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Tent Camping near Green Valley, CA

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    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    Tent camping options around Green Valley, California range from established campgrounds to more primitive backcountry sites throughout the Angeles National Forest. Oak Flat Campground near Castaic offers free tent camping with basic amenities like picnic tables and vault toilets, while Joshua Tree Ranch Los Angeles provides a more secluded desert camping experience with minimal facilities but stunning natural surroundings.

    The majority of tent campsites in this region require campers to be self-sufficient, as drinking water is rarely available at primitive sites. Adventure Pass or America the Beautiful Pass is required at many Angeles National Forest locations, including Oak Flat. Campgrounds vary significantly in their amenities - some like Placerita Canyon State Park Group Campsites have toilets and trash collection, while more remote tent sites have no facilities whatsoever. Fire restrictions are common throughout the area, especially during dry seasons when wildfire danger is high. According to one visitor, "Oak Flat campground is nice and simple with plenty of shade, and the toilets were clean. Bring your own water."

    Tent campers seeking solitude will find the more primitive sites offer greater privacy, though at the cost of amenities. The Joshua Tree Ranch area provides exceptional stargazing opportunities and unique desert landscapes dominated by Joshua trees. Sites are generally spaced well apart, offering a quieter experience than developed campgrounds. Some locations like Messenger Flats Campground were highly rated but have been temporarily closed, limiting options for backcountry tent camping. The terrain throughout most of the region is typically dry with limited natural shade. A recent review noted, "When it's not windy, it's dead-quiet and fantastic with Joshua trees everywhere - just enough cell service to feel safe, but not enough bandwidth for distraction."

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    Best Tent Campgrounds near Green Valley (64)

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      1. Oak Flat Campground

      4.1(16)18mi from Green ValleyTents

      "Signs say “Bear Country”, and there are a few bear boxes scattered throughout. Of course I-5 is visible and faint constant traffic is heard."

      "Sites are large, dumpsters, vault toilets, close to town amenities. We felt safe staying here. Met nice campers. The crappy. Yes you can hear the humm of the freeway from further away."

      from $5 / night

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      2. Joshua Tree Ranch Los Angeles

      4.2(6)12mi from Green Valley5 sitesTents

      "But it's a great spot to get away from the city for a day or two and hang out with family and friends."

      "He communicated well and even helped me with places to stay and hike in the Sierra’s."

      from $25 / night

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      3. Antelope Valley Fairgrounds

      3.0(6)15mi from Green ValleyRVs, Tents

      "nice showers, well kept bathrooms, good parking. food shopping is close by. nice power hookups. 50 volt."

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      4. Upper Shake Campground - CLOSED DUE TO IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

      1.0(1)9mi from Green ValleyTents
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      5. Angeles National Forest Bear Campground

      2.0(2)15mi from Green ValleyTents
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      6. Placerita Canyon Los Pineros Trail Sites

      4.0(1)17mi from Green ValleyTents

      "It’s a short hike in from one trail that connects to Placerita Canyon Rd, or a ~1 mile hike from the Nature Center."

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      7. Streamside Campground

      Be the first to review5mi from Green ValleyTents
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      8. Placerita Canyon State Park Group Campsites

      3.0(1)17mi from Green ValleyTents
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      9. Zuni Campground

      Be the first to review8mi from Green ValleyTents
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      10. Messenger Flats Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED AS OF 2023

      5.0(1)20mi from Green ValleyTents

      "We met a ranger the following day at a water cache not too far from the campground, and he told us that the entire national forest (except for the trail) was closed to camping due to fire damage from previous"

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    Recent Tent Camping Photos near Green Valley, CA

    58 Photos of 64 Green Valley Campgrounds

    Tent Camping Reviews near Green Valley, CA

    719 Reviews of 64 Green Valley Campgrounds

    • Tony C.
      Sep. 20, 2020

      Little Jimmy Trail Campground

      Local gem of a campsite

      This campsite is located in California and is one of my favorites. Located above Crystal Lake you’ll find Little Jimmy, it’s a backcountry hike-in only campground nestled just 2 miles off the Angeles Crest Highway. It has around 7 first-come, first-served sites with fire rings, vault toilets (which are currently not in service), and vintage backcountry ovens. After parking at Islip Saddle, cross the highway and begin hiking for 2 miles up the switchbacks until you reach Little Jimmy Campground on your right. Popular with Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, this scenic spot offers a chance to get away from established campgrounds and live amongst the Coulter Pines and Big Doug Firs. Campers turned hikers have easy access to hop on the legendary Pacific Crest Trail which runs through the camp. There is no fee to camp here other than an Adventure pass for your parking. In the summertime, bears can be common visitors so make sure and secure your food in provided bear boxes or bring your own bear canisters. As always, make sure you follow the "Leave No Trace" principles and pack everything in and out!

    • Les R.The Dyrt Pro User
      Aug. 6, 2018

      Buckhorn Campground

      Most beautiful campground in the Angeles National Forest!

      We've wanted to camp here for so long, but we've never been able to get a spot. We finally did this weekend, and it fully lived up to our expectations. Because this campground is set within a ravine that has a stream during the rainier months, so the landscape feels very different than the other nearby campgrounds - very green with tall trees. The campsites have plenty of space between neighbors, so we felt we had privacy and weren't disturbed by any noise from other sites. Each site has a picnic table, firepit, and bear box for food storage. There is a water spigot at the campground, but the ranger advised that it's not potable.

      There's day parking at the end of the campground for the trailhead to Cooper Canyon Falls. In the summer the "waterfall" is barely a trickle, but the hike still has a nice stream and is worth doing.

    • j
      Mar. 25, 2021

      Millard Trail Campground

      Great campground for hiking/biking

      Cool drive to get to the campground. You drive up and down these hilly roads up the mountain to get there. Once there, there's a parking lot that fits about 20 cars. There's about 100 yd hike to the campsites. There's a road that leads to the campsite but it's been blocked off. Only the campsite managers use that road so it's not accessible by RV, just tents. A campsite manager stays in a little trailer overnight so if there's any problems there's somebody there you can go to and ask for help. There's about six campsites and their first come first serve, no reservations. I went during the week and was the only one camping. This place is heavily used for day camping and hiking. There's not a lot of privacy because there's always lots of people passing by who are hiking and biking. You can stay overnight which I did and everything was fine but there's not a lot of privacy. The next day as I was leaving there was another guy sitting up his tent. I bet on the weekends they can fill up pretty fast. It's in Bear country so they provide food storage for each campsite also trash containers too. Each side has a picnic bench and a fire pit. The fire ban has been lifted so you can have a fire. Each fire pit had wood left at it so you didn't have to go searching for campfirewood. Bathrooms included male and female toilets but no showers or water. There's a creek that runs through the campground which makes it very pretty. I saw two to three cabins along the outskirts of the campground that I assume were for rentals. There was one family at one of the cabins the night I stayed. About a 20 minute hike and you can end up at a waterfall which is very pretty. But there are several trails to take for hiking and biking and I saw lots of people doing that. Overall a good campsite four stars. Would have been five stars if they had showers and running water. I didn't see any bears although there was an animal outside my tent at one point in the night I could hear him nosing around. So it's important to keep all of your food and anything with any kind of smell in the bear boxes

    • Jeremiah F.
      Jul. 21, 2020

      Chula Vista Campground at Mt. Pinos

      Great Hike-in campground with nice hiking nearby!

      At the top of the Cuddy Valley road is a large parking lot (Adventure Pass required) for the hiking trail to the top of Mt. Pinos. Off to the other side is a dirt trail on the edge of a meadow, after about 200/300 yards is Chula Vista Campground. The camp sites vary greatly in size and flatness, so check around for the good ones.

      First Come First serve camping, with some great spots overlooking the nearby meadow. The sites were clean and decently spread out, with fire rings and picnic benches.

      It can get pretty windy up here so make sure your tent is staked down well. If you don't have an Adventure Pass, Mountain View Mini Mart in Frazier Park is the closest place i know that sells them. $5 a day, or $30 for the year pass. (you can get a second year pass for only $5).

      Met a guy named Bob and helped set up his telescope in the parking lot, he let anyone who wanted check out the amazing night sky!

      Pros: Free camping!

                Great hiking nearby.

                Shady, clean sites.

                Great sky gazing!

      Cons: Lots of flies, very active during the day.

                 Bathrooms were pretty messy. below average for vault toilets. Bring extra TP.

    • K
      Jan. 5, 2022

      Oakwilde Trail Campground

      Half Sunk, Overgrown

      The camp site looks like it was buried in mud from a flood a few years ago. There’s been no maintenance to this camp. The cook stoves are covered, half of the one picnic table was underground. But still, it’s a beautiful and remote spot. The river was running when I was there in January and it was just gorgeous. Looks like there’s really only one usable flat spot to set up a tent. But you can’t have a fire or anything. I didn’t camp just hiked in and checked it out. Dunno if I would try camping here.

    • Dani P.
      Jul. 12, 2019

      Chula Vista Campground at Mt. Pinos

      Hike In Gorgeous Campground with ample space

      Park at the lot up top, then walk about 1/2 mile to campground via dirt path. Plenty of sites. Old rustic bathrooms work well. Picnic tables at each site. Brought my dogs here and they had a blast, plus no ticks found. Plenty of hiking directly around this campground. Stayed here for three nights and found plenty of exploring to do nearby. Highly recommend, especially because there is no fee. Being said, Pack it in and pack it out! Leave No Trace principles are crucial to keep this place beautiful

    • Tony C.
      Jun. 24, 2019

      Henninger Flat - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

      Great local campsite

      I recently moved to WA from Los Angeles so this review is legit 😁 This was and still continues to be one of my favorite campsite close to Los Angeles, I have plenty of fond memories with close friends at this site. It’s completely exposed all the way to the top, a well worth 3 mile uphill hike to three different camp sites. My favorite is the middle site where you get a clear view of the city, beautiful views at night. They say there’s no water but there is, there’s a spout located by the restroom close to the museum, you’ll have to treat it before using (but don’t take my word for it, they tend to shut it off so take plenty of water for your time there and check it out if you need more) If you continue past the middle campsite to the upper site, you’ll have plenty of space for tents and hammocks just no view due to the trees on the edge. If you continue on that trail for another 3 miles i believe, you’ll get to idlehour campground. It’s a small site right next to a creek, you can continue on to Mt Lowe campground and inspiration point. Back to Henninger, plenty of trees for hammocks and sometimes they have firewood collected. At the museum you can buy soda cans so take some change. Hauling a 24 pack of cold Modelos in my pack was not fun at all, but boy did they taste good at the top hahaha. Bugs can get annoying so carry some bug spray, hang your food and PACK IT OUT!!! Leave no trace behind.

    • Antonio C.
      Aug. 30, 2019

      Chula Vista Campground at Mt. Pinos

      Summer Heat Getaway!

      It’s a nice drive to get to the campground. Nice clean area with lots of space. Love it that’s it’s a Walk in campground so no cars or RVs. Lots of Hiking trails nearby. It’s a lot cooler up here so it’s a nice way to get away from the summer heat. Awesome area for stargazing. The bathrooms could use some cleaning but other than that it’s a beautiful area.

    • Lee D.The Dyrt Pro User
      Apr. 11, 2022

      Camping @ Quail Run Ostrich Ranch

      Great tour and amenities

      General: This is not an official campground but due to its proximity to the Pacific Crest Trail, the owners make it available for tent and RV campers as well as members of Harvest Host. 

      Site Quality: There are no designated sites so you can park where it best suits you on a large and level gravel lot. Since there was a strong wind advisory to last through the night into the next morning, Jessica recommended we park along the trees, and this made for an effective windbreak. There is also an additional gravel lot where the only other RV camper stayed so we had privacy. 

      Bathhouse: I was hoping for a vault toilet so was pleasantly surprised to find flush toilets with a sink, soap, and paper towels. No showers and no hot water.

      Activities/Other Amenities: Take a tour of the ostrich farm – we learned a lot and it is worth the $10pp. At the end of the tour, you can purchase ostrich oil (many benefits), ostrich eggs (sometimes sold out), local brews, local honey, and a few other items. Other amenities include a propane bbq, fire ring, picnic table, and electric outlets (located by each light pole by the stage/dance floor which is also used for weddings and other gatherings). There is also a peaceful garden and a playground. Other activities include ax throwing and archery, neither of which we tried. (A girl scout troop was doing archery when we were there). Quail Run is a family-owned business and everyone we talked with was very welcoming and communication was thorough. 

      Note: the gates are closed between 5 pm and 8 am (7 pm-7 am during the summer). If you need it, cell coverage via Verizon is available.

    Guide to Green Valley

    Tent campsites near Green Valley, California sit within the northern boundaries of Angeles National Forest, an area characterized by dry chaparral ecosystems at elevations ranging from 1,500-5,000 feet. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F between June and September, while winter nights can drop below freezing. Fire restrictions remain in effect year-round at most locations, with specific enforcement during high fire danger seasons.

    What to do

    Explore historic sites: The area surrounding Vasquez Rocks County Park Group Camp features distinctive rock formations used in numerous films and TV shows. These 25-million-year-old sandstone outcroppings create natural climbing and photography opportunities.

    Visit nature centers: When camping at Placerita Canyon State Park Group Campsites, take advantage of the educational programming. "Visit the Placerita Canyon Nature Center, including live animal exhibits" and "Ranger-led educational programs" are available most weekends, according to Les R.

    Early morning hikes: Most trails in the region have minimal shade coverage. Start hikes before 9am during summer months to avoid extreme heat. Trails often feature moderate elevation gains of 500-1,500 feet, with loose, rocky terrain requiring sturdy footwear.

    What campers like

    Clear night skies: At Joshua Tree Ranch Los Angeles, campers appreciate the unobstructed celestial views. "The Joshua Trees, the sunsets, the sunrises! All so peaceful and beautiful. Absolutely nobody around and we weren't bothered by any animals either," reports Ciara C.

    Quick access from LA: Many tent sites provide relatively close proximity to urban areas. As Jimmy L. notes about Joshua Tree Ranch Los Angeles, "Location is great, only a 70-90 minute drive from LA" making it convenient for weekend camping trips.

    Cost-effective options: Several campgrounds in the region require only basic permits. "You do need to purchase a $5 Adventure Pass in order to stay here and someone will come around to check in the morning. The fine if you don't have a pass is over $500 so highly recommend you get the pass before arriving for the evening," advises Sarah S. about Oak Flat Campground.

    What you should know

    Limited facilities: Most primitive tent sites lack running water and have minimal infrastructure. Brian W. describes Oak Flat Campground as having "Nice wooded area, camp spots are nicely separated, quiet with the exception of the distant hiss of the freeway."

    Permit requirements: Nearly all Angeles National Forest camping requires either an Adventure Pass ($5 daily/$30 annual) or America the Beautiful Pass. According to Jason R., "Ranger woke me up early asking for a permit. He was not agro, as I didn't look like I bum I think that helped. He explained a shell station off the 176 nearby sells $5 day passes and $30 annual."

    Road conditions: Access to primitive sites often requires navigating unmaintained dirt roads. Jimmy L. notes about Joshua Tree Ranch: "It's hard to find. There is no signs until you randomly pick a dirt road and go a few hundred yards, then you see a Joshua Tree Ranch sign laying on the ground."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular tent campsite near Green Valley, CA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Green Valley, CA is Oak Flat Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 16 reviews.

    What is the best site to find tent camping near Green Valley, CA?

    TheDyrt.com has all 64 tent camping locations near Green Valley, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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