## Overview

 Crystal Lake is open, however, campsites are no longer available for reservation on Recreation.gov. 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.

Crystal Lake Rec Area Campground

We came on a Saturday afternoon, and even though 4 of the sections of camping were closed off - we found an AMAZING space in section D. It wasn’t right next to the bathrooms, but the site was spaced out enough that we had plenty of privacy. It was right next to the trail head, too!

The lake isn’t back actually near the site, and they don’t allow for swimming. However, there is a recreational area 20 minutes down the mountain on the lake.

It was $17 per night, and was an easy &amp; beautiful drive up the mountain.

Fire pit had a grill on it, too!

Great spaces, easy trails, & close to the IE!

There are lots of spacious camping sites, clean bathrooms, running water, numerous of shade trees, and a cafe/store for all the things you forgot or for a ice cream treat on a hot day!

Great, Easy Getaway

It is very crowded on the weekends. However, if you drive further towards the back of the site you can find nice, secluded sites. The lake is really more of a small, stagnant pond, not much to see there. I would go back someday, but definitely not one of the better sites I've been to.

Camp crystal puddle

We stayed here on Friday, July 21 2017\. We arrived around 4:30 pm (driving from LA it was about 2 hours with traffic), and there were lots of sites still available. We ended up in site D47, which seemed a little quieter because it was further from the main road and the sites are well dispersed.

Camping was $10 with our adventure pass. Firewood was $22 for a wheelbarrow (they won't let you purchase other amounts).

PROS: Mostly quiet/private. Shaded. Big site with lots of tent/hammock placement options. Mostly clean. Cool temps at night.

CONS: Lots of broken glass littered all over the site (we were a little worried for our dog's paws). Pit toilet was out of TP, make sure you have your own in case.

ANIMALS SEEN: Black bear, deer (wandered through our site), red foxes, Stellar's Jays, woodpeckers, other birds.

TIPS: Bring bug spray.

Nice retreat

This is probably our favorite place to go considering we end up hear almost every other weekend year around. Camp cost and parking cost isn’t cheap but the views are great. Also this campground is HUGE and many locations are rather secluded so unless you go on a holiday weekend you should have no problem finding space to bunk. Dog friendly and the cafe isn’t cheap but I swear has the nicest people and the best cocoa. Bring your dirt bike and hit some of the trails, it’s a definite must!

Go-To Spot in SoCal

There are beautiful views of the mountains. Has bathrooms (no flush). Lots of Mosquitoes and bugs. Well worth it. Has a fire pit at each spot. Has picnic table, but very splintery, bring covers. Most sites have tree coverage. 

Don’t mind the bugs

Stayed here two nights in August, it was nice and cool a good break from the heat. There are a lot of sites here for camping unfortunately they are not all open for use. There are several hiking trails here that are well used and well maintained. This is a great campground near the city. Due to lack of rainfall and snow melt the lake is almost dry.

Easy drive to the sky

Spent the night here and it's not bad at all. The night I went there was a retreat or something that played music through 11pm. 

The walk to the lake from this site isn't too bad; it's quiet nice. Around the lake you'll find some short hikes. 

If you've ever want to just get away and go unplugged for a day, is highly recommend this place considering it's under $15/night. 

Sundown by 6pm for us!

Fun Getaway

We’ve done Crystal Lake probably 6 dozen times or more in our time in California and it never disappoints on the spectacular views. Its not dispersed but definitely slightly more rustic than people plan for. The number of people who come up here in the winter and are shocked that the piped ground water is frozen, are well, “special”. That being said in the summer you can make the most out of what the campsites offer but get ready to get in line. Since it’s so close to LA and touts often as the place to go for newbie campers you get all kinds of kinds. Any summer holiday weekend spent up here will be filled with drunk yelling and loud radios. Its par for the course. That being said as soon as the temperature drops and/or precipitation hits this place is much emptier and filled with much more experienced and considerate campers. I come from rural western PA, so this is our bread and butter. PS you cannot beat the food at the store or the ambiance, hot cocoa is only minutes away by foot with friendly service and a happy smile. Easy access to source your own firewood locally, and the hiking trails are numerous with amazing views and a high chance of solitude. All in all great for around the year, experienced campers who can stand weather, worth it to hold out for LA’s “off season”.

