Cleveland National Forest

17 sites. Pacific Crest Trail Access. No Water. The nearest water can be found at the Warner Springs Gas Station. Indian Flats will be temporarily closed for Arroyo Toad protection during breeding season beginning April 1st through at least May 31st.

Indian Flats Campground

## Overview

Located on the Cleveland National Forest, Oak Grove Campground is nestled in a valley of large oak groves and manzanita.

## Recreation

Oak Grove Trail is a short walk of 1.5 miles and is located across Rt. 79, behind the Ranger Station. Oak Grove Trail is the oldest established trail on the Palomar Ranger District. Although a steep trail, it offers great views of the San Jacinto and San Gorgonio Mountains and the Oak Grove Valley as you gain elevation. The trail connects with the Oak Grove Truck Trail offering access to High Point Lookout (an additional 5 miles one way). Be prepared with plenty of drinking water.   
  
Hikers interested in exploring will find nearby Agua Tibia Wilderness worth the drive as well.

## Facilities

The campground is composed of two loops: Oak and Ribbonwood. Each campsite offers a picnic table and grill. There are flush toilets in Ribbonwood loop, and vault toilets on Oak loop. Drinking water is available.

## Natural Features

The attractive campground is comprised of chaparral vegetation such as canyon live oaks, ribbonwood and chamise and offers open, but secluded sites. The area offers stargazers an opportunity to view the clear night skies. Birders will be pleased with the variety of wildlife and opportunities for viewing. The Cleveland National Forest also boasts such species as mountain lion, bobcat, mule deer, coyote, gray fox, ringtail cat, long tail weasel, opossum, jackrabbits, desert cottontails, and California ground squirrel among many others. 

## Nearby Attractions

Palomar State Park and Palomar Observatory are located on county Rt. S6, where an active telescope is available for viewing by the public. Temecula Wine Country is also within driving distance. The closest town is Warner Springs

Oak Grove Campground

Lake Henshaw Resort

Secluded hills, trees, views, birds & animals. (3,400 ft. elevation). Nearby Pacific Crest Trail (15 Minutes), Volcan Mountains, Lake Henshaw, World Famous Julian Apple Pies (30 minutes). We have Rv Sites (one of which has water/electricity), several other RV dry camp sites, tent sites (some with water), glamping tents, refurbished trailer.



Loomerland

We are San Diego County's ONLY campsite with river and tubing access!

La Jolla Indian Campground

Science buffs and families are drawn to Observatory Campground for its proximity to the Palomar Observatory, a world-class center of astronomy research operated by the California Institute of Technology. Just two miles from the observatory, the campground provides visitors with a unique learning experience in the great outdoors. The facility offers a variety of amenities for both tent and RV camping. Hiking, biking and picnicking can be found nearby. Recreation An exciting amateur astronomy project, Explore the Stars, occurs at the campground on several weekends each summer. A group of amateur astronomers from all across Southern California shares the beauty and awe of the night sky to more than a hundred non-astronomers at the campground. Visitors can also walk a 2.25-mile trail to the observatory itself. Day hiking, biking, picnicking and scenic driving are available in the area. The campground makes a good base camp for visiting Palomar Mountain State Park and exploring the surrounding forest. Facilities The campground is organized around one large loop with parking spurs for each campsite. Several sites are equipped with level cement pads to allow campers to set up their telescopes. The sites can accommodate vehicles up to 32 feet in length. Drinking water, coin-operated showers (peak season only), grills, trash cans, campfire rings, picnic tables, a flush toilet (peak season only) and two vault toilets are provided. Natural Features The campground sits at an elevation of 4,800 feet in the Palomar Mountains of Southern California. The site is forested with pine and oak trees, though several sites have been cleared to allow campers a wide view of the night sky. Nearby Attractions The campground is adjacent to Palomar Mountain State Park and under a two-hour drive from San Diego, California. A general store with basic necessities is down the road. ADA Access: N

Observatory Campground

## Overview

Fry Creek Campground is situated in the heart of Cleveland National Forest, uniquely located down the road from the world-famous Palomar Observatory. The fresh, clean air of the campground provides a refreshing getaway for visitors from San Diego and Los Angeles. 

