Angeles National Forest Chilao Campground

We decided to give this spot a try since we were in the area. It was very busy as we expected. We found the site to be just average. Probably won’t come back. There is nothing wrong with it we just prefer to camp in more remote spots that are off the beaten trail.

I set my chair up in either camping spot number 16,17 or 19. A young man and a women in a white jeep took my camping spot. The man got out of his car, he threw my Helinox chair into the bushes, and then he tried to run me over with his jeep despite me yelling repeatedly to stop. He didnt stop until my husband came to stop it. Terrible experience. When i reported to the two park rangers, one of the old white blonde park rangers interrogated ME. It felt racial. Wow. Never going back again.

Best place in angeles forest for a great weekemd getaway. First come first serve. 2 loop campgrounds either one is good. Great view all around. Definitely will return..

Nice spot if you don’t want to drive far. Fantastic views. Get there early to get a spot with shade...we arrived in the late afternoon and the only spots had zero shade. It was so hot!! Sites are relatively private and pets allowed.

OKAY... seriously this one of the best campgrounds near Los Angeles. My ultimate go to spot for an overnight camping trip. I have spent Thanksgiving here, Valentines Day, and multiple three day weekends. It's the perfect spot for beginner outdoor enthusiasts. It's such a short and easy drive for LA, and the drive up campspots are always in great condition. The site also has bathrooms, firepit, picnic tables, and other commodities. Paying for camping isn't my favorite thing to do, but it's well worth the money for the proximity to Los Angeles and maintenance of the area. There are also great hikes with in the National Forest and access to the PCT but you do have to drive. I don't usually spend time at this site besides cooking and camping.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SPOT FOR CASUAL/FUN/CHILL/BEGINNER/FAMILY camping.

Tried to stay at buckhorn but it was packed and everyone was on top of each other so on the search we Went and found chilao on accident campsites Are well kept plenty of room to make you feel like your alone

Will return

We were told that the water pumps were off but actually managed to camp right next to the one that was working. The bathrooms were super clean too! Really liked this campground and would definitely recommend

restrooms were clean! trees on campgrounds perfect to relax in your hammock 🤗

went up with a friend for quick overnight trip-rangers were super helpful and campsite was nice. facilities were also clean. bonus for being so close to LA!

note: cell phone reception there, be warned!

Campground review: We reserved our campground in the early afternoon on Friday, expecting it to be busy as usual. There were plenty of spots though, much less crowded than during the summer months. Less than half the campsite was full by morning. We were able to get one of the single sites, which was nice. Many of the sites have side-by-side parking, so you usually are very near to your neighboring campsite.

Even though the daily high was 79 degrees, the low at night was 56, and it was still only 61 degrees by 7 am.

Gear review: As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products every now and then, and on this trip, I purposefully packed my ColdPruf clothing for the nighttime. While camping, I wore the women's Honeycomb Mock Zip top (in teal) and Zehphyr Leggings (in plum). Both items were size small. I usually wear x-small, as I'm petite 5'1", but I also have a pretty athletic build. The top fit perfectly, so I'm glad I got a small and that it fit my shoulders comfortable. The leggings fit a little more loosely, but mainly because they were a little long for my legs. They looks super stylish regardless, so I love them. I was so glad I had both these items on the trip, because they kept me sufficiently warm at night without requiring me to wear an additional outer layer.

The Honeycomb Mock Zip has this awesome texture to it that functionally keeps you very warm, but also gives the fabric a more interesting look for style. The lime zipper gives a nice splash of color too. The zipper goes about 1/3 down the top. One key thing I like about the zipper is that is purposefully sewn with fabric behind it, so that the zipper is never pressing directly against your skin. Very soft fabric, not at all irritating, like some other warm-wear. The thumbholes in the sleeves make it extra cozy, and keep your knuckles warm. The product claims to be designed for "odor control," and I must say, I was pretty impressed to find that this top didn't smell at all when I unpacked from our trip, despite the fact that had worn it while plenty sweaty and smelly. Nice!

The Zehphyr Leggings are nice because they can be worn for layering or on their own. I wore them both ways during the trip. They are comfortable enough to sleep in, so they work well as pajama bottoms. The mesh stripes effectively allowed ventilation such sweat and moisture didn't stay on my skin, while still keeping the warmth in. I find that many other leggings don't breath as well, so I'm happy to have found something that keeps me both warm and dry. The only feature I would change is that I wish the waist band would have more length to it.

My girlfriend and I had to find a last minute campsite, so we start driving up the 2 in hopes of finding one. We ran into Chilao campgrounds first, and signing in and paying was all based on the honor system. We filled out the paperwork in the front and stayed the night with no problems. The site was clean, the firepit was in good condition, and we had enough space for two vehicles. Bathrooms were decent and we had plenty of space, plus a picnic table. We would definitely come here again if we were in the area!