Great close get away

Mind you, we went on a Saturday morning during Covid to escape our house but so many others had the same idea.  First of all the gates for the campsites were locked but that didn't stop anyone from walking their stuff in, including us.  Our spot was nice and had lots of shade.  The only drawback was the one open vault toilet that was pretty dirty.  Hey,  when you gotta go, you gotta go.  I thought, dang I shouldn't brought my poop bucket!! If I only would've known!! Who can't pop a squat in the dark though?! It was pretty rowdy at night with someone yelling at the top of their lungs and a dog barking but hey, we were under the stars and not couped up at home or with masks on.  I wasn't complaining. I love nature and I'll ignore the drunks.  Other than that,  there is a little store that Adam and his family run.  They are great!! The brownies are bomb, so get one early. They also tent cabins up there so give them a call.  Great people! It's definitely convenient and worth the effort! 

Convenient but crazy

Camped here last year in September. Close and convenient campground however would not return. Noisy at night. When we were cooking meals, dozen of bees would swarm around our food. We had to cook and eat quickly for the bees to go away. There was plenty of shade under the trees. There are small trails near the campground as well. The lake was more of a mucky and algae filled pond. But was a decent trail around with the dog. First camping trip for the doggie and she got pretty scared of the wolves howling at night. Not an outdoorsy doggie.

Bees everywhere

 Took a very last minute trip for one night. Such a close spot and beautiful escape from LA, that's also probably the most negative part of the review. Being so close to LA means lots of in and out traffic and it shows. PEOPLE LEAVE GARBAGE EVERYWHERE!! Truly disgusting to destroy your own backyard like that.  

  Definitely stop off in the Crystal Lake Cafe for some food. Food is great and the owner, Adam, is a true diamond in the rough, very nice man. No need to bring wood up there, Adam sells wood by the wood barrel full and its GREAT hardwood, burns all night.

   Will I go again? Sure. Mainly because its a quick escape. Will I go again on a weekend? NO!!

Locals go up there to party and we had a group arrive at midnight and started blasting heavy metal music until 3AM!!!!  

  

\-Chuck

P.S. Don't forget, always leave the area better than you found it!

LEAVE NO TRACE!!!!

Quick Trip

What a great place to camp!! I'm going back as soon as possible!

Awesome Camp Site!!

This is my go to spot for a random day when I want to go camping! My weekend getaway. There’s almost always a site available, there hiking trails nearby, the restrooms are decently clean except on major holidays, the lake is a nice 15 min walk down some stairs, there’s a convince store across the street from campsites

Weekend getaway

It was very beautiful although it was cold and the temperature was near 32, my family and I had a lot of fun. 

Crystal lake 

Went up for a weekend trip with my roommate. Drive up to the campground is easy and has great views. Campsite itself is big, many sites to choose from. The cafe is nice and had some supplies if you've forgotten anything. Can purchase a wheelbarrow of firewood for about $20. Camp toilets were decently clean. Lots of hiking trails around the campsite loops. 

Duo Camp Trip

This was our second trip with the Popup. Be warned, the streets are one way, and the slots are angled the wrong way to back a trailer into. We had to make sure nobody was coming, drive up the wrong way, and back in. 

My son had been asking to camp at a place with pine trees and mountains. This satisfied him. 

The store is nice, but calling it a “cafe” is a bit of a stretch. Think Costco chicken nuggets heated in a toaster oven. 

The hike to the lake mainly follows a paved service road, but it does beer away at times into some really nice scenery. 

It was a little noisy. It seems people have forgotten how to act at a campground. This isn’t unique just here, but it was a tad worse. 

Little Noisy, But Nice  

Very cool place, quiet, lots of places for tents. Very nice and friendly people work at the cafe at the entrance. There is a lake nearby. We'll come again!

Our favorite place !

I didn’t stay overnight at this campground, but rather used it as the parking place for my day hike to Throop peak. I arrived at 9am on Labor Day, and I was pleasantly surprised that ￼ there were still plenty of parking spots available in the day use area. I use the vault toilet, and wasn’t the cleanest. At the end of my hike, as I was passing through multiple campsites, almost all of them had a boombox playing loud music. To each their own I guess, but I personally prefer the sounds of nature while camping.

Beautiful, but noisy

We stayed at Crystal Lake campground on Friday the 13th! Luckily we arrived before 3pm as the campground was pretty full by 6pm. I give it 4 stars for being about 90min from Corona. However it is close to LA and there is still a lot of graffiti at the pit toilets and the group next to us was pretty rowdy all night. Sites are all pretty well shaded. Crystal Cafe sold firewood by the wheel barrel and only $20! I’m glad camp fires were allowed as the temperature dropped pretty quick once the sun went down. 
