Join the fun near Santee. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Find the best campgrounds near Santee, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
"Pit toilet. Pack it out - no trash service. No water. If you go left as you come in you can camp along a rock wall filled with agave, cholla and other plants."
"Got up in the morning and went all the way until the end of the road on maps (Apple or Google) on our 2WD, was doable. 4 bars T Mobile LTE where we were.
Campsite itself was very nice."
"The route via maps from the north east is gated and locked."
"Otay Mountain Rd and Otay Lakes Rd are the only two roads mentioned on the BLMs website. https://www.blm.gov/visit/otay-mountain-wilderness Good luck and happy trails."
"Pine Creek Road itself is paved, and the camping spots are packed dirt so it's easy to get around even in a FWD. "
"It’s a little warm in the day in august this time of year so you can’t hike around or explore too much."
"Primitive camp site with chemical bathrooms. Has 3 areas to set up tents. First come first serve, but you must check in at the ranger station before you go. $5 per camper."
"The park has campgrounds near borrego springs that are easily accessible. Visiting the mud caves you’ll need 4x4 or an AWD car with high clearance."
", caves were warmest the whole time
Road & Address: there were some soft sand spots, didn’t require a lot of clearance and I didn’t put my Jeep Compass into AWD at all."
"On the outer southern edge of Borrego Springs is this private yet free camp area.
A few dozen sites exist, each some five hundred feet or more apart."
"The best feature of this free camping area is the awesome metal sculptures right near this campground.
Near the cute town of Borrego Springs, just a little off Borrego Springs road."
"This whole area is essentially within one valley, so you have mountains on both sides. It is well vegetated and allows for fairly easy hikes up the soft slopes."
"Primitive camping. First come…, requires payment in envelope."
RangerFree. 30 day limit. Pit toilet. Pack it out - no trash service. No water. If you go left as you come in you can camp along a rock wall filled with agave, cholla and other plants. A large area for big rvs right at the front left. To the right there were lots of pull offs and I found it easier to navigate in my station wagon road-wise. Lots of space. Some areas say not to walk there/ keep dogs out to protect plants and wildlife. I felt safe solo camping - there were a few other van and rv campers. Recommend visiting the sweet desert botanical garden in nearby Borrego Springs.
GuideThere are a bunch of campsites along a service road that is parallel to a main road, several hundred feet away. This whole area is essentially within one valley, so you have mountains on both sides. It is well vegetated and allows for fairly easy hikes up the soft slopes.
The parking spots are right alongside the road, so for van camping is not so great, but tents can be put away from the road and therefore it's much more suitable for tenting.
The stretch of dirt road closest to the main road is Sandy, but manageable bull in a two wheel drive. This is where most of the campsites are. Further along the road, there are fewer camp sites, so they are more dispersed, however the road becomes more rocky and jutted, but for those wanting a bit more privacy, this is the spot to be.
I would like to come back in camp in this location. So i'm going to mark it to return another time.
GuideAnza borrego state park has a lot of room to explore. The park has campgrounds near borrego springs that are easily accessible. Visiting the mud caves you’ll need 4x4 or an AWD car with high clearance. Anza borrego has been my wife & I go to camping area for over 5 years. Camping is allowed away from main trails and we typically sleep near the mud caves or within the slot canyons. Perfect place to star gave and wander around & explore. Bring plenty of water/ off road safety (enough fuel/ shovel/ traction boards) as towing out of this area is extremely expensive. (Pictures are from fonts point/ random hikes near camping spots).
ScoutWe stopped and setup tents a little before little Blair valley. Night sky was alright, but couldn’t see the Milky Way, so not dark enough for that. Probably a Bortle 5. Got up in the morning and went all the way until the end of the road on maps (Apple or Google) on our 2WD, was doable. 4 bars T Mobile LTE where we were.
Campsite itself was very nice. The place we found had a man made but multiple time used fire pit. Great sunset and sunrise, you have the chance to have as much or as little company around you. Little bit of trash at our site that we picked up.
Leave no trace!
ScoutGreat area--it's just close enough to some expensive campgrounds and a few connecting trails, so it's awesome to camp here for FREE. Pine Creek Road itself is paved, and the camping spots are packed dirt so it's easy to get around even in a FWD. Warning though: if you're nervous about driving on single lane mountain roads, this is not the place for you! Pine Creek Road is several miles long, with some sections that are on sheer cliff edges with very few turn-off spots to allow for passing.
Additional word of warning: the camping spots are not close together and there seemed to be very few of them. Even driving slowly, I counted only 6 or 7 sites total, separated by up to a mile. I saw only 1 other spot with campers, at least 2.5 miles from my site. Some of the sites are fairly large--could easily fit 2 cars and a couple tents--but others seemed to be just large enough to pull off the road and sleep in the car (no tent space). Some spots were tucked back from the road with lots of trees (I barely saw or heard any cars, even though I was probably only ~15ft from the road); but some were barely more than a shoulder with no trees for coverage. I stayed in the same spot two nights in a row, though I packed up during the day because I assumed I'd find another spot down the road. At least in the site I picked, there was very little trash from previous campers.
Suggestion for the permit: make sure you apply for the free permit a few days in advance especially if you plan to go on the weekend. List the place you're going as "Pine Creek dispersed camping," and keep a printed copy in your car. I didn't have trouble with any rangers, but it's better to be safe than fined. Very spotty service (Verizon), which makes navigation and planning difficult if you don't pre-download trail maps.
LegendSpent 4 nights here in February. A good amount of other campers, but not too crowded. I found the perfect spot tucked up against the rocks. I had my own private rock garden with so many variety of cacti and lots of birds. So peaceful. I would definitely come back here again.
No cell signal, but plenty of solar. Primitive camping--no amenities.
ScoutCame here to have a place for my popup camper while we checked out the flowers blooming 40 minutes away in Borrego Springs and it was perfect. There's no amenities except for a pit toilet, but the cell service here was better than anywhere in the area. I had better signal at this campsite than I did in Park Circle at the heart of Borrego Springs. Lots of people set up near the entrance, but if you drive a little back you can get some privacy. Also be slow and cautious when driving on these dirt roads after a rainstorm; we saw two different trucks get stuck in the mud. Luckily some people with a winch were able to get them both out. Also we were here in March so the nights were cold and windy so make sure you're prepared.
Rangermy home base for Anza Borrego fun. Little Blair valley has beautiful rocky hills that provide a great backdrop to your desert camping. Lots of climbing to be had, as well as several trails. Including pictographs! Simply choose your spot and set up camp!
Ive witnessed some of the most gorgeous sunrises and sunsets here. desert camping, so no trees, but plenty of ocotillo and creosote. I tend to getaway here in fall and winter months it’s just too hot otherwise
Restrooms when you pull in off the highway. Dirt road. But very passable in a car.
GuideOn the outer southern edge of Borrego Springs is this private yet free camp area.
A few dozen sites exist, each some five hundred feet or more apart. All have views of the surrounding mountains, and the wide open skies.
Borrego Springs is a dark sky community, which means lights are kept to a minimum, thus enabling great star viewing.
The area is renowned for its hiking and other outdoor activities. It is also known for its iron sculptures, which many exist within this camp area.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Santee, California, where nature enthusiasts can find serene spots away from the crowds. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, there's something for everyone looking to escape into the wilderness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Santee, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Santee, CA is Blair Valley Primitive Campground — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park with a 4.6-star rating from 35 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Santee, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 dispersed camping locations near Santee, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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