Best Tent Camping near Calico, CA
The San Bernardino Mountains near Calico, California offer several tent camping options ranging from dispersed backcountry sites to established campgrounds. Holcomb Valley Climbers Camp provides free primitive tent camping in a forest setting popular with rock climbers, featuring flat tent pads scattered throughout the area. Tanglewood Group Campground, located at over 7,000 feet elevation in dense pine woods, accommodates larger groups seeking seclusion. Deep Creek Hot Springs Campground offers tent-only camping with access to natural hot springs via hiking trails. Big Pine Flat Campground provides established tent campsites from May to October in a meadow setting with access to OHV trails and hiking paths.
Tent camping surfaces vary considerably across these locations, with most sites featuring natural dirt or forest duff with minimal improvements. High-clearance vehicles are necessary for accessing many backcountry tent sites, particularly at Holcomb Valley and South Soggy Dry Lake. According to campers, roads become progressively rougher once leaving paved surfaces. Most primitive tent camping areas lack potable water, requiring campers to bring their own supplies. Fire restrictions are common during summer and fall months, with some campgrounds providing fire rings when conditions permit. Pit toilets are available at established campgrounds like Tanglewood and Big Pine Flat, while dispersed tent camping areas generally lack facilities entirely.
Forest settings provide natural shade for tent campers at higher elevations. One visitor noted that Holcomb Valley offers "forest setting, no one around when we went," highlighting the solitude available in less-developed areas. Campers seeking backcountry tent sites often venture beyond designated camping areas for greater privacy, with one reviewer explaining, "We decided to go a little further in the woods where you're no longer in the campground base... that was amazing, not a single sound far from everybody." The Pacific Crest Trail passes through Tanglewood Campground, providing hiking opportunities directly from tent sites. Winter camping is possible at lower elevations, though higher sites may experience snow through April, requiring appropriate cold-weather tent gear.
