Angeles National Forest surrounds Palmdale, California with numerous backcountry tent camping options, ranging from drive-in tent campsites to primitive walk-in trail camps. Mount Pacifico Campground offers tent-only sites accessible via walk-in trails, operating from May to November with basic amenities including toilets and picnic tables. Little Jimmy Trail Campground, located along the Pacific Crest Trail, provides primitive tent camping with first-come, first-served sites. Joshua Tree Ranch Los Angeles, situated north of Palmdale, accommodates tent campers with both drive-in and walk-in access. Several trail camps including Cooper Canyon, Valley Forge, and Mount Lowe offer secluded tent-only camping experiences within reasonable driving distance of Palmdale.
Most tent campgrounds in the region feature dirt or forest duff surfaces with minimal site preparation. Campers should bring their own water, as potable sources are limited at primitive sites. Bear activity is common throughout Angeles National Forest, requiring proper food storage in provided bear boxes or personal bear canisters. Vault toilets are available at most established campgrounds, though some backcountry sites require pack-out waste management. Fire regulations vary seasonally, with complete bans often in effect during summer and fall. Forest Adventure Passes are required for parking at most trailheads. Walk-in tent sites typically include fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities decrease at more remote locations.
In early spring, tent campers at Valley Forge Trail Camp can enjoy creek access with several water crossings along the 3.5-mile hike in. According to reviews, the sites offer good privacy despite being relatively close to Los Angeles. One camper noted that Little Jimmy Trail Campground rarely fills up, even during peak season, making it reliable for last-minute tent camping trips. The campground's location along the Pacific Crest Trail provides excellent access for day hiking. Cooper Canyon Trail Campground offers tent campers a choice between open sites or spots nestled among trees, with seasonal creek access for water filtering. Tent-only sites throughout the region provide better wildlife viewing opportunities than developed campgrounds, with visitors reporting bear and mountain lion sightings at several locations.
"nice showers, well kept bathrooms, good parking. food shopping is close by. nice power hookups. 50 volt."
"great views 360 degrees once you're on top. a 7 mile hike north on the Pacific Crest Trail from mill creek fire station. fire rings with multiple spots"
"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"
"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"
"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
"I recently moved to WA from Los Angeles so this review is legit 😁 Parking at cloudburst summit, gets full during peak season so get there early, first come first serve I really like this trail camp"
"This backcountry camp is a good spot for first time backpackers. It is well known so head out early to get a good spot."
"Perfect stopping point for backpacking. Went here in May and we were the only 2 here. Plenty of water flowing and tree cover from the sun."
"No water facet but there is a toilet. I have woke in the morning to deer on several occasions. I will come back here."
"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."
"When you can’t do a 2h hike before setting camp, but you also don’t want to camp close to your car, Millard campground is perfect. The parking lot is just behind the corner out of view."
"Took some friends for their first ever backpacking trip, great intro to the “experience.” Trail camp is in the canyon so it’s an easy 3.5 mile hike in, but a tough hike out of the canyon."
"Picnic tables and fire rings made food preparing especially easy. It has so much charm!"
from $5 / night
"No water, fountain is capped now"
"There's no water right now but that could change after first rain or snow. Stayed here last week & it's still great."
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.
ScoutCall ahead if you’re arriving after 4:15pm or so and pay in advance so you get a reusable gate code. If you can’t call you can check in at the gate but there are limited in and out privileges so it’s best to do it before the office closes. This is a lovely little county type park by a reservoir outside of the town of Tehachapi. Great Thai food at Thai Hachapi. We had the place to ourselves on a Thursday in October. Lots of room to walk on leash dogs and enjoy the birds. No swimming or body contact with the water but you could canoe or kayak. And there were folks fishing. Easy drive to town. I’d stay again!
TravelerNice spot with great hiking. Limited facilities. No hookups. $1 for 2 minute shower (tokens).
GuideThis was a nice e little campground. Nothing fancy but it was a quiet night, except for a few trains coming thruwith their whistle blowing off in the distance. Be sure to drive over to the Tehachapi Loop, one of the 7 train engineering wo dets of the world. We were lucky enough to see a small train going through. Town has a Walmart and Walgreens for groceries and meds. Be sure to watch when you book online if you are applying the Good Sam discount. I had selected it but it didn't apply for some reason and office staff said she couldn't apply it when checking in. This was the reason for knocking a star off the rating.
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.
TravelerI was lucky to find this place. It’s well run, comfortable, friendly. Nice spots.
GuideStopped here on a Friday night after spending the day in Simi Valley. It was a ghost town, with only one other campsite occupied that showed no movement or activity at all. The train isn’t running in the overnight hours, so that’s a plus, but the vibe at the lower campsite is making it tough to sleep nonetheless. Two stars for a clean bathroom.
TravelerVery windy and need high clearance vehicles
TravelerYou definitely need high clearance vehicles or you will not make it here
Tent camping near Palmdale, California offers diverse options from the high desert to forested mountains. Located where the San Gabriel Mountains meet the Mojave Desert, the area features elevations ranging from 2,657 feet to over 8,000 feet. Summer temperatures can exceed 100°F in the lower desert areas while mountain camps remain 15-20 degrees cooler.
Creek exploration: Valley Forge Trail Camp features several water crossings along a 3.5-mile trail with filtered water opportunities. "In April the creek was full, with several creek crossings on the hike and crisp, fresh water along the campsite that contribute to a beautifully green owasis of a meadow," notes Kelly B. The site's location in a canyon makes for "an easy 3.5 mile hike in, but a tough hike out of the canyon."
Night sky viewing: Joshua Tree Ranch Los Angeles provides exceptional stargazing opportunities from its desert location. "The Joshua Trees, the sunsets, the sunrises! All so peaceful and beautiful. Absolutely nobody around and we weren't bothered by any animals either," shares Ciara C. The ranch's distance from urban areas creates ideal dark sky conditions.
Waterfall hiking: Many campgrounds provide access to seasonal waterfalls. "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," explains a reviewer about Millard Trail Campground.
Solitude and privacy: Mount Lowe Trail Campground offers a secluded experience despite being relatively close to urban areas. "It was eerily quiet at night. We were the only ones there and can hear our own hearbeats laying there at night. We went in May this year so not much people around," says Stacy C. The campground features educational elements too as it has "many info plaques with photos from the old tavern on site."
Year-round accessibility: Many campgrounds in the area remain accessible during winter months. "Fantastic in the snowy season. Getting to Windy Gap usually requires spikes or crampons and axe, but it's well worth the effort. There's also year-round running water at Little Jimmy Springs," reports Brian T.
Scenic trail connections: Little Jimmy Trail Campground serves as a connection point to major hiking routes. "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," explains Tony C. The campground provides "easy access to hop on the legendary Pacific Crest Trail which runs through the camp."
Site accessibility: Most tent sites require some hiking. "This campground is a very short drive from Pasadena, CA, and in fact there are some rustic homes adjacent to the campground. Parking is about 150 yards away, down a hill, so be prepared to haul your gear," notes K B. about Millard Trail Campground.
Crowds and timing: Weekday camping often provides more solitude. "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," shares a camper about their experience.
Wildlife precautions: Cooper Canyon Trail Campground and other forest sites require proper food storage. "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," advises one camper.
Beginner-friendly backpacking: Some sites make ideal first backpacking experiences for children. "This backcountry camp is a good spot for first time backpackers. It is well known so head out early to get a good spot," recommends Meghan W. about Cooper Canyon Trail Campground.
Water feature access: Seasonal streams provide both drinking water and play opportunities. "My first backpacking trip was with my brother and husband and we went to little Jimmy campground. It was awesome!! The hike is less than 3 miles and the first mile is uphill," shares Trisha P.
Short hike options: Millard Trail Campground offers family-friendly day hikes. "Me and my girlfriend decided to go on this trail with our two doggos on a hot 95 degree day and we had such a good time the waterfall trail is nothing but shade provided by the trees foliage and the creek kept our dogs cool," writes Chris O.
Fairground parking alternative: When tent camping near Palmdale isn't suitable, Antelope Valley Fairgrounds offers RV options. "Clean showers and bathrooms. Full RV hook-ups. It's absolutely nothing to write home about and really has no personality, trees, or privacy, but if you're in the area and need an anonymous place to stay in your RV that's quiet will full hook-ups, this one does just fine," explains Corinna B.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Palmdale, CA is Antelope Valley Fairgrounds with a 3-star rating from 6 reviews.
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