Goleta, CA is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Discover secluded campsites where you can reconnect with nature. Or maybe you like to bring your family and friends along. Either way, there are Goleta campgrounds just for you. Discover great camping spots near Goleta, reviewed by campers like you.
$15 / night
"Food storage locker provided to protect food from sneaky foxes. No water anywhere near the campsite. About 4 miles from Prisoners Harbor ferry landing. Shared the campground with one other group."
"You have to set up a boat trip here and back so do your homework because it takes some coordinating. We picked site 1 unknowingly and it turned out to be the best!"
"Make sure, you really stay at the place up the hill (coordinates) otherwise the landlord will clarify that you're on private property ;) Great view in the morning, beautiful. Would def come back"
"At the mentioned location we soon encountered a sign saying the motorized vehicles are prohibited from that point on."
"However the dirt road was slick & minivan, loaded down, was slipping & sliding. Backtracked to a nice spot, camaflouged by a small hill, it'll protect my gear tent. This is open castle range."
"Picked the first nook from the GPS pin but hiked up road and there are quite a few others, some shaded, some exposed. Bit of highway noise."
"Easy spots to turn around and park. Beautiful views, slight road noise if you’re not in the van but quiet inside. Wouldn’t recommend anything bigger than a extended sprinter or transit"
"The trail has changed many times over the years because of the nature of flooding through the canyon, but follow the signs through the middle of the canyon and the main trail will head up the mountain"
RangerChorma Camp is the first spot you will encounter on the hike south through Cherry Creek. 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.
There are no amenities at any of the campsites in this area, they are all primitive dispersed camp areas.
Continuing on past Chorma if you can make it to Maple it is better campsite down in the valley.
ScoutBeautiful hilly landscape. Despite the absence of trees or bushes for shadow, we had a wonderful evening here, on our way to santa barbara. At the mentioned location we soon encountered a sign saying the motorized vehicles are prohibited from that point on. We drove a bit further down the main road than the gps location suggests, and took the next road to find a spot. The area map with zones for dispersed camping is not too clear, but it seems that you can camp to a certain distance from the main road, and this distance varies. After taking the next road, we found a simple semi-prepared spot. Some warm breezes in the evening, silent night with great views of the night sky.
Guide☆ No target shooting allowed ☆ Arrived on a drizzly day & tried going further down the road to other more secluded camping spots. However the dirt road was slick & minivan, loaded down, was slipping & sliding. Backtracked to a nice spot, camaflouged by a small hill, it'll protect my gear tent. This is open castle range.
GuidePicked the first nook from the GPS pin but hiked up road and there are quite a few others, some shaded, some exposed. Bit of highway noise.
GuideI visited in January on my way to the Bay Area and loved this campsite. I didn’t see anyone else around, nor did I see any wildlife, so it was very quiet and peaceful. The stars were also quite visible with minimal light pollution. The area is hilly and beautiful with enough flatness and openness to pitch a tent without issue.
It was about 15 degrees (F) colder than was forecasted (20 F vs 35 F) at night, so be prepared to be a bit chilly if visiting during the winter.
All in all, great site and I would definitely return if I need a place to camp in the area again.
TravelerEasy spots to turn around and park. Beautiful views, slight road noise if you’re not in the van but quiet inside. Wouldn’t recommend anything bigger than a extended sprinter or transit
LegendThis site is next to chorro grande trail which is about a 9 mile hike. After your long hike of you want to rest go up the mountain site across and it’s an awesome place to camp out. This is dispersed campsite. You will also come across many people parked on the side for those who hike the trails so if you go up the little hill mountain you can camp out peacefully with awesome sunrise and sunsets.
GuideThere is a nice hike-in campsite about 1.5 miles up the Chorro Grande trail called Oak Camp. I think the other review here might be unintentionally implying that camping along the 33 is allowed. It isn't. This is from the district web page:
"Disperse camping is NOT allowed on Hwy 33, the Rose Valley Recreation Area or the Pine Mountain Recreation Area or Matilija Canyon Rd. These are Restricted Use Zones."
RangerThis 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. The trail has changed many times over the years because of the nature of flooding through the canyon, but follow the signs through the middle of the canyon and the main trail will head up the mountain to the right.
Atop the hill on the saddle, nestled among the trees is the primitive Big Cone campsite. It is one of my favorite spots simply because it is close and when my kids were young it was a fairly easy hike to get to, and there's a nice reward when you get there.
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.
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.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Goleta, California, where nature enthusiasts can enjoy the great outdoors without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. With stunning landscapes and a variety of activities, these spots offer a unique experience for campers seeking solitude and adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Goleta, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Goleta, CA is Santa Cruz Island - Del Norte Backcountry — Channel Islands National Park with a 5-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Goleta, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 dispersed camping locations near Goleta, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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