Nira Campground
Nira Campground is a beautiful site covered in oak trees and located along Manzana Creek. Whether you come to cast a line in the river, camp and relax, ride horses, mountain bike or hike, Nira offers a scenic location with a variety of recreation activities.
More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 12 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 24 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
12 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Loop 1 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 02 | Loop 1 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 03 | Loop 1 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 04 | Loop 1 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 05 | Loop 2 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 06 | Loop 2 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 07 | Loop 2 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 08 | Loop 2 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 09 | Loop 2 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | Full | 6 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 10 | Loop 2 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | 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 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 24 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
While tent camping is best enjoyed in this cozy campground, there is room for small RVs under 20 feet. Nira has 12 campsites, each site includes a picnic table, barbecue grill and/or a fire ring. Sites 1-3 are tent and car camping sites only (no RVs due to size restrictions). There is a vault toilet in the campground. There is no drinking water at this site.
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 |
| Fees | Concession-managed campground by the Parks Management Company for the Forest Service. $30/night, $10/extra vehicle fee per night. Interagency Senior and Acess Passes provide pass holders 50% off of camping fees - not valid for day use or extra vehicle parking fee. |
Weather by month
Getting there
To get there from Hwy 154: Armour Ranch Rd./ Happy Canyon Rd. 11 miles northeast to Cachuma Saddle, Sunset Valley Rd. 6 miles north.
| Coordinates | 34.7705° N, 119.9375° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 13.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | Harder RV Storage ↗ | 24.8 mi |
| Outdoor gear | REI ↗ | 28.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Nira Campground - Los Padres National Forest, CA
Worth a stop
The Manzana River runs through the campground where swimming and fishing are favorite activities. The trailhead for San Rafael Wilderness is easily accessible. Los Olivios, Santa Ynez, Solvang and Buelton are all within a one hour's drive.
- 0.4 miLower Manzana Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 1.3 miDavy Brown Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 3.2 miFigueroa Ohv Recreation Area ↗OHV / range
- 3.6 miCumbre Day Use ↗Day use
- 4.1 miCatway Day Use ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miManzana ↗22.9 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 1.2 miCatway OHV3.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, e-bike
- 1.2 miMunch Canyon2.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.3 miSunset Valley1.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.3 miPotrero Canyon2.9 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 1.3 miFir Canyon Davy Brown3.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- under 0.1 miManzana Trailhead EAST (Upper) Nira ↗Los Padres National Forest
- 0.4 miLower Manzana Trailhead ↗Los Padres National Forest
- 1.3 miDavy Brown Trailhead ↗Los Padres National Forest
- 1.3 miMunch Canyon Trailhead ↗Los Padres 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
This campground sits inside San Rafael Wilderness, which overlaps Los Padres National Forest.
- inSan Rafael Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 191,104 acres
- inLos Padres National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,970,265 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
Nira Campground is surrounded and shaded by oak tree- covered mountains. Whether you're a beginner in the art of birdwatching, or an experienced birder, Nira will not disappoint. A bounty of birds such as king-fishers, juncos, Stellar jays, white-breasted nuthatches, warblers and many more flourish in this section of the Los Padres National Forest.
Recreation
Along with hiking, mountain biking, fishing and swimming, Nira Campground is a great starting point for backpacking and deer hunting expeditions into the San Rafael Wilderness. Located on Manzana Creek just upstream from the mouth of Davy Brown Creek, a trailhead provides access for various trails up and down Manzana Creek that enter the San Rafael Wilderness.
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 Nira Campground?
Sites at Nira Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Nira Campground?
Concession-managed campground by the Parks Management Company for the Forest Service. $30/night, $10/extra vehicle fee per night. Interagency Senior and Acess Passes provide pass holders 50% off of camping fees - not valid for day use or extra vehicle parking fee.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Nira Campground?
Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Nira Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season January to December.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Nira Campground have?
12 sites, including 12 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Nira Campground?
The longest site here provides 24 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 Nira Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Nira Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Nira Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Nira Campground?
Along with hiking, mountain biking, fishing and swimming, Nira Campground is a great starting point for backpacking and deer hunting expeditions into the San Rafael Wilderness. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Nira Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Davy Brown Campground (1.2 mi), Mt. Figueroa Campground (3.7 mi), and Fremont Campground (17.1 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby