American Canyon Campground
American Canyon is a small, secluded campground which borders the Machesna Wilderness. While the campground is accessible through the wilderness, it is a long and strenuous hike as vehicles are not permitted in wilderness areas. The only motorized entrance is through the Avenales Ranch. This is a working cattle ranch, and the owners have been generous to grant access to American Canyon through their ranch. The campground is an Adventure Pass site managed by the Forest Service. The campground is embedded within beautiful oaks, providing much shade and cooling during the hot summer days.
More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 12 |
Site guide
12 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard | |
| 2 | Back-in | 30 | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 3 | Back-in | 30 | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 4 | Back-in | 30 | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 5 | Back-in | 30 | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 6 | Back-in | 30 | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 7 | Back-in | 30 | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 8 | Back-in | 30 | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 9 | Back-in | 30 | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 10 | Back-in | 30 | Partial | No / No | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 18 ft |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | American Canyon Campground is under the Adventure Pass permit ($5/day or $30/year). |
The American Canyon campground offers 12 campsites for tent and car camping (no RVs due to size restriction). Each site includes a picnic table, and a combination fire ring/grill. There are two outhouses with pit toilets in the campground. No drinking and non-potable water at the site. No trash service, so pack it in, pack it out.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | August to September |
| Forest | Los Padres National Forest |
| Fees | Adventure Pass ($5/day or $30/year), or Annual Interagency Pass, Senior Interagency Pass, or Interagency Access Pass. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Hwy 101, take the Santa Margarita exit, turning off at El Camino Real and across the railroad tracks at the east end of town on Estrada Avenue/Hwy 58. After 1.4 miles Hwy 58 turns left but continue straight on Pozo Road.
| Nearest town | Santa Maria, California |
| Coordinates | 35.2768° N, 120.3075° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Entrance via the ranch gate is opened only during deer hunting season, by reservation only on rec.gov and with an issued combination code provided.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Moondoggie's Beach Club ↗ | 20.1 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 21 mi |
| RV sales & service | California RV Outlets ↗ | 27 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
REVIEW - Little Mill Campground, American Fork Canyon, Utah
Worth a stop
Due to its remoteness, there are only a couple of nearby places that might be of interest. The Vintage Cowboy Winery in Pozo opens on most weekends. The Pozo Saloon is also open on some weekends, but not consistently. Both are approximately 10 miles west of the campground.
- 9.4 miRinconada Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 10.8 miBig Falls Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 1.6 miSellers Potrero ↗5.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.3 miGarcia OHV ↗4.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, 4WD and 1 more
- 2.4 miAmerican Canyon4.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.1 miAvenales3.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.8 miCaldwell - Trout Creek ↗11.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.9 miStony Creek1.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Garcia Wilderness, which overlaps Los Padres National Forest.
- inGarcia Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 13,987 acres
- inLos Padres National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,970,265 acres
- 1.8 miMachesna Mountain Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 18,278 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Natural features
The campground is in a grove of mature oaks. The watershed is dry during deer season. The lower areas are a mix of open grasslands with oak and pine woodlands. The higher terrain is covered in chaparral, with coulter pines near the top of the ridges and scattered open grasslands.
Recreation
The campground is surrounded by wilderness and private lands, so mountain biking isn’t practical. Horseback riding, hiking and wildlife viewing isn’t really recommended during rifle season. This really is a hunting camp. There are cattle trails in abundance and a rigorous trail (1800’ of elevation gain) from the campground to the Nunez Potrero and Pine Spring near the top of the ridge. The American Canyon watershed is dry in deer season.
Guidebooks for California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at American Canyon Campground?
Sites at American Canyon Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at American Canyon Campground?
American Canyon Campground is under the Adventure Pass permit ($5/day or $30/year).
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at American Canyon Campground?
Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is American Canyon Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season August to September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does American Canyon Campground have?
12 sites, including 12 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at American Canyon Campground?
The longest site here provides 18 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at American Canyon Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at American Canyon Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at American Canyon Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at American Canyon Campground?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at American Canyon Campground?
The campground is surrounded by wilderness and private lands, so mountain biking isn’t practical. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to American Canyon Campground?
Santa Maria, California. Due to its remoteness, there are only a couple of nearby places that might be of interest.
Source: Getting there
What if American Canyon Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Turkey Flat OHV Staging Area (5.5 mi), La Panza Campground (5.9 mi), and Navajo Flats Campground (6.4 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby