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Tent campers visiting Mount Baldy, California have several options in Angeles National Forest, where backcountry tent camping areas and developed sites range from drive-in tent campgrounds to hike-in primitive spots. Manker Campground, located at the end of Mount Baldy Road, offers approximately 20 tent sites in a forested setting near major trailheads. Little Jimmy Trail Campground provides a more primitive backcountry tent camping experience, accessible only by a 2-mile hike from Islip Saddle on Angeles Crest Highway.
Most tent campgrounds in the area have minimal amenities, with facilities varying significantly between locations. Manker Campground provides drinking water, picnic tables, and toilets, though visitors report bathrooms can become unsanitary during busy weekends. Bear activity is common throughout the region, making proper food storage essential for tent campers. The forest service maintains several primitive sites, including Stockton Flats Yellow Post Sites, which require high-clearance or 4WD vehicles for access. Sites typically close during winter months, with many campgrounds operating from May through October, though exact dates vary based on snow conditions and elevation.
The tent camping experience offers a genuine connection to the San Gabriel Mountains environment. Many sites provide direct access to hiking trails, including the Pacific Crest Trail. According to one visitor, "The San Gabriel Mountains are often overlooked even by lifelong area residents" despite offering "tremendous diversity, encompassing granite peaks with stunning views and lush alpine forests." Tent campers should prepare for significant temperature variations, with pleasant spring and early summer conditions but potentially extreme heat in August and September. Wildlife encounters add to the backcountry tent camping experience, with another camper noting, "This has included bears sniffing out tent in the middle of the night and coyotes coming through." Weekday visits generally provide more solitude, as weekend crowds can significantly impact the camping experience, particularly at more accessible tent campgrounds.
"Although the restroom are very dirty but overall it was a great stay!"
"Tucked away at the top of a precarious winding mountain road. It is very basic, simple and beautiful."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"Great for campers that meet 2 criteria 1) You have a Jeep, Truck it similar vehicle that can go off-road. 2) You enjoy dispersed camping (no water/restrooms etc) If both are yes, this place is amazing"
"Trail was fun (definitely needed 4x4) and the sites around has good shade and good size open spots. Best to get there early as possible to secure a spot."
"This campsite is located in California and is one of my favorites."
"Hike in , via the PCT, an easy couple miles , to little jimmy campground. or hike up Little Jimmy road, which is a wider dirt road ( no vehicles) Lots of sites ( I’ve never seen more than a couple occupied"
"Trail Roads got washed and i wasnt able to continue further to verify. If you’re afraid of clearance issues stick to sites 1 & 2."
"Lower campsites are nice but kinda close to the road so you get the road noise . Not a bad place to go for an overnight trip ."
from $20 / night
"Access to this campground is so easy, whether it's by car or by bike."
"This hike-in/bike-in campground is located 6 1/2 miles behind a locked gate. The small campground is equipped with stream for water (must be treated), and vault potties."
from $5 / night
Check Availability"It had flush toilets, water spigots, picnic tables, and fire pits as well as large campsites seemingly fitting for big groups. When we got there there were a lot of families."
from $180 - $230 / night
Check Availability"There is a nice size creek that runs adjacent to the campsites, which appears to run only during snow melt. It was dry one of the times we camped there, the other time it was flowing very good."
"The campground was not busy and this allowed me to pick a spot hidden away from others. There are restrooms and a place to get water, but when I was there the showers were closed. "
"This walk-in campground is part of China Camp State Park. Only 33 tent-only sites! Wheeled totes can be borrowed to haul your gear up some little hills to your campsite under oak and bay trees."
from $35 - $175 / night
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ScoutSite is clean, many activities on weekends They also add 1000lb or catfish and trout weekly depending on season. Members were friendly. Downside is wifi when the campsite is 75+ full and only about a dozen paved spots. Major are gravel and dirt.
TravelerI went there to see, before making a reservation. I found the trailer park—maybe 100 old mobile homes—but I never found an RV park. I didn’t see anything to see. The “pool” was empty. The office was locked, and it wasn’t lunch. Just kinda not happening. I left a message to call me with the answering service, but I never got a call back.
ScoutI found the campground to be very friendly kid friendly and pet friendly. The spots were spacious and some had privacy others were out in the open. The rangers were very friendly and helpful, they helped me set up my tent when they saw I was having trouble. There are trails to explore. A great last minute getaway from the city and not to far, the bathroom was clean and modern with hot showers and toilets.
TravelerVery windy and need high clearance vehicles
TravelerYou definitely need high clearance vehicles or you will not make it here
ScoutHas a security guard that thought she was God or something like that. Never seen anybody or place so petty on the place and still searching for the championship horseshoe pits and I can't stop talking about the dark green of the fishing lakes and the fish swimming on their sides
TravelerWe reserved and paid for a regular RV site specifically advertised for a 36–40 ft motorhome. We were assigned Site#28, which was so sloped and unsuitable that we could not safely extend either our living-room slide-out or bedroom slide-out. While using our leveling system, two front hydraulic jack rods broke and one rear jack became severely bent and could not retract. Our motorhome was left unsafe to drive or move. The exact mechanical cause still requires professional inspection, but the condition and slope of the assigned site are serious concerns. We immediately notified the campground by email, provided photographs, and went to the office seeking help with an incident report, emergency assistance, and a safe plan for the stranded motorhome. Unfortunately, management refused to take meaningful responsibility or help us resolve the emergency. The most disappointing part was not only the unsuitable site, but the lack of concern and assistance after a guest’s large motorhome became immobilized on the property. We had to return to work on Monday and were left trying to arrange emergency service, towing, transportation, and accommodation on our own. Based on this experience, I cannot recommend Holloway’s RV Park to owners of large Class A motorhomes. If you have a 36–40 ft RV, carefully inspect the assigned site’s slope, space, and leveling conditions before parking or deploying your jacks.
Travelervery pretty sight the mountain air is incredible. the staff is very helpful and friendly. at night the drunks go crazy and the bears steal their food.
ScoutThe scenery is unique and enjoyable, with nice views of either sunrise or sunset, depending on site. I found the lake itself very pretty. However when we arrived 4 vehicles are in our spot, people were nice enough moving but we had to go door to door knocking on camper to ask who's cars they were due to no signal and no rangers nearby. Our site was pretty dirty with lots of trash, copious ants near the drainage attachments, and two of the nearby groups had excessive tents extending into the back of our site making our view look more like a homeless encampment and less like a serene mountain sunset. They also were littering, urinating outside, and excessively drinking and partying like crazy until the wee hours. As a family group we felt really uncomfortable. It seemed like not all spots are like this, however, on my walk around deer loop in the morning. If you do go, the water activities and rentals look fun, the walking trail/biking trail was nicely done, and you could optimize your spot by booking a whole group of spots (instead of booking one, book one on the right and left side to avoid feeling like you have entered homeless refuge). It maybe was a bit worse as we were here over a holiday weekend. But we most likely won't be back, there are other places that are less expensive and with better enforcement and a family atmosphere. If you want to party it is probably a fine spot, and if you love water sports also likely ok. I thin it's a beautiful place with unique scenery and a lot of potential, but needs more enforcement regarding guest code of conduct.
Edited and gave 3 stars instead of 2. Views are really nice now that our poorly behaved neighbors left. Worth considering a visit during less busy times.
Tent camping near Mount Baldy offers access to diverse terrain within Angeles National Forest at elevations reaching 10,064 feet. The region experiences significant seasonal temperature variations, with winter bringing heavy snowfall above 6,000 feet and summer daytime temperatures often exceeding 85°F in lower elevations. Most camping options operate seasonally, with limited facilities requiring campers to be self-sufficient.
Hiking from campgrounds: Little Jimmy Trail Campground provides direct access to multiple peaks. One camper reports, "A short 1.2 mile hike up to a little peak (Mt Islip)" makes it ideal for day hikes without breaking camp.
Wildlife viewing: Peavine Campground offers opportunities to see local fauna in their natural habitat. According to a visitor, the area has "abundant wildlife coming through camp," though they note this has included "bears sniffing out tent in the middle of the night & coyotes coming through."
