Best Dispersed Camping near Cleveland National Forest
The San Bernardino National Forest offers several free dispersed camping options near the Cleveland National Forest area. South Ridge Yellow Post Sites provides primitive camping with picnic tables and fire rings, though fires may be restricted during dry seasons. Thomas Mountain Road and Little Thomas offer secluded forest camping accessible via dirt roads that require careful navigation. A camper noted, "Road to the sites has a few bumps," while another mentioned, "There are only 3 actual sites with fire rings, but there is plenty of room to camp without rings."
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park's Blair Valley Primitive Campground provides a contrasting desert camping experience with vault toilets but no water. The area features spacious sites with excellent stargazing opportunities due to its dark sky designation. Cell service is limited throughout the region, with most sites requiring campers to pack in all supplies and pack out all waste. Permits may be required for some locations, particularly in wilderness areas. Most sites enforce a 14-day stay limit and accommodate both tent and small RV camping, though road conditions often limit access for larger vehicles.
