | May-Nov, sm RV |
| Spring Camp | 4,700′ | 3 | – | vault | no | Rincon-Shortcut Route |
| Spunky Campground | 3,300′ | 10 | – | vault | no | – |
| Streamside Campground | 2,500′ | 9 | – | vault | no | poison oak |
| Sycamore Flats | 4,200′ | 11 | – | vault | summer | sm RV |
| Upper Shake | 4,400′ | 18 | – | vault | no | May-Dec. |
| Zuni Campground | 1,700′ | 10 | – | vault | no | – |
nearby towns –
Angeles Maps – hiking, OHV & mountain biking –
Rock Crawling has gained massive exposure in the two last decade with new suspensions, after market part for nicer rigs & of course, the main stream media. Red Bull, Skyjacker & other corporate sponsors have dug their hands into this new sport & the profits.
Crawlin’ is the off road hobby of wheelin’ well built rigs over the rocky terrain and obstacles, instead of around it. Sandstone walls, granite boulders of the High Sierra, hand made “rock gardens” in the Mojave, practice runs @ the local OHV parks.
Breaking things is the norm in this game. Expect this past time addiction to cost a bundle – on auto parts & on your free time. On the trail repairs are common, so go prepared w/ your tools, overnight gear & your crawling buddies (as back up).
From the adventure lands of Moab, Utah to the Mojave Desert of SoCal, rock crawling is not about speed, but all about the delicately chosen lines & slowness. The technique, the rigs & preferably no body damage. Just get rid of the body!
How slow can you go? How high can you handle?
Popular rock crawling areas around the Southwest U.S. –
OHV Routes, Motorcross & ATV Maps
Go west to & visit the oceans edge or head east to explore a deep redwood canyon.
Approx. 5 miles South of Big Sur State Park and just north of Julia Pfeiffer Burn State Park, this unmarked dirt turnout area on Highway 1 is a rare find. Rocky shorelines at the historic point, plus the scenic tree lined waterfall & cross the highway & head east for a shady Redwood canyon forest with plenty of backpacking options into the Big Sur back country of Los Padres National Forest. From bright sunny ocean view hillsides to dark shady forests.
This portion of the highway cuts into a deep bend along the coast & has no markings to the paradise that lies within. A steep dirt fire road (down to the cove) with metal gate is your only clue. Dirt parking area on both sides of the road indicate that people have parked here before.
This un-signed secluded hide-away has a variety of landscape & sites to see. You could easily kill 6-8 hours just in this canyon alone!! Definitely not a hurry through kind of place. Take your time, enjoy the view, tide pools, bring your swim suits & refresh in the creek. Carry a picnic eastbound into a shady creek-bed canyon & watch the sun dance through the towering pines above.
Driving north
bound on Highway 1, look for large hair-pin turn out in canyon area – approx. 3-5 mi. North of Julia Pfeiffer State Park in wide dirt areas along roadside. Located in between Julia State Park & Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.
Hike down the dusty wide gated fire road in dry brush chaparral. The view of Redwood trees, the royal blue ocean in front of you, the sounds of a water falling creek. The trail forks off in 3 directions:
Right / Rock Beach – this a boulder lined cove where the clear fresh water stream meets the ocean. Small pools & waterfalls can be found just upstream .
Bridge Crossing / Point – through a wooden tunnel to a cliff area with tide pools & wooden structure (an old boat launch?)
Left / Up Stream – a forested canyon w/ a variety of trees; dead ends a few hundred yards up into the canyon
Another option to this canyon is the East side:
Hike up inland (away from ocean) into a densely forested creek area. Redwoods, waterfalls & boulders. Deer sightings are quite common in this area. Shady & dark this trail climbs gradually in elevation. One fork of the trail leads to an old Redwood Grove. A portion of the trail is closed 2.5 mi. up due to a landslide. But overall the is a perfect option for backpackers wanting a short hike.
Los Padres Campgrounds
Big Sur, Mount Pinos, Ojai, Santa Barbara, Santa Lucia
Los Padres National Forest campgrounds span the length of the California Central Coast, from the Monterey Bay to Los Angeles County. Choose a desired area:
Lush coastal campground is Bottchers Gap near Big Sur, CA
see also Los Padres Group Campgrounds
maps of the Los Padres regions –
Los Padres nearby towns & cities –
Pine Creek Wilderness Area
East of San Diego, California
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San Diego Hiking – San Diego County Trails
Cedar Creek Falls
3 mi RT / moderate; off Hwy 78
From Santa Ysabel on Hwy. 78, drive E 6 mi, turn right on Pine Hills Rd.
1.50 mi., bear right on Eagle Peak Rd.
1.25 bear right again (signs point to Eagle Peak Ranch)
Drive 8 mi. (dirt & paved) to Saddleback, 4 way junction.
Park & hike the fire road downhill for 1.25 mi.
At the fork, bear left & continue into the Cedar Creek bed
Some rock scrambling down to the swimming hole
Hot Springs Mountain
5.5 miles RT/ strenuous (elevation gain/loss =1,250 feet)
Near Warner Springs, 10 miles northeast of Lake Henshaw; Off Highway 79
From Temecula Interstate 15, take Highway 79 East to Warner Springs
Drive up Los Coyotes’ Indian Reservations main road, past the intersection of Middle Fork Borrego Palm Canyon (6.1 miles past the entrance gate )
Turn left (west) and drive up the valley on a sandy road to reach a saddle above the valley 2.2 mi. farther
At Nelson’s Camp, on the left side of the road, Park at the camp
Begin hiking southwest up along a small tributary stream that flows north & west into Agua Caliente Creek.
Follow an old Jeep trail up, gaining more than 500 feet in just over a mile.
At the top, you’ll meet a better road that runs up the south slope to Hot Springs Mountain
Turn left (west) on this road and climb another 1.6 miles along the ridge line to the tower.
Pass through dense forests of black oak, Coulter pine and white fir, and across meadows dotted in late spring with wildflowers.
Lookout tower, dilapidated and seemingly on its last leg, sits on the west shoulder of the mountain.
Go a bit higher on the ridge by following a faint trail through thick brush and around boulders to the true summit. A flat concrete platform caps the summit block.
option – Seven-mile dirt road going up the mountain’s southern slope (drive, hike or mountain bike)
see also – San Diego Anza Borrego 4×4
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Anza Borrego Desert State Park
San Diego mountain towns nearby – Alpine, Descanso, Julian, Mount Laguna, Palomar, Ramona
E of Borrego Springs CA.
Well off Highway 78, past the busy OHV area, quads at Ocotillo Wells, past all the rural homes & the redneck bar, past the Elephant Trees hike – where the road goes from pavement to graded dirt to a wild desert wash, in a few short miles. If you don’t know where you are, then you’re almost there.
This is a large wild desert wash with huge unstable walls, several areas for wind caves and a few historic markers. Lots of 4×4 trails beyonf Split Mountain, to the south. No real water in sight, except maybe the puddle you are standing in as it starts to poor. The soft sand can give way to a few heavy rain drops. May not be a great area to be during a serious storm or flash flood possibility, unless you want to get buried alive. Check the weather forecast in advance.
A ratty, small developed campground of Fish Creek is on the left side, upon the ledge. Fish Creek Campground is picnic tables & a pit toilet – at most. Ya may as well camp out in the open, off road, like the pioneers did. You can do that out here in Anza Borrego. (Just keep it clean & carry a metal fire container.)
Split Mountain, Anza Borrego Desert State Park
This portion of the “mountain” is less than a mile from Fish Creek Campground. Fossils can be found in these walls. Shade is good in summer months, when day temps reach 100+. The rest of the year is ideal weather. This mountain split from water, erosion, mega force. High walls, wind caves, desert washes, great primitive camping & 4×4 routes.
This desert scenic drive will require you to get that SUV dusty. 4 wheel drive not required. No RVs past the campground. All low lying passenger cars are warned, there are uneven areas, soft sand & boulders.
Duh, do not attempt this one when desert flash floods are possible.
nearby towns –
Great desert back road exploring out here. A zillions washes & canyons.
Wilderness seeker John Muir called the Eastern Sierra, the range of light. It’s desery & drastic. Tons of granite & wild-ness. The impressive, tallest peak in the lower 48, Mount Whitney towers at elevation 14888′ over the Owens River Valley. Death Valley meets mountains. Ancient volcanoes & fresh granite. Creeks are alive throughout summer. Alpine lake hikes & their wild flowers are incredible. Horseback trails, rentals, pack trips are very popular. Total Escape even list high country Inyo 4×4 routes, that overlook Bishop.
Eastern Sierra forest & parks –
Inyo National Forest
Toiyabe National Forest – north (Carson)
Toiyabe National Forest – south (Bridgeport)
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
Eastern Sierra maps & trails –
Eastern Sierra towns –
Aspendell, Big Pine, Bishop, Crowley Lake, June Lake, Lee Vining, Lone Pine, Mammoth, Olancha, Toms Place