Mountain biking: Multiple trail networks accessible from China Camp State Park Campground offer technical terrain for cyclists. A reviewer mentions, "This park is extremely popular with mountain bikers. There are definitely better mountain biking trails in Marin but keep in mind that the bar is very high for mountain biking in Marin."
Fishing opportunities: Several streams near Glenn Trail Camp Campground provide fishing options. A camper notes the area is "native to good trout fishin'" though you should "check for fire restrictions" as rules change seasonally.
Off-grid experience: Stockton Flats Yellow Post Sites offer genuine dispersed camping. One visitor explains it's "great for campers that meet 2 criteria: 1) You have a Jeep, Truck or similar vehicle that can go off-road. 2) You enjoy dispersed camping (no water/restrooms etc)."
Moderate accessibility: Many campgrounds provide middle-ground experiences between frontcountry and backcountry camping. One camper at Little Jimmy Trail Campground shared, "2 ways up here. Hike in, via the PCT, an easy couple miles, to Little Jimmy campground. Or hike up Little Jimmy road, which is a wider dirt road (no vehicles)."
Weekday solitude: Visiting during off-peak times dramatically improves the experience. A reviewer at Manker Campground noted, "I went on a Wednesday afternoon in May and got my pick of sites. There were only 4-6 other campers each night so it was very quiet."
Natural water sources: Many campsites offer access to seasonal water. One camper at Glenn Trail Camp Campground mentioned, "The small campground is equipped with stream for water (must be treated), and vault potties."
Fire restrictions: Rules vary significantly by location and season. A reviewer from Angeles National Forest Deer Flats Group Campground noted their site had "spacious sites, enough for groups and numerous tents" but confirmed fires were prohibited.
Vehicle requirements: Many dispersed sites require specialized transportation. A camper at Stockton Flats Yellow Post Sites warned, "The turn is not marked well... If you miss the turn like we did you have to go 5 miles or more to get a turnabout big enough to turn around."
Bathroom conditions: Facility maintenance varies widely. At Manker Campground, a visitor observed, "Bathrooms were clean and supplied with TP" while another noted that "the caretaker was so nice! Although the restroom are very dirty."
Year-round options: Several lower-elevation sites remain open during winter. A camper at China Camp State Park Campground shared, "You can camp here year round, and I've been here in the winter, spring and summer."
Beginner-friendly backpacking: Some sites offer perfect introductions to backpacking. A camper at Glenn Trail Camp Campground recalled, "I have been wanting to take my girlfriend backpacking for quite some time but wanted an easy trail to start her off with, and this was it - an easy paved 6 1/2 miles in to camp all the way along a creek."
Campground wildlife education: Animal sightings provide learning opportunities. At China Camp State Park Campground, a visitor experienced "all the wildlife (birds, owls, deer, rabbits, raccoons)" but warned "the raccoons here are AGGRESSIVE! They won't attack you, but they will walk right up to your camp and try to steal your food."
Short hikes from camp: Many sites offer kid-friendly trails. At Appletree Campground, a camper noted the main downside is that "it's kind of a hike getting equipment up to the upper camping areas" but "lower campsites are nice" for families with younger children.
Size restrictions: Most sites near Mount Baldy have severe limitations for larger vehicles. At Manker Campground, a reviewer noted it's "small tent and motorhome campground with firepits, water spickets, bathrooms" but cautioned about limited space and that "only one car per campsite" is allowed.
Road conditions: Access roads can present challenges for RVs. A camper attempting to reach Stockton Flats warned, "We decided not to go to the site because it looked like a one lane road and too tight for our 35 ft bumper pull."
Seasonal planning: Winter weather makes most sites inaccessible for RVs. A visitor to Stockton Flats reported in May 2023 that "the trail was closed" with "no idea when it will be open" highlighting the importance of checking current conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Mount Baldy, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Mount Baldy, CA is Manker Campground with a 4-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Mount Baldy, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 68 tent camping locations near Mount Baldy, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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