Looking for a place to cabin camp near Julian? The Dyrt can help you find the best cabin camping destinations for your next trip. When you're looking for a quiet location in nature, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect cabin rental.
Situated 4,200 feet above sea level in a forest of pines and oaks along the northern extremity of the Laguna Mountain Range, this 929-acre park is one of the few San Diego county parks to get snowfall each year.
Forests of oak, pine, and cedar surround peaceful mountain meadows and provide an undisturbed setting for nearly 11 miles of scenic hiking and equestrian trails. Mule deer and wild turkey are frequently seen throughout the park, and rare residents include bobcats and mountain lions.
Though its forest may seem timeless, each season brings dramatic changes: from winter snowfall to spring wildflowers, there is always something new to experience at Heise.
In addition to trails, you can take advantage of cabins, trailer sites, individual tent sites, and a group-tent camping area, along with several playgrounds, restrooms with coin-operated showers and ample picnic spaces. Rangers-lead activities every weekend, and the park office with a small museum is open during the day or by appointment. This park makes a gorgeous setting for weddings and special events!
$24 - $34 / night
The beautiful park offers camping and hiking in an oak woodland forest, with a sprinkling of pines and lovely meadows with creeks. There are over 100 miles of trails which accommodate hikers, bikers, and equestrians. The two family camps, Paso Picacho and Green Valley, are open and on the reservation system spring through fall. Green Valley sits at an elevation of 4,000 feet and has a creek which runs through the middle of the campground. The day use area offers sets of cascades and shallow pools, great for water play on hot days. Green Valley has 81 campsites.
Paso Picacho, 5 miles north, sits at an elevation of 5,000 feet. The most popular hikes start from this camp, including the 2 mile hike up Stonewall Peak (elevation 5,700 feet), and the 3.5 mile hike up Cuyamaca Peak (elevation 6,512 feet), both which offer breathtaking views of the deserts to the east, the coast to the west, and Lake Cuyamaca at the bottom. Lake Cuyamaca, operated by the Helix Water District, is two miles north of Paso Picacho and offers boating and fishing. Paso Picacho campground has 85 campsites.
Each campsite has a picnic table and a fire ring. Restrooms with flush toilets and pay showers are in the campground. Water faucets a located every few campsites. There are no hookups. Each campground has a dump station. Firewood and ice may be purchased at the camps. Interpretive programs are offered during the summer season. Campsites are $30 per night. Reservations are necessary for weekends April through October. The camping fee includes one motorized vehicle. Extra vehicles are $10 per night. There is a limit of 8 persons per campsite. Dogs are allowed but are restricted to the campgrounds, picnic areas, and paved roads and Cuyamaca Peak Fire Road. They may not be left unattended.
Environmental backpack in or horseback ride in camps are also available. Granite Springs and Arroyo Seco Environmental camps are open on first come, first serve. Both have chemical toilets, non-potable water, corrals and tent sites.
$40 - $250 / night
$24 - $100 / night
Laguna Campground is a great mountain getaway just one hour east of San Diego, California in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area. Campers can enjoy cooler temperatures, unique natural areas and an extensive trail system at this mountain facility from summer through early fall.
The Laguna Mountain Recreation Area is known for great horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking trails. Visitors can get their boots dusty on the Laguna Meadow Trail system or access a segment of the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from California to the State of Washington. Wildflowers are usually abundant in April and May on the Big Laguna Trail, which takes visitors past Big Laguna Lake. In wet years there is water in Big Laguna Lake by December or January and ducks and other birds can be found. The trail presents a number of options to the user. A return to the trailhead parking can be made by cutting through the Laguna Campground or by taking the Pacific Crest Trail north. Families can learn about the area's flora and fauna by attending educational programs at the facility's amphitheater. Or for history buffs, the El Prado Cabin located at nearby El Prado Campground, is the first ranger cabin built in the Cleveland National Forest in 1911. The San Diego State University Observatory also sponsors "Star Parties" for campers most Saturday evenings during the summer (schedule can be obtained at the nearby visitor center or by calling 619-473-8547).
The campground sits at an elevation of 6,000 ft. in the Laguna Mountains. It is forested with pines and oaks that provide plenty of shade, in addition to a meadow. The area is home to many species of birds, as well as the endangered Laguna Skipper butterfly. Little Laguna lake is located just a short distance from the campground and is an excellent hiking destination for photographers and visitors looking to explore the area.
$35 / night
Agua Caliente is located in the desert of central Southern California. Pitch your tent or park your RV on the white sand between cacti and Mt. San Jacinto. Close to Palm Springs, and the Mexican border. Amenities include 3 pools, hot springs, restrooms, and games.
$29 - $75 / night
$39 - $50 / night
Lake Cuyamaca, the jewel of the San Diego mountains, is the ideal mixture of adventure and relaxation. Whether you come for a day of fishing, a weekend of camping, or a two week vacation in a cabin, it’s a place so beautiful you won't want to leave.
About an hour's drive from San Diego, Lake Cuyamaca is proof positive that good things come in small packages. Situated at an elevation of 4,600 feet among oak and pine, Lake Cuyamaca is the perfect getaway for up to 14 nights. Few places in San Diego County offer the pristine views you will find at Lake Cuyamaca.
Stocked regularly with trout, Lake Cuyamaca is the only San Diego lake that is able to stock trout all year long. Other species of fish include Florida large-mouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill and sturgeon.
There are no dump-stations at Lake Cuyamaca. The nearest dump-station is located about 3 miles away at Paso Picacho State Park Campround.
No body contact with the water is allowed. Lake Cuyamaca is a drinking reservoir.
No wood fires or burning of wood is allowed. Every site has a charcoal grill, and propane fire rings are permitted.
$32 - $45 / night
Welcome to Lake Henshaw Resort, a beautiful lake resting at the foot of the Palomar Mountains in California.
You can either camp, RV Hook-up, or stay in a house-kept cabin nestled away on the hillside overlooking the lake. A sparkling pool and spa, children's playground, grocery store and ice, clubhouse and laundry facilities complete the amenities.
$10 - $30 / night
$24 - $34 / night
Traveler
Fantastic park. Well kept, beautiful surroundings with hiking trails, big and private spots and clean bathrooms. Camping cabins available. The second interior RV loop is way nicer and more private spots than the first. We were site 37 and it was great. Both electric and water hookups in all RV spots and campground dump station on site. Julian and Winona are fun day trips. Calico Cider in Wynona is an A+.
Traveler
Very nice campground and very kid friendly. It is also very busy and we found to be quite loud at night. They have a big pool and two hot tubs but both hot tubs were full of kids and there were adults drinking beer while wading in the pool. I am not very impressed with this koa overall but it has great potential.
Traveler
This place use to be great when it wasn't as popular as it is now. But, still a nice place with natural hot spring showers/bathrooms/pool/hot tub and now cabins to rent. Last time I was there there was a big party next to my campsite and they were pretty drunk and loud. They were not polite or followed any rules even after they were told to keep it down. So, if you prefer a quiet camp site, this is NOT for you. A lot of large groups camp here and usually not respectful of others or nature for that matter.
Guide
Older park, sites gravel and not level. Bathrooms/laundry need updates/repair. Pool and hot tub. Accommodation based on sales pitch to join as a member.
TravelerThis is one of our favorite KOAs! The sites are good, grassy in most places, and lots of trees. The best part though is the new resort-style pool with two hot tubs, rentable cabanas, huge fire pit, clean restrooms, and a cafe with local craft beer and good food.
Scout
The park is spacious and clean. Beautiful pool and hot tubs. Four pickleball courts. Clubhouse with lots of activities. Near Palm Springs and lots to explore in the area. The weather there during the Winter is darn near perfect. Pickleball National Championships held nearby. Friendly people. A good many Canadians during winter months. Eh. Dinners and cookouts hosted by the park. Reasonable rates.
Legend
Really beautiful beach very clean with large bathrooms hot showers food nearby first come first serve shade structures. Camping on the beach also cabin rentals available through del mar beach reservations
Guide
I have to say this is one of my least favorite Thousand Trails campgrounds so far. Pio Pico has a lot of potential to be a fun destination but I feel it is extremely neglected. Pools and hot tubs are closed. Bathrooms and amenities appear pretty run down. You see the typical "Pardon our dust" signs so hopefully things are fixed quickly. Being so near to one of the most expensive cities in the US you'd think it would be upgraded to 50 Amp power as well. Cell service is non-existent, though they of course can't control that. I will say the staff is all very friendly.
If you're coming here to visit San Diego it is quite the trek into the city, to the beach, or to anything of note. We spent 3 weeks here, which was way too long with nothing to do in the area. Unless you're ok driving a total of 2 hours to something interesting and back it's a fairly boring campground to stay in.
Space E-11 Vehicle Type: 38' 5th Wheel Stay: 3 Weeks
TravelerNice campground away from the main roads. All spots outside of the R.V. loop are spread out and pretty secluded. Very friendly and helpful rangers. About a 10 minute drive from Julian pie co. Nice well maintained trails, easy to moderate level. Site 24
GuideThis place is a hidden gem. Quiet and beautiful setting. Sometimes kids and families get loud but over a nice spot to be. They are very serious about their rules here. Quiet time strictly enforced at 10pm and no fires after 11pm.
