Crystal Lake
Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Located near the lake at the Crystal Lake Recreation Area and San Gabriel Canyon at an elevation of 5,600 feet. The climate is nice. Areas for tents are provided. Motorized boats are not allowed on the lake. There is no swimming in the lake.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 131 |
| Host/management | 65 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
113 sites in 6 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | A | Back-in | 35 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 002 | A | Back-in | 35 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 003 | A | Back-in | 25 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 004 | A | Back-in | 27 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 005 | A | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 8 / 3 | Yes | Standard | |
| 006 | A | Back-in | 25 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard |
| 007 | A | Back-in | 28 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 008 | A | Back-in | 20 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 009 | A | Back-in | 16 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 010 | A | Back-in | 35 | Paved | Partial | No / No | 8 / 3 | 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 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 006, 018, 020, 022 and 7 more are listed accessible |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Spring |
| Forest | Angeles National Forest |
| Booking | First-come, first-served only. |
| Fees | $5 for day use. Camping: $12 for first vehicle and $5 for second vehicle per day/night during the summer; $5 per vehicle during the winter. |
| Rules | See current fire restrictions |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Azusa, take Highway 39 north for twenty-five miles, through San Gabriel Canyon. Follow the signs to Crystal Lake. When you come to Crystal Lake Road, turn right to Crystal Lake. Stop at fee station.
| Coordinates | 34.3256° N, 117.8372° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Crystal Lake is open, however, campsites are no longer available for reservation on Recreation.gov.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | REI ↗ | 16.8 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 27.8 mi |
| RV sales & service | Major RV Sales ↗ | 28 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
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Worth a stop
- 0.4 miFawnskin Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 0.4 miWindy Gap Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 0.6 miIslip Wawona Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 2.3 miIslip Saddle Day Use Area ↗Day use
- 6.1 miWest Fork Fishing Access Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
- 6.2 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miHalf Knob Trail0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.1 miLake Trail0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miCedar Canyon Trail0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miGolden Cup Trail0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miPinyon Ridge Trail1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miSoldier Creek Trail0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.4 miWindy Gap Trailhead ↗Angeles National Forest
- 0.6 miIslip Wawona Trailhead ↗Angeles National Forest
- 2.3 miIslip Saddle Trailhead ↗Angeles National Forest
- 2.7 miUpper Bear Creek Trailhead ↗Angeles National Forest
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
Angeles National Forest begins about 0.8 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 0.8 miAngeles National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 706,719 acres
- 1.7 miSan Gabriel Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 35,738 acres
- 1.8 miPleasant View Ridge Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 26,839 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
On the National Register nearby
- Fox Fullerton Theatre ComplexHistoric district · Fullerton · 10.5 mi
- Rubel Castle Historic DistrictHistoric district · Glendora · 12 mi
- DeWenter Mansion, Guest House and GroundsBuilding · La Verne · 12.8 mi
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 Crystal Lake?
Sites at Crystal Lake are reservable on Recreation.gov. First-come, first-served only. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Crystal Lake?
$5 for day use. Camping: $12 for first vehicle and $5 for second vehicle per day/night during the summer; $5 per vehicle during the winter.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Crystal Lake?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Crystal Lake open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Spring.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Crystal Lake have?
196 sites, including 131 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Crystal Lake?
The longest site here provides 40 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
Does Crystal Lake have hookups?
Yes, water hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Crystal Lake?
Yes, pets are allowed at Crystal Lake. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Crystal Lake?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. See current fire restrictions
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Crystal Lake?
Sites 006, 018, 020, and 022 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 11 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What if Crystal Lake is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Deer Group Camp (0.5 mi), Coldbrook Campground (2.4 mi, first-come), and Jackson Flats (3.3 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby