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Mt. Pinos Campground
FSU.S. Forest Service — California · Los Padres National Forest
| Agency | FSU.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Area | Los Padres National Forest |
| Location | California · Los Padres National Forest · 34.81370, -119.10220 · Map |
| Sites | 19 public sites counted from the federal listing — 19 standard nonelectric |
| Getting a site | Reservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below. |
| Hookups | Electric at 0 of 19 sites Water hookups at 0 of 19 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 19 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 19 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Longest reported site fits 40 ft Sites that fit at least — 25 ft: 13 sites · 30 ft: 5 sites · 35 ft: 3 sites · 40 ft: 1 sites |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Not reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground. |
| Check-in / out | In 3:00 PM · Out 12:00 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Pets | Allowed at 19 sites, as reported |
| Accessibility | N |
| Phone | 805 434 1996 |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-02-25.
From the official listing
Overview Mount Pinos or in the Native American Chumash language, "Iwihinmu," was considered to be the center of the world, the point where everything was in balance. At 7,800 feet, the campground, bursting with views of mountains and valleys, is an ideal base for several biking and hiking trails. The dark and clear night skies make this a picture-perfect stargazing setting. Recreation Ride your bicycle to the top of Mount Pinos or hike the Mount Pinos Trail, McGill exploration trail, or enjoy the views of the valleys below from your campsite.
Mount Pinos is considered to be one of the best star gazing locations in California due to its dark skies, extremely low light pollution and frequently clear skies. It is a favorite place for amateur astronomers. On a clear day, you can see the entire San Joaquin Valley and the surrounding mountain ranges. Facilities This seasonal campground is open daily, May through November. There are 19 single campsites that include picnic tables and fire rings. Fires are allowed only in designated fire rings. RVs over 22 ft. and trailers are not recommended. There are two vault toilets. You should plan to be completely self-sustainable for the duration of your trip. There is no potable water (drinking water) or electricity onsite. There is also no dump station. Natural Features Along with views of the Lockwood Valley and Frazier Mountain, Mt. Pinos Campground is best appreciated by camping enthusiasts who prefer being nestled within the shaded enclave of Jeffery pines that dominate the scenery. Nearby Attractions Hiking trails, biking, fishing and swimming are all within 30 minutes of the campground. Restaurants, gas and shopping are within 15 miles at Pine Mountain Club or 19 miles in Frazier Park. Lake of the Woods and Frazier Park are about 10 miles to the east. Lockwood Valley and Cuddy Valley are located at the base of Mt. Pinos.
Directions, from the listing
Take I-5 north to Frazier Mountain Park Road exit. Go west on Frazier Mountain Park Road for 7 miles to the intersection of Lockwood Valley Rd. Keep right and proceed on Cuddy Valley Road. Continue 5 miles to the "Y" in the road and veer left. Proceed 7 more miles past the first snow and second snow gate past McGill Campground.
Nearest federal campgrounds
0 mi straight-line · CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceCampo Alto Campground
6 mi straight-line · CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceChuchupate Campground
6 mi straight-line · CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceReyes Creek Campground
15 mi straight-line · CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceReyes Peak Campground
17 mi straight-line · California
Trip Card — Mt. Pinos Campground
California · Los Padres National Forest
| Agency | FS · U.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Location | California · Los Padres National Forest |
| Fees | Not reported in the federal data |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | None reported |
| Max RV | Up to 40 ft |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 19 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/273875 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.