We stayed in spot 34 close to bathrooms, has partial shade, picnic table and fire pit. Also has hooks ups for campers. It’s a Great spot with decent privacy. Good flat spot for a tents also.
Lots of good hiking trails close by and only a few mins from downtown Julian and 10 mins from Julian Station. Love this spot and will definitely visit again.
ScoutI can’t believe how badly this park has deteriorated. On our last stay we saw so many weeds and potholes. The hot tubs seem to be broken all the time. Showers and bathrooms were filthy and rundown. Resort? How shameful. But worse than that are the rangers. They used to welcome us like we were members, paying customers. Not sure why they have such a hard time understanding that we pay their salaries. WE ARE THE CUSTOMERS. We were treated like we were unwanted guests. A new ranger named Christian is a cocky, arrogant kid. He clearly doesn’t want to work there and has no concept of customer service. We immediately asked for his manager and he didn’t care about how rude we were treated. The manager (Israel) only cared about flirting and gawking at another ranger who worked up in the activity center. There’s a married couple who work there selling memberships and he told me the management is terrible and the park is going down the tubes. He told me much of their staff is unhappy about how they are treated and many have quit. I asked why they don’t get new management and he said even his boss said the women managers are untouchable. He told me secretly that he was quitting too. I guess that’s why he unloaded on them. He told me about the sexual assaults in the park from illegal Mexicans coming across the border. He told me about the 4 convicted pedophiles living in the park and showed me Megan’s Law. It’s all true. You can see them walking around and their addresses listed on their profile on Megan’s Law is the RV Park. He told me about all the drugs on the north side of the park and that one ranger was dating a member there and violently assaulted her and she turned out to be a prostitute. He said the company and manger knew he was a meth addict and yet kept him there and swept it under the carpet. He also told me that the 3rd in charge(Jesus) had to go to counseling because he keeps sexually harassing the other staff and members and he is still doing it. He apparently is harassing the girl who works in the store now. And yet they still protect him and hide it. Seriously? You want us to pay to stay here? Until they start firing these incompetent and rude employees we won’t be coming back.
TravelerNice campground great activities for kids laundry on site Jacuzzi pool fishing for RV hook Up. Over 40 cabins available. Membership costs us around $2000 And have access to / 3000 different camp sites nationwide At any time of the year a drop of a dime essentially
LegendGreat central location for Julian. Town right up the street but feels like it is miles away at campsite. Horseshoe pit, basic cabins available, clean bathrooms, beautiful setting.
ScoutGreat place to relax and enjoy a beautiful campground. Heated pool, jacuzzi, bike rentals, and more. They loan you fire pits if you don’t have one. And deliver wood to your site. There is even a cafe if you don’t feel like firing up the grill.
LegendThis is a great campground in the middle of nowhere. A lot of RVs are in the center and seem set up as full-timers, but along the perimeter are some great, tucked-away sites. There are also a number of "cabins" in a row. Not a ton of privacy, but they're clean cabins with the basics - a bathroom, sink, bedframe, table/chairs. The best part is sitting out on the little deck. Personally, I like cabins 5-7 the best.
It can get a little noisy if a motorcycle gang comes around, but the hiking is nice. There's a good trail right from the campground but stay on the path because the cactus will get you!!!
The hot springs pool is great and has adult-only hours at night which is fantastic.
I've been there a few times now and it's always a fun getaway with a different feel than going to the mountains.
Guide
We have stayed at the Springs At Borrego many times with friends and always have a wonderful time. I'm not a big golfer, but the course that surrounds the park is very nice. In fact, all of the facilities are well maintained. It's best to avoid the summer unless you're a fan of extreme heat. The rest of the year pleasant, with similar weather to other low desert areas of California.
There's a dry camping area near the front of the park, and they also have a few rental cabins.
If you like to bike, this is a great spot, as the roads are very quiet.
Guide
Located at Lake Cuyamaca in Julian. Gorgeous views of the lake!!!! Picnic area, tent camping sites, and also cabins and condos as well. This place is so serene and peaceful as you are tucked in adjacent to the 110 acre lake. Only lake in San Diego that has stock trout all year. Other fish include Florida bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill, and sturgeon. Sits at over 4,000 elevation with Mt Laguna right up the road. Huge bathrooms here with running water. Fee is rarely cheap. Great campground for families or just as a day escape from the city.
Scout
Great views, nice and helpful employee's. Convenient little store at entry. Checked out the new cabins back in fall 2018 and was very pleased with cleanliness and access, happy to say we have reservations for the cabins again for the end of the month!
