Los Padres National Forest holds Nira Campground at the end of Sunset Valley Road, a rough drive that filters out casual visitors and draws mostly backpackers staging trips into the San Rafael Wilderness. The 12 sites sit within a dense live oak grove, with the oaks providing enough canopy to keep sites shaded and visually separated from one another. Manzana Creek runs behind the campground, and its flow is audible from most sites. Cell service is unreliable here. Campers looking at campgrounds near Los Padres National Forest will find Nira among the more remote options in the area.
The Manzana Creek Trailhead sits directly within the campground, making it a practical base for day hikes or multi-day routes into the San Rafael Wilderness, including the Manzana Schoolhouse. Davy Brown Campground is a short distance up the road and offers a slightly larger alternative. Reviews note that the campground fills on holiday weekends and when weather cooperates, but midweek and off-season visits often mean having the sites to yourself.
Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Vault toilets and trash service are available on-site. One critical note: despite the current amenity listing, at least one reviewer explicitly warns that no drinking water is available at Nira, so bringing sufficient water is essential, particularly for those heading into the backcountry. Black bears are active in the area, and there are no food storage lockers, so securing food in a vehicle overnight is strongly recommended. Nira works best for self-sufficient campers and backpackers comfortable with a rough access road and off-grid conditions.
Description
Overview
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.
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.
Facilities
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.
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.
Nearby Attractions
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.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsNira Campground is located in California near Los Olivos
Directions
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
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Hike-InBackcountry sites.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Tent Cabin
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
Drive Time
- 1 hr 49 min from Santa Maria, CA
- 2 hrs 16 min from San Luis Obispo, CA
- 2 hrs 21 min from Oxnard, CA
- 3 hrs 45 min from Bakersfield, CA