The observatory, atop Palomar Mountain, boasts five high-tech telescopes, among them, the massive 200-inch Hale Telescope, was the world's largest effective telescope for about 45 years. The observatory is owned by the California Institute of Technology and astronomical research includes near-Earth asteroids and the study of distant galaxies. 

## Recreation

At Observatory Campground, the site across from Fry Creek, there's a popular astronomy event called Explore the Stars.   
  
Amateur astronomers gather here with their telescopes and share views of planets and constellations with visitors. The event takes place one weekend each month, April through October.

## Facilities

A loop hike, great for exploring local flora and fauna, surrounds Fry Creek.   
  
The campground sits beneath a dense pine canopy, which is not ideal for stargazing, but Observatory Campground across the road has level cement platforms for telescopes and an amphitheater that's open to campers.

## Natural Features

Fry Creek is at a 4,900 ft. elevation on Palomar Mountain. The area is dense with evergreen and oak, and is usually cooler than the surrounding area. 

## Nearby Attractions

The visitor center at Palomar Observatory is 2.2 miles away and can be accessed by road or by hiking trail. A restaurant and gift shop are onsite.

Fry Creek Campground

There are 31 campsites in the Doane Valley Campground, three of which have accessible features. Each site has a table and fire ring, and most have a food locker. Piped drinking water is available. The campground also has restrooms with flush toilets and hot showers which are usable for campers, including those with disabilities.

The beautiful forest and mountain meadows of Palomar Mountain State Park are in northern San Diego County, high atop the west side of Palomar Mountain. Large pine, fir and cedar trees make the park one of the few areas in southern California with a Sierra Nevada-like atmosphere. The park features camping, picnicking, hiking, and fishing (trout) in Doane Pond. Coniferous forests cover much of the 1,862 acres, in contrast to the dry lowlands surrounding the mountain.

Elevation within the park averages 5,000 feet above sea level, making evenings cool even during the summer. A number of vista points offer spectacular panoramic views both westerly toward the ocean and inland toward the desert, particularly from Boucher Hill Summit, which has been listed in the Sierra Club's "Hundred Peaks Section" since first published in 1946. There, you'll also find the historic Boucher Hill Fire Lookout.

The park is open from dawn 'til dusk daily. Reservations are highly recommended for camping during peak season. Day use fees are $10.00 per vehicle, cash or check only. Trails are open to foot traffic only, and dogs and mountain bikes are not allowed on trails. Please note that there are no gas stations on Palomar Mountain. 

Doane Valley Campground - Palomar Mountain SP

Oak Knoll Campground

Located in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, this free primitive campground is in the San Ysidro Mountains west of Borrego Springs. It's 3,375 feet above sea level. 



Culp Valley Primitive Campground

Anza- Borrego Desert State Park’s rugged landscape formed largely by the forces of erosion attacking the uplifted mountains. The higher the mountains rise, the more vigorously they are attacked by rain, snow, ice, and wind, as they yield to the constant pull of gravity.

Borrego Palm Canyon Campground visitors will be able to reserve campsites six months in advance from the current date. Bookings may extend from the arrival date to the desired departure date – based on availability and the park’s maximum stay rules.
Reservation are available October 1st through April 30th.

Borrego Palm Canyon in Anza Borrego Desert State Park

National Forest

We love this campground! It is way off the main road on a paved road, easily accessible but takes awhile. The camp itself is beautiful and very clean, serious campers that don’t cause problems, quiet at night. The bathrooms are spotless. At first I was a bit nervous that it was so remote but it is a wonderful place to get away!

Fantastic!

Tough to get to, no water and the toilets are locked during the pandemic.

Which only serves to keep the day campers and the kiddies away.

Near perfect in my book except it's still too close to a road (though not much of one).

Indian Flats Campground

Save more with PRO

Do you own or manage this property?

About This Campground

Access

Stay Connected

Site Types

Features

For Campers

Reviews

2022 Explorer Giveaway

Fantastic!

No amenities and no riff-raff

Location

Directions

Coordinates

Nearby Campgrounds