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

Horse Heaven Group

Contrary to its name, Horse Heaven Group Campground has no equestrian sites. Instead, this tent-only facility can accommodate gatherings of up to 100 people. It provides a great mountain getaway for city dwellers to relax and enjoy cool summer temperatures, hiking and other outdoor recreation, just one hour east of San Diego.

Closed for the seasonReservable · Recreation.gov3 sites30 ft maxPets okFires okTents only

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Horse Heaven Group CampgroundHorse Heaven Group CampgroundButtercup Group SiteLupine Group Campsite
Photos courtesy of Descanso Recreation · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Group tent areas3
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

3 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopEntrySurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFiresRating
1BUTRBUTRBack-inPavedPartial100 / 16YesPrime
1HOLLHOLLPull-throughPavedPartial70 / 12YesPreferred
1LUPILUPIPull-throughPavedPartial40 / 10YesPreferred

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 length30 ft
EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

This site offers three areas for group gatherings: Lupine Loop can accommodate 40 people and 10 vehicles; Buttercup Loop can hold 100 people and 16 vehicles; Hollyhock Loop can hold 70 people and 12 vehicles. The facility is equipped with vault toilets and drinking water. A general store is located 2.3 miles away at Mt. Laguna and Pine Valley.

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 to Labor Day Weekend
ForestCleveland National Forest
BookingSites can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at http://www.recreation.gov
FeesA reservation charge is added to the price of the site. Fees varies with site

Cleveland National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Horse Heaven 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, 2 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 Sunrise Highway exit. Go approximately 14 miles until you see the Horse Heaven Group Campground sign and turn down the campground entrance road.

Nearest townAlpine, California
Coordinates32.8875° N, 116.4408° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗8.2 mi
Outdoor gearBorrego Outfitters ↗25.7 mi
RV sales & serviceBobby Combs RV Centers - El Cajon ↗29.1 mi

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

Explore

Worth a stop

Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, Big Laguna Trail System, Storm Canyon Overlook

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.1 mi
    Flathead Flats - PCT Access
    0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.3 mi
    Lightning Ridge
    1.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.5 mi
    Laguna Campground Spur
    0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.8 mi
    Monument Peak
    0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.9 mi
    Big Laguna ↗
    5.7 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 is nestled in the pines at an elevation of 5,600 feet within the Laguna Mountains in the southern portion of Cleveland National Forest. The area is home to many species of birds and wildlife.

Recreation

The Laguna Mountain region is known for its great horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking trails. Visitors can get their boots dusty on a segment of the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from California to the State of Washington, and access other trails within a short drive. Many picnic areas are located nearby.

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 Horse Heaven Group?

Sites at Horse Heaven Group are reservable on Recreation.gov. Sites can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or 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 Horse Heaven Group?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Horse Heaven Group?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Horse Heaven Group open right now?

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

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Horse Heaven Group have?

3 sites, including 3 group tent areas.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Horse Heaven Group?

The longest site here provides 30 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 Horse Heaven Group?

Yes, pets are allowed at Horse Heaven Group. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Horse Heaven Group?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Horse Heaven 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 Horse Heaven Group?

The Laguna Mountain region is known for its 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 Horse Heaven Group?

Alpine, California. Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, Big Laguna Trail System, Storm Canyon Overlook

Source: Getting there

What if Horse Heaven Group is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Laguna (0.3 mi), El Prado Group (0.9 mi), and Burnt Rancheria (2.3 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby