Free Camping Collection
Established Camping
Gould Mesa Trail Campground
About
State Park
Angeles National Forest
Water is from a stream - come prepared with your own or have a way to filter/purify
5 Hike-in campsites- Picnic tables and campfire rings, vault toilets, trash receptacles, no piped water available. Seasonal stream water (treat before using). However, water flow may be low or non-existent due to reduced rainfall. Please bring enough water for cooking, cleaning, drinking, and extinguishing campfires.
Equestrian: Hitching Rail (52 linear feet).
Gould Mesa Trail Camp is a hike-in campground located 2 miles from Ventura Street on the Gabrielino Trail. Being only a few miles away La Canada-Flintridge, it offers a quick-respite for the weary hiker. Those choosing to start in Altadena near the Jet Propulsion Laboratories will walk through riparian groves along a tranquil steam surrounded by steep ridges. The trek to Gould Mesa Trail Camp is 5.1 miles round trip with 300 feet of elevation change.
Fee Info
You must have a CA campfire permit in order to build a fire.
Reservation Info
First come first serve
Location
Gould Mesa Trail Campground is located in California
Directions
Location: Accessible by the Gabrielino National Recreation Trail. From Interstate 210 WEST in La Canada, take Windsor Ave. Turn right on Windsor to Ventura St. and park. Take the Gabrielino Trail 2 miles to the campground. OR from Interstate 210 exit at the Angeles Crest Highway (Hwy. 2) and head north about 2 miles. Park on the right before you enter the forest and hike the dirt road 1 mile past the power substation to the campground.
Coordinates
34.2220003 N
118.17800067 W
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonAvailable
- AT&TAvailable
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Phone Service
- Pets
- Fires
TravelerGreat for an overnighter
Scoped it out a few weeks ago and thought it was an easy enough hike for a beginner (me) and his pal camp at. There were a dozen or so mountain bikers and about the same amount of hikers runners that venture by the campground throughout the day. Not enough to really ruin the experience, just enough to notice them there.
PROS:
* More quiet than in the city. You can hear cars driving off in the distance but still overall quiet.
* Close to LA. This is about a 15 minute drive then 30 minute hike from my house.
* The stream is great. If you have a filter there is no need to hike in water.
* Sites are spread out and not on top of each other like most other camp sites close to the city.
* It's FREE!!!!
CONS
* Lots of traffic. It's on a popular hiking trail so it's expected.
* Sometimes you get squatters. We had a lady who talked to herself and sometimes would yell.
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TravelerAmazing Hike
Go behind campsite one and you will find a 6 mile hike in and out to two different waterfalls. Really fun and refreshing, limited shade in hike, so a dip at the end is so nice!
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RangerCamping without leaving the city
It’s a nice little getaway without leaving the city, perfect for a one nighter or to backpack in with the kiddos. It’s around 2 miles to camp on a leveled surface with a few stream crossings. It’s known for squatters but didn’t encounter any unpleasant ones. Running stream at site so no need to bring a lot of water, just a filtration system and a jug. Pit toilets on site as well, bring your nose plugs and TP just in case. The trail continues past the campsite so you’ll get plenty of hikers throughout the day.
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