Guide
Mostly for RV camping but has a few cabins by the water and some even floating cabins on the water! Great place to take your kids fishing, biking, paddle boating, or just relaxing. Has lots of ducks to feed and saw quite a few people catching fish. Great place to hang out for the day or camp overnight.
GuideWe have camped here for years and have only stayed at the original campground which is Chambers Park. It has been a couple years since last camped here; but we visit this lake multiple times a year. Always a good time fishing and enjoying the views; Deer and Wild Turkey frequent the surrounding area. There is also an equestrian trail not to far from the campground. If looking to do a horseback ride around the lake contact Adventures on Horseback and speak to Deb. Highly recommended! (must have a minimum of 4 riders as they trailer the horses there) The Diner is a must for some Julian apple pie. The staff is always friendly and food always hits the spot.
In regards to the campground there is a picnic table and small little BBQ that are provided; There is a port a pot right by the campsite. There are some trees for shade but some sites are a little more in the sun. Open flame fires are not allowed. At night it gets chilly and do get visits from the local raccoons so make sure your food is put away in your car and trash around your site is picked up. It does get windy around the lake but at nights it normally calms down. Now that we have a little one we prefer to camp up the road at one of the other campground that is more protected from the wind and fires are allowed. You can also rent Condo and Cabins right at the lake which is perfect for fall/winter months as the condos have a fireplace. The campground is dog friendly but dogs must remain on the leash and away from the waters edge. Dogs are only allowed at the campsite. There are also boats for rent. Insider tip: after 12pm check for half day rates; if boats are not rented they will normally give you a good deal for a half day rental.
Guide
Stayed in the cabins, had a large group of people, and we all fit comfortably. Built a fire at the ring just outside of the cabin. Went on hikes around the lake and into the nearby field. Watched the sunset and sunrise from here, incredible! This is an underrated campground and gives a real feel of being secluded in nature. Highly recommend.
Ranger
Tamarisk Grove Campground is about 20 minutes south of Borrego Springs. It sits next to the highway but there’s minimal traffic so it isn’t terribly loud. There are tent sites as well as primitive cabins. Each site has a fire ring and table. There are also flush toilets and paid showers. There is no potable water at this campground - be sure to bring your own. The cabins are simple structures with platforms for sleeping. There are no amenities in the cabins - no electric, no water, no mattress, no linens, etc.
The campground is across the street from both the Cactus Loop and Yaqui Well trail heads. We recommend the short Cactus Loop hike over the Yaqui Well hike. Go at sunset to catch the cholla cacti backlit by the sunset.
RangerSmall camp with $35 tent sites eith shelter, table and fire ring and $75 cabins both reservable and first come (pay with card at kiosk tho cabins were not rentable like this due to no attendant present. Non-potable water. Token showers. Accessible site reserved for disabled folks and wheelchair accessible showers. Trailhead with views of ocotillo, agave and the other desert plants nearby. Only reason I’m giving 3 stars are the high winds made car camping without a tent pretty miserable. But I know that’s the nature of the park- windy!
ScoutBeautiful and peaceful place to camp around the lake. We were at the Westshore campsite, which seemed for me the best ( the two others are lone pines for RV and tents and Chambers for tents and cabins) Westshore has a dozen campsites with direct lake view (not allowed to swim in the lake though). Picnic table and barbecue available for each site and additional picnic tables around the lake. The sites are separated by walls for more privacy. Bathrooms available near the parking maybe 100m near the campsites. No showers though. There's a nice restaurant with a lake view. There's also a mini market shop and a bait shop. Boat rental available, but all reserved already in the morning though. I think a lot of people come fishing for the day.
We had campsite #49 which is not the best one, because we only had one wall separating us from the other campers, instead of two walls. So we had the sun directly hitting on us early morning whilst the others were still in the shade. So if you can choose, I wouldn't recommend the #49. The other sites are fine.
Ranger
Absolutely beautiful campground. Super quiet neighbors, beautiful cabins available. Great bathrooms and showers. Pool and activities were closed in the winter. Pets allowed
ScoutHot spring campground in the Anza desert. Such a great place to come and reset from busy day to day hustle. Peaceful and clean, with cabins for those who dont tent or trailer camp.
GuideCabins are fun and shelter you from the occasional strong gusty winds.
Tent camping in the rain is also do-able here due to the temperate climate. There are a couple playgrounds, so a very kid-friendly environment as well.
Cabin camping near Julian, California offers a serene escape into nature, with a variety of well-reviewed options that cater to different preferences and budgets.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Julian, CA is William Heise County Park with a 4.5-star rating from 44 reviews.
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