Camping in Los Angeles

Despite being one of the biggest metropolitan areas in the world, Los Angeles is surrounded by great camping. Below is a list of some, but certainly not all, of the campgrounds around LA. For additional information about camping in the area’s biggest mountain ranges visit:

• The official camping webpage of the Santa Monica Mountains
• The official camping webpage of the Angeles National Forest

If you have a specific spot in mind, you can also search for campgrounds by location on hikespeak’s campgrounds map.

Developed campgrounds in Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains are very busy during summer months and typically require a reservation in advance. Campsites in the San Gabriel Mountains can be easier to come by.

If you need a last minute getaway and are worried about finding room at a campground, consider hiking in to a trail camp, like those listed after the campgrounds.

Developed campgrounds around Los Angeles

	Hermit Gulch Campground on Catalina Island This 43-site campground on the edge of Avalon provides access to Trans-Catalina Trail and other island attractions.
	Sycamore Canyon Campground in the Santa Monica Mountains This 58-site campground in Point Mugu State Park sits at the mouth of a beachfront canyon and has access to trails through the west end of the Santa Monica Mountains.
	Leo Carrillo State Park in the Santa Monica Mountains This coastal park has 135 campsites with nearby hiking and access to Malibu’s finest beaches.
	Malibu Creek State Park in the Santa Monica Mountains This 63-site campground has all the amenities and access to nearby trails
	Millard Campground in the San Gabriel Mountains This small campground at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains is the starting place for hikes to Millard Falls and Dawn Mine.
	Coulter Group Campground This single-site campground accommodates up to 50 people per night, offering fresh mountain air and sweeping views at 5,300 feet.
	Horse Flats Campground in the San Gabriel Mountains This 25-site campground in the Angeles National Forest in the San Gabriel Mountains offers first-come first-serve equestrian-friendly sites.
	Buckhorn Campground in the San Gabriel Mountains This 38-site campground is an hour up Angeles Crest Highway from LA and is a great weekend spot for summer tent camping.
	Coldbrook Campground in the San Gabriel Mountains This 20-site campground in the Angeles National Forest in the San Gabriel Mountains offers first-come first-serve camping year-round.
	Manker Flats Campground in the San Gabriel Mountains This 21-site campground at the base of Mount Baldy is a useful staging area for the ascent.

Trail camps around Los Angeles

	La Jolla Valley Walk-in Camp in the Santa Monica Mountains This trail camp comes midway through the 11.75-mile La Jolla Canyon Loop in Point Mugu State Park. The hike offers extraordinary ocean views and there are also shorter routes to the trail camp.
	Musch Camp in the Santa Monica Mountains This 8-site hike-in campground on Musch Trail in Topanga State Park is about one mile from the trailhead at Trippet Ranch and about a mile and a half below the summit of Eagle Rock.
	Gould Mesa Trail Camp in the San Gabriel Mountains This 5-site trail camp in the Angeles National Forest can be reached via a couple routes, including a 5.1-mile round trip hike up Gabrielino Trail along the Arroyo Seco.
	Mount Lowe Trail Camp in the San Gabriel Mountains This 5-site trail camp is at the ruins of Alpine Tavern near Inspiration Point and can be reached via a 7.25-mile hike that descends Mount Lowe Toll Road.
	Henninger Campground in the San Gabriel Mountains This 30-site hike-in campground is spread out on a pine-covered landing that boasts big views over the San Gabriel Valley and can be reached via a 6-mile out-and-back hike up Mount Wilson Toll Road.
	Hoegees Camp in the San Gabriel Mountains This 14-site trail camp can be reached by following Lower Winter Creek Trail through a beautiful wooded canyon on a 4.25-mile round trip hike.
	Spruce Grove Camp in the San Gabriel Mountains This 7-site trail camp in the canyon above Sturvant Falls can be visited on an 8-mile out and back hike or a 9.5-mile loop.