U.S. Forest Service · Cleveland National Forest · Alpine, CA

El Prado Group

El Prado Group Campground is a great mountain getaway just one hour east of San Diego, California in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area. Campers can enjoy cooler temperatures, unique natural areas and an extensive trail system at this mountain facility from summer through early fall.

Closed for the seasonReservable · Recreation.gov5 sites45 ft maxPets okFires okTents only

More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · tent only in California · pets allowed in California · group sites in California

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
El Prado Ranger CabinEL PRADO GROUPEL PRADO GROUPEL PRADO GROUP
Photos courtesy of Descanso Recreation · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Group tent areas4
Group sites1
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

5 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeEntrySurfaceShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessibleRating
Big SageGroup tentPull-throughPavedPartial36 / 15YesPrime
BuckwheatGroup tentPull-throughPavedPartial50 / 20YesPrime
ManzanitaGroup tentPavedPartial30 / 10YesPrime
WhitethornGroup tentPavedPartialNo / –30 / 7YesPrime
Yerba SantaGroupPull-throughPavedPartial32 / 10YesYesPreferred

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Amenities & rules

Max vehicle length45 ft
EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySite Yerba Santa is listed accessible

The campground is made up of five well-spaced individual group sites in a peaceful setting adjacent to Laguna Campground. One of the group sites, Yerba Santa, is accessible and includes four tent sites. Each site can accommodate a varying number of guests ranging between 30 to 50 people, and allows a 40-ft. maximum RV length. The facility provides drinking water, flush and vault toilets and a large parking area. Part of the campground is fenced off to protect the habitat of the endangered Laguna Skipper butterfly. Visitors are asked to respect the fence boundary and comply with the maximum site occupancy.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonMemorial Day Weekend to Columbus Day Weekend
ForestCleveland National Forest
BookingToll Free 1-877-444-6777(International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) on-line at http://www.recreation.gov
FeesA reservation charge is added to the price of the site. Fee varies with site

Cleveland National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near El Prado Group40°50°60°70°80°January: 2.69 inches of precipitationFebruary: 4.82 inches of precipitationMarch: 2.59 inches of precipitationApril: 0.90 inches of precipitationMay: 0.40 inches of precipitationJune: 0.08 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.75 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.49 inches of precipitationSeptember: 0.53 inches of precipitationOctober: 0.70 inches of precipitationNovember: 1.39 inches of precipitationDecember: 2.30 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 41.7°F averageFebruary: 41.9°F averageMarch: 45.2°F averageApril: 50.5°F averageMay: 56.9°F averageJune: 65.3°F averageJuly: 71.2°F averageAugust: 70.2°F averageSeptember: 64.9°F averageOctober: 56.0°F averageNovember: 47.3°F averageDecember: 42.2°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Mt Laguna #3, 3 miles from the campground at 5,920 feet, station USC00045968 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 18 inches a year.

Getting there

The campground is located 50 miles east of San Diego, California. Take I-8 to the Sunrise Highway (State Route S1) exit. Go approximately 15 miles north to Laguna/El Prado Campground, just beyond the 26 mile marker. Stop at the entrance station for information and site location.

Nearest townAlpine, California
Coordinates32.8869° N, 116.4556° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗7.4 mi
Outdoor gearBorrego Outfitters ↗25.8 mi
RV sales & serviceBobby Combs RV Centers - El Cajon ↗28.2 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Worth a stop

The Pacfic Crest National Scenic Trail, Noble Canyon National Recreation Trail, Mount Laguna Information Center

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.4 mi
    El Prado Spur
    0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.4 mi
    Laguna Campground Spur
    0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.5 mi
    Lightning Ridge
    1.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.6 mi
    Meadow Spur
    1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.9 mi
    Flathead Flats - PCT Access
    0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.9 mi
    Kemp Spur
    2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

Trailheads within three miles

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

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Cleveland National Forest.

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.

Natural features

The campground sits at an elevation of 5,600 ft. in the Laguna Mountains. It is forested with pines and oaks that provide plenty of shade. The area is home to many species of birds, as well as the endangered Laguna Skipper butterfly.

Recreation

The Laguna Mountain Recreation Area is known for great horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking trails. Visitors can get their boots dusty on the Laguna Meadow Trail system or access a segment of the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from Mexico, through California and north to Canada. Within the campground is the El Prado Cabin which was built in 1911 and was the first Ranger's cabin in the Cleveland National Forest. Step back in time and enjoy this historical feature in the campground. Families can learn about the area's flora and fauna by attending educational programs at nearby Laguna Campground. A visitor center is a few miles down the road.

Guidebooks for California

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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at El Prado Group?

Sites at El Prado Group are reservable on Recreation.gov. Toll Free 1-877-444-6777(International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) on-line at http://www.recreation.gov Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at El Prado Group?

A reservation charge is added to the price of the site. Fee varies with site

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at El Prado Group?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is El Prado Group open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Memorial Day Weekend to Columbus Day Weekend.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does El Prado Group have?

5 sites, including 4 group tent areas and 1 group site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at El Prado Group?

The longest site here provides 45 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 El Prado Group?

Yes, pets are allowed at El Prado Group. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at El Prado Group?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at El Prado Group?

Site Yerba Santa is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at El Prado Group?

FCC coverage maps show AT&T 5G and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at El Prado Group?

The Laguna Mountain Recreation Area is known for great horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking trails. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to El Prado Group?

Alpine, California. The Pacfic Crest National Scenic Trail, Noble Canyon National Recreation Trail, Mount Laguna Information Center

Source: Getting there