Dispersed camping options around Calabasas Hills include several primitive sites in Los Padres National Forest and Angeles National Forest. Most sites require either a wilderness permit or Adventure Pass for overnight parking. The region typically experiences hot, dry summers with fire restrictions from May through November, while winter camping brings temperatures that can drop below freezing at higher elevations.
What to do
**Waterfall hunting: Hike to Big Cone Camp in Santa Paula Canyon for natural swimming holes. "This is a fairly easy hike through what would not be considered a typical hike. It starts off going through Thomas Aquinas College, winding through horse property and oil fields, before finally opening up into Santa Paula Canyon," notes reviewer robherr on Big Cone Camp.
**Morning photography: Capture city views from Angeles Crest pullouts. "The view is gorgeous in the morning sunrise!" reports Valerie at Angeles Crest Overlook, who adds that "it's hard to find free places to sleep with a great view like that when traveling through cities."
**Trail hiking: Access Chorro Grande Trail for day hikes near dispersed sites. "This site is next to chorro grande trail which is about a 9 mile hike. After your long hike if you want to rest go up the mountain site across and it's an awesome place to camp out," writes Jessica P. about camping in this area of Los Padres National Forest.
What campers like
**Solitude at higher elevations: Primitive sites offer seclusion but require preparation. "If you go up the little hill mountain you can camp out peacefully with awesome sunrise and sunsets," explains Jessica P. about Los Padres NF Dispersed Camp.
**Urban proximity: Angeles Crest sites provide quick escapes from city life. "Close to town so that is a plus," mentions Nicole D., who recommends these overlooks "to smaller vans or car sleepers" looking for free camping near Calabasas Hills.
**Natural pools: Santa Paula Canyon's "punch bowls" attract hikers and campers. According to robherr, "From Big Cone Camp you can easily reach the waterfalls and pools that make this area known as the 'punch bowls'. Depending on weather and water conditions there are some nice water rock slides, and a few pools you can jump from the cliffs into."
What you should know
**No-camping zones: Not all forest roads permit dispersed camping. "Disperse camping is NOT allowed along the 33, the Rose Valley Recreation Area or the Pine Mountain Recreation Area or Matilija Canyon Rd. These are Restricted Use Zones," clarifies Paul O.
**Limited amenities: Prepare for primitive conditions throughout the region. "There are no toilets, campfire sites or shade but good cell service," reports Iris A. at Angeles Crest Overlook regarding the roadside parking areas.
**Safety concerns: Some areas experience nighttime disturbances. "It can get a bit scary if you're alone. Oh cell service non-existent unless you're closer to the bottom but even then it's spotty," warns Joseph R. about Angeles Crest Overlook, adding "kids do tend to party up here and drive about 100 miles an hour up and down the road all hours of the night."
Tips for camping with families
**Choose hike-in sites for more peaceful experiences: Angeles Crest pullouts attract varied visitors. Nicole D. suggests, "There is a pull off before this that was very quiet near a trail and nobody bothered us. During the week it's more quiet."
**Bring water purification: No potable water exists at any dispersed sites. Even Chorma Camp in Matilija Wilderness lacks amenities, as robherr notes: "There are no amenities at any of the campsites in this area, they are all primitive dispersed camp areas."
**Pack out all trash: Popular areas suffer from litter problems. "Please pack out your trash. Because this hike is local and easy, there are many party people that frequent the area and leave their trash," urges robherr about Santa Paula Canyon.
Tips from RVers
**Smaller vehicles only: Most dispersed sites have severe space limitations. "This is literally just a roadside pull-off. Only really useful in a pinch. No space for a tent. Sleep in your vehicle," advises Andrew S. about the Angeles Crest Overlook area.
**Consider overnight stops only: Treat some areas as temporary rest points rather than destinations. Joey B. describes Angeles Crest Overlook as a "Perfect last minute late night hold over stop" but not a true camping experience.
**Wind exposure: Higher elevation sites experience significant wind. Robherr warns that Chorma Camp "is situated high on a bluff it gets lots of wind, and with very little shelter around to break it, if you camp here you will get the brunt of it."
