Sage Hill
Nestled in the Santa Ynez Mountain Range, Sage Hill Campground is a great group camping spot with easy access to the Santa Ynez River. Spend time fishing or take in the epic scenery on one of the trails designed for both hikers and horseback riders. One of the campsites is designed for group equestrian camping and includes 12 corrals and a hitching post.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California · group sites in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group sites | 4 |
| group equestrian | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 99 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
5 sites in 5 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CABALLO | CABAL | Group Equestrian | Gravel | Full | 60 / 10 | |
| CACTUS | CACT | Group | 99 | Gravel | Full | 50 / 10 |
| LIVE OAK | OAK | Group | 99 | Gravel | Full | 50 / 10 |
| PINE | PINE | Group | 99 | Gravel | Full | 50 / 10 |
| SYCAMORE | SYCA | Group | 99 | Gravel | Partial | 50 / 10 |
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
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 99 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
Each campsite accommodates up to 50 people, and the group equestrian site accommodates up to 60. Flush toilets, drinking water and paved roads are included, in addition to an extra large parking area to accommodate horse trailers. The closest dump station is at Cachuma Lake.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | January to December |
| Forest | Los Padres National Forest |
| Booking | www.recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777 This campground is by reservation only. |
| Fees | Cactus Loop - $125.00 (up to 50 people); Live Oak Loop - $125.00 (up to 50 people); Sycamore Loop - $125.00 (up to 50 people); Pine Loop $125.00 (up to 50 people); Caballo Loop - $150.00 (equestrian site with corrals - up to 60 people) |
Weather by month
Getting there
From highway 101, take highway 154 approximately 15 miles to paradise road. Turn right and continue 5 miles to Los Prietos road. Turn left past the ranger station to the camp entrance.
| Nearest town | Santa Barbara, California |
| Coordinates | 34.5392° N, 119.7911° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Thousand Trails ↗ | 1.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | Harder RV Storage ↗ | 7 mi |
| Outdoor gear | REI ↗ | 10.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
The campground is half an hour from the thriving beach city of Santa Barbara.
- 0.9 mi
- 1 mi
- 12.8 miDivide Peak Ohv Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 14.9 miMckinley Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miSnyder3.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.5 miAliso Loop ↗3.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_recreation_or_other
- 1.6 miArroyo Burro3.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.7 miRomero Camuesa OHV ↗11.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 2.3 miSanta Cruz ↗18.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_recreation_or_other
- 2.6 miMatias Potrero ↗4.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 1.7 miUpper Oso OHV Staging Area-Buckhorn-Camuesa OHV Rd ↗Los Padres National Forest · Season January to December
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 Los Padres National Forest.
- inLos Padres National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,970,265 acres
- 9.6 miSan Rafael Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 191,104 acres
- 11.8 miDick Smith Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 71,275 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
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
The campground sits in a flat area with some sites shaded by oak trees. Sage Hill is near the river, which flows into Cachuma Lake about seven miles west. The Santa Ynez Mountains make up part of the Transverse Range along the Pacific Coast of California. The landscape may become very dry by mid-summer.
Recreation
Fishermen are likely to find carp, catfish, bluegill and the occasional bass that swim up from Cachuma. The Aliso Canyon Trail begins at the rear of the facility and continues to Upper Oso Campground, which is where the Santa Cruz Trail begins. The nearby Cachuma Lake Recreation Area is perfect for boating, fishing and kayaking.
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 Sage Hill?
Sites at Sage Hill are reservable on Recreation.gov. www.recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777 This campground is by reservation only. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Sage Hill?
Cactus Loop - $125.00 (up to 50 people); Live Oak Loop - $125.00 (up to 50 people); Sycamore Loop - $125.00 (up to 50 people); Pine Loop $125.00 (up to 50 people); Caballo Loop - $150.00 (equestrian site with corrals - up to 60 people)
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Sage Hill?
Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Sage Hill open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season January to December.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Sage Hill have?
5 sites, including 4 group sites and 1 group equestrian.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Sage Hill?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Sage Hill?
Flush toilets, drinking water and paved roads are included, in addition to an extra large parking area to accommodate horse trailers.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Sage Hill?
Yes, pets are allowed at Sage Hill. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Sage Hill?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Sage Hill?
Fishermen are likely to find carp, catfish, bluegill and the occasional bass that swim up from Cachuma. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Sage Hill?
Santa Barbara, California. The campground is half an hour from the thriving beach city of Santa Barbara.
Source: Getting there
What if Sage Hill is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Los Prietos (1 mi), Paradise Campground (1.3 mi), and Fremont Campground (1.7 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby