U.S. Forest Service · Angeles National Forest · California

Bandido Group Campground

Located along Santa Clara Divide Road in the Angeles National Forest, Bandido Group Campground sits among fragrant Jeffrey pines in the upper montane zone of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. At approximately 5,840 feet in elevation, the campground offers a cool mountain reprieve with convenient access to hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and scenic drives. Designed primarily for organized and equestrian groups, Bandido provides a peaceful base camp for exploring the surrounding mountains while remaining within easy driving distance of the Los Angeles Basin.

Open nowReservable · Recreation.gov5 sites40 ft maxNo hookupsPets okFires ok

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Seasonal stream near BandidoLupines along Santa Clara Divide RoadBandido Group CampgroundView looking north from Santa Clara Divide Road en route to Bandido
Photos courtesy of David J. Cline, David Cline · Recreation.gov

Site mix

group standard area nonelectric5
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

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

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

SiteFits, ftSurfaceShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFires
00140PavedPartialNo / –12 / 4Yes
00240PavedPartialNo / –60 / 20Yes
00340PavedPartialNo / –30 / 10Yes
00440PavedNo / –18 / 6Yes
00540PavedPartialNo / –30 / 10Yes

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

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length40 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

Bandido Group Campground offers five reservable campsites designed to accommodate organized groups and equestrian users. Each campsite includes picnic tables, campfire rings, vault toilets, food storage lockers, and horse corrals. There are no utility hookups, showers, or water available within the campground. Visitors are responsible for bringing all water needed for drinking, cooking, extinguishing campfires, cleaning, and caring for livestock during their stay.

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

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonSpring to Fall
ForestAngeles National Forest
BookingThis site can be reserved by calling toll-free at: 1(877) 444-6777 or visiting www.Recreation.gov.
FeesFees range from $24 - $300 per night depending on the number of areas reserved. For more information call 1 (877) 444-6777 or visit www.Recreation.gov.
RulesQuiet hours are 10:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m. No commercial type generators, lights, live bands, loud or amplified music or equipment allowed. Checkout time is 11:00 a.m. Check-in time is 2 p.m. Pets must be confined or on a leash.

Angeles National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Bandido Group Campground40°50°60°70°80°January: 7.73 inches of precipitationFebruary: 8.26 inches of precipitationMarch: 5.11 inches of precipitationApril: 2.05 inches of precipitationMay: 1.05 inches of precipitationJune: 0.21 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.21 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.01 inches of precipitationSeptember: 0.32 inches of precipitationOctober: 1.31 inches of precipitationNovember: 1.88 inches of precipitationDecember: 4.03 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 47.1°F averageFebruary: 45.7°F averageMarch: 49.0°F averageApril: 52.4°F averageMay: 58.9°F averageJune: 68.0°F averageJuly: 74.4°F averageAugust: 74.5°F averageSeptember: 70.0°F averageOctober: 61.5°F averageNovember: 53.1°F averageDecember: 46.0°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 in10 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Mt Wilson Cbs, 9 miles from the campground at 5,710 feet, station USC00046006 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 32 inches a year.

Getting there

From the Los Angeles Basin: Take Interstate 210 to State Route 2 (Angeles Crest Highway) in La Cañada Flintridge. Travel north on State Route 2 for approximately 28.5 miles to Three Points. Turn left onto Forest Service Road 3N17 (Santa Clara Divide Road) and continue approximately 2 miles to the Bandido Group Campground entrance.

Coordinates34.3453° N, 118.0047° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • Water is not available at the campground; visitors must bring enough water for drinking, extinguishing campfires, cooking, cleaning, and caring for livestock for the duration of their stay.
  • Because water is not available at the campground, visitors should plan accordingly and bring sufficient water for riders and horses.

Charges and cancellations

Booking Window For most locations, you can reserve 12 months in advance for group sites. There are some exceptions, so it is best to check with each facility. Change and Cancellation Policies and Fees Camping: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount. Late Cancellations Group Facility: If a customer cancels a group overnight facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date they will be charged the $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee. No-Shows Camping: A camping no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Reserved campsites and group overnight facilities will be held until check-out time on the day following your scheduled arrival.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearREI ↗14.1 mi
RV sales & serviceEl Monte RV ↗28.6 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗36.7 mi

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

Explore

Video

Bandido campground for horse camping

Worth a stop

Nearby attractions include the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, the scenic Angeles Crest Highway (State Route 2), and several nearby hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and picnic areas. The Chilao Visitor Center, located just west of the campground along the Angeles Crest Highway, is open on weekends and offers exhibits, maps, visitor information, and interpretive programs by advance request.

Show all 7

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • under 0.1 mi
    Fallen Giant
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.4 mi
    Mt. Hillyer
    1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.9 mi
    Bee Tree Interpretive
    0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.2 mi
    Silver Moccasin NRT ↗
    14 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_recreation_or_other
  • 1.3 mi
    National Forest Hiking Trail
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.3 mi
    Creekside
    0.5 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 Angeles 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

Bandido Group Campground is surrounded by a mixed conifer forest of Jeffrey pine, Coulter pine, and incense cedar with chaparral-covered slopes characteristic of the San Gabriel Mountains. The area's higher elevation provides cooler temperatures than nearby valleys, making it a comfortable escape during the warmer months. Wildlife commonly seen in the area includes mule deer, bobcats, coyotes, gray squirrels, Steller's jays, acorn woodpeckers, hawks, and a variety of other mountain birds. Spring and early summer bring colorful displays of native wildflowers, while autumn offers crisp mountain air and seasonal color.

Recreation

Bandido serves as an ideal base camp for exploring the surrounding San Gabriel Mountains. Nearby trails and Forest Service roads provide opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, trail running, wildlife viewing, nature photography, and scenic driving. The nearby Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail offers access to one of the nation's premier long-distance trails, while the Angeles Crest Highway provides convenient access to numerous trailheads, scenic overlooks, and other recreational opportunities.

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 Bandido Group Campground?

Sites at Bandido Group Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. This site can be reserved by calling toll-free at: 1(877) 444-6777 or visiting www.Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Bandido Group Campground?

Fees range from $24 - $300 per night depending on the number of areas reserved. For more information call 1 (877) 444-6777 or visit www.Recreation.gov.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Bandido Group Campground?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Bandido Group Campground?

Change and Cancellation Policies and Fees Camping: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation.

Source: Charges and cancellations

Is Bandido Group Campground open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Spring to Fall.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Bandido Group Campground have?

5 sites, including 5 group standard area nonelectric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Bandido Group Campground?

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

Are there showers or a dump station at Bandido Group Campground?

There are no utility hookups, showers, or water available within the campground.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Bandido Group Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Bandido Group Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Bandido Group Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Bandido Group Campground?

Bandido serves as an ideal base camp for exploring the surrounding San Gabriel Mountains. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Bandido Group Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Horse Flats Campground (0.3 mi), Meadow Group Campground (1.7 mi), and Coulter Group Campground (1.7 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby