Best Dispersed Camping near Pine Mountain Club, CA
Dispersed camping near Pine Mountain Club encompasses several primitive sites within Los Padres National Forest and surrounding public lands. Morrow Hill offers quiet, free dispersed camping with mountain views and sufficient space for smaller RVs. Nearby, Los Padres National Forest contains additional primitive camping options, though camping is restricted in certain zones along Highway 33 and in the Rose Valley and Pine Mountain Recreation Areas. Carrizzo Plain National Monument provides dispersed camping opportunities in open, rolling terrain approximately 30 miles northwest of Pine Mountain Club.
Access roads to dispersed sites vary significantly in quality and condition. The route to Morrow Hill requires cautious navigation as it can be challenging for larger vehicles. A recent visitor noted, "the road is a little tricky and we almost wouldn't have driven there." Many sites require high-clearance vehicles, particularly after rain when dirt roads become slick and hazardous. Most dispersed areas have no amenities—no drinking water, toilets, or trash service—requiring visitors to pack in all necessities and pack out all waste.
These primitive camping areas offer solitude and natural beauty with minimal development. Carrizzo Plain provides expansive night skies with minimal light pollution, while areas in Los Padres National Forest feature more varied terrain. A camper at Carrizzo Plain described it as "peaceful and beautiful" with "hilly landscape" that provides natural camping spots despite the absence of trees for shade. Temperature variations can be extreme; winter visitors should prepare for nights significantly colder than forecasted. Fire restrictions apply in many areas, with complete bans in effect in portions of Los Padres National Forest, particularly in the Matilija Wilderness area and along certain corridors.
