Campo Alto Campground
Tucked away high atop the Cerro Noroeste, you'll find solitude, serenity and unsurpassed scenery as you lose yourself in a pleasant grove of Jeffrey pines at Campo Alto Campground. Campsites are spacious, the air is filled with a pine-sweet scent, and you will enjoy end-of-the-road privacy. Invigorated by the fresh air, your inner hiker will hunger to head out on the Vincent Tumameit Trailhead to enjoy the scenic mountain vistas. Do your best to leave this natural setting just as you found it. The campsites have no barriers to block your view, so most modest sized RVs, and all tent campers fit well here.
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
| Standard, no hookups | 17 |
| Group sites | 2 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
19 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Loop 1 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 02 | Loop 1 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 03 | Loop 1 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 04 | Loop 1 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 05 | Loop 1 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 06 | Loop 1 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 07 | Loop 1 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 08 | Loop 1 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 09 | Loop 1 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 10 | Loop 1 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 6 / 1 | 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 03:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
This seasonal campground is open daily, May - November. There are 15 single campsites that include picnic tables and fire rings, and two group campsites. Two toilets are located near the campsites. You should plan to be completely self-sustainable for the duration of your trip. There is no potable water or electricity onsite. There is no dump station. Please bring garbage bags as this facility is "Pack it in. Pack it out."
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Temporarily closed |
| Season | May to November |
| Forest | Los Padres National Forest |
| Booking | By reservation only. www.recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777. |
| Fees | $150 per night. |
Weather by month
Getting there
Located off Mil Potrero Highway, approximately 3 miles west of Pine Mountain Club. On Forest Road 9N27. From I-5 take Frazier Park Mountain Park Rd in Lebec. Go west 10 miles to Mil Potrero Rd and make a right. Turn left at the Mil Potrero Ranger station (Cerro Noroeste Rd-Forest Road 9N27) and proceed 6 miles to the end.
| Coordinates | 34.8314° N, 119.2048° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 18.8 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Ojai Valley Surplus ↗ | 26.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | Camping World ↗ | 34 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Campo Alto Campground - Los Padres National Forest, CA
Worth a stop
Hiking trails, biking, fishing and swimming are accessed within 30 minutes. Restaurants, gas and shopping within 15 miles at Pine Mountain Club or 25 miles in Frazier Park.
- 0.3 miWest Tumamait Trailhead - 21W03 ↗Trailhead
- 3.4 miEast Tumamait Trailhead - 21W03 ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miTumamait ↗4.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, 4WD
- 0.7 miMesa Springs ↗5.8 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2 miNorth Fork ↗6.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.1 miToad Springs OHV #105 ↗7.1 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.8 miSan Emigdio OHV #1072.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.1 miUpper Quatal Wash OHV #1042.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.3 miWest Tumamait Trailhead - 21W03 ↗Los Padres National Forest · Season May to November
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 Chumash Wilderness.
- inChumash Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 37,793 acres
- 9.5 miSespe Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 219,209 acres
- 10 miBitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 14,872 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
Natural features
Located at 8,250 f.t, the campground is shaded by a thick blanket of Jeffrey pine. Great views of the Carrizo Plain to the north, Cuyama Valley, Quatal and Apache Canyons to the west, as well as views of the San Joaquin valley to the east and Lockwood Valley and Sespe ranges to the south, are also some prevalent attributes of this little piece of heaven.
Recreation
Campo Alto Campground is best appreciated by pristine camping enthusiasts who prefer to leave the hurried life behind. Hiking into the Chumash Wilderness by day, and star gazing by night are the chosen methods of decompressing.
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 Campo Alto Campground?
Sites at Campo Alto Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. By reservation only. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Campo Alto Campground?
$150 per night.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Campo Alto Campground?
Check-in 03:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Campo Alto Campground open right now?
Temporarily closed as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May to November.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Campo Alto Campground have?
19 sites, including 17 standard sites without power and 2 group sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Campo Alto 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 Campo Alto Campground?
There is no dump station.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Campo Alto Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Campo Alto Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Campo Alto Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Campo Alto Campground?
Campo Alto Campground is best appreciated by pristine camping enthusiasts who prefer to leave the hurried life behind. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Campo Alto Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Marian Campground (3.4 mi, first-come), Mt. Pinos Campground (5.9 mi), and Mcgill Campground And Group Campground (6.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby