Best Dispersed Camping near Claremont, CA

Because the National forest allows dispersed camping, as long as your off the roads and trails, the camping spots are unlimited. We like coming here if we want to be guaranteed a spot, no early arrivals or reservations needed. Dogs are allowed, and the trails in the area are dog-friendly.

Camping outside esablished campgrounds within the Angeles National Forest is sometimes prohibited, you have to be on top of reading recently published orders on https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/angeles. Currently, camping is allowed for 7 days or less, see here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/angeles/alerts-notices/?aid=78080 The people I saw camping here looked to have been set up somewhat permanently though. I wouldn't feel comfortable setting up a tent here, but it could be an okay rest area at the beginning/end of the hike to Bridge to Nowhere.

This is just a few parking lots that overlook the valley and gives a view of the city skyline in the distance. Several others were also sleeping in their vehicles along the road and in the parking lots, so you won’t be alone. There were two others in our lot that stayed the night too. The view is gorgeous in the morning sunrise!

That being said, it did seem like maybe a teen hangout or something - cars did flow in and out occasionally through the night until around midnight, so that wasn’t great but not awful either. I’d use it again if I needed it as it’s hard to find free places to sleep with a great view like that when traveling through cities.

It’s basically car camping along the Angeles Crest highway, there’s small pull out spots and, some spots overlooking the forest but kids do tend to party up here and, drive about 100 miles a hour up and, down the road all hours of the night. 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. It’s not a typical campground but it does do the job for a couple days. You will see cars vans along the pull outs coming up but I believe you can car camp on the overlook I have not as I’m more a quiet type person. Be careful though there’s a white van that teams up with a black truck they tried to break in my car while I was sleeping. It is very dangerous and luckily I carry at all times and have cameras.

This is literally just a roadside pull-off. Only really useful in a pinch. No space for a tent. Sleep in your vehicle.

I loved car camping here! When I stayed, there were no other people who stayed the night, but quite a few people came throughout the night just for 20 minutes at a time or so. Wasn’t too noisy at all. Unfortunately I didn’t have any service (Visible/Verizon), so that was a little scary. Other than that, no complaints at all!

Great view but on the weekend we had multiple cars doing donuts really close to our van. I felt uncomfortable with that. Next night we moved to the other look out and someone still did donuts behind us- it’s a smaller lookout. Loud music and people talking next to us until about 1 am 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. Close to town so that is a plus. Would recommend to smaller vans or car sleepers. I did not feel unsafe except for the donuts that happened near us. If you have dogs I would recommend the trail pull off my dogs really enjoyed the hike

Overall great campground, there are definitely some permanent residents but there is more than enough spots to have some privacy.

There are lots of sites on this road. The closer you are to the road the more dust will get in your site from the vehicles passing. The road here. I went a to the second fork after the Bluff lake fork. There’s a private campground near the Bluff Lake entrance which made noises i can hear from my site which was before Bluffs lake fork. There are over a dozen sites along the main road. If you can pull in, it’s a site. Some better than others and spaced out so you may not see your neighbors from your site. 2x4 accessible as long as it’s not muddy or after snow. I saw a Prius on the trail.

many Trucks at night. don't drive to the campground just search a space after road ends

Nice clean off grid best place so far Rick water slides

This campground is located just around the corner from the permit required sign. There is a lovely creek that lead to a waterfall that some repel down. The campground is up the right of the trail. Nice dirt flat spots within the trees, looking down at the trail. This is a good base camp for the summit. You are a good distance from the trail so it doesn't seem to be a bother as far as noise. If you hike down to the creek and head South, that is where you will find the end of the waterfall. Becaful here though for I have seen a rattle snake not to far from the camp!

Quite a crowd with the limited spots here. Some were quite close to one another.

Forest setting, no one around when we went. Definitely need a 4x4 or all wheel drive vehicle on some of the roads. Was a great experience.

Arriving at the campground, the deposit place, obviously on weekends we were not thrilled by everyone around us, as well as the loud noise until past the curfew. So we decided the next day to go a little further in the woods where you’re no longer in the campground base. So this is called wild camping. And that was amazing not a single sound far from everybody, off the grid.

We went in April, and still had a little bit of snow. All the trail roads are mostly for 4 x 4 vehicles that really enjoy just going at it throughout the day. A lot of fun to witness that. The wild hikes surrounding the campground are really fun. Just remember where you camped. It seems like fires aren’t allowed during certain periods. Just be aware, we brought our own off the ground stove. And it was perfectly fine.