Best Dispersed Camping near Thousand Oaks, CA

Dispersed camping opportunities near Thousand Oaks, California are primarily concentrated in Los Padres National Forest, with several primitive sites accessible via hiking trails or forest roads. Big Cone Camp in Santa Paula Canyon requires a moderate hike through Thomas Aquinas College property and oil fields before entering the canyon. Other backcountry options include sites in the Matilija Wilderness area, Angeles Crest Highway pullouts, and remote areas like Morrow Hill. Channel Islands National Park also offers backcountry camping at Del Norte on Santa Cruz Island, though this requires boat transportation and advance planning.

Access to most primitive sites varies significantly by location. Santa Paula Canyon's Big Cone Camp involves a hiking-only approach with no vehicle access, while Angeles Crest provides roadside pullouts suitable for car or van camping. Fires are prohibited at many locations, including Chorma Camp and Angeles Crest overlooks, though some sites like Morrow Hill permit campfires with proper precautions. Most areas lack basic amenities such as drinking water, toilets, or trash service. According to one visitor at Big Cone Camp, "Please pack out your trash. Because this hike is local and easy, there are many party people that frequent the area and leave their trash." Many primitive sites require careful planning for water needs and waste management.

The region's dispersed camping experiences vary dramatically based on location and elevation. Angeles Crest Highway pullouts offer impressive city views but limited privacy. As one camper noted, "Great view but on the weekend we had multiple cars doing donuts really close to our van. I felt uncomfortable with that." The Del Norte backcountry campsites on Santa Cruz Island provide exceptional solitude and unique wildlife viewing, including island foxes, though campers report significant wind exposure. The Matilija Wilderness sites feature quiet canyon settings, though one camper described Chorma Camp as "windy and high" with "very little shelter around to break it." Most primitive sites require self-sufficiency for water, food storage, and leave-no-trace practices, with varying degrees of privacy and natural surroundings.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Thousand Oaks, California (9)

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Thousand Oaks, CA

11 Reviews of 9 Thousand Oaks Campgrounds


  • Joseph R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 26, 2024

    Angeles Crest Overlook to LA

    Nope

    It’s basically car camping along the Angeles Crest highway, there’s small pull out spots and, some spots overlooking the forest but kids do tend to party up here and, drive about 100 miles a hour up and, down the road all hours of the night. It can get a bit scary, if you’re alone. Oh cell service non-existent unless you’re closer to the bottom but even then it’s spotty. It’s not a typical campground but it does do the job for a couple days. You will see cars vans along the pull outs coming up but I believe you can car camp on the overlook I have not as I’m more a quiet type person. Be careful though there’s a white van that teams up with a black truck they tried to break in my car while I was sleeping. It is very dangerous and luckily I carry at all times and have cameras.

  • robherr The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2018

    Chorma Camp in Matilija Wilderness

    Windy and high, Chorma Camp is a quick stop

    Chorma Camp is the first spot you will encounter on the hike south through Cherry Creek. Situated high on a bluff it gets lots of wind, and with very little shelter around to break it, if you camp here you will get the brunt of it.

    There are no amenities at any of the campsites in this area, they are all primitive dispersed camp areas.

    Continuing on past Chorma if you can make it to Maple it is better campsite down in the valley.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 22, 2024

    Angeles Crest Overlook to LA

    Dark, fairly quiet, good view!

    I loved car camping here! When I stayed, there were no other people who stayed the night, but quite a few people came throughout the night just for 20 minutes at a time or so. Wasn’t too noisy at all. Unfortunately I didn’t have any service (Visible/Verizon), so that was a little scary. Other than that, no complaints at all!

  • Jessica P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2021

    Los Padres NF - Dispersed Camp

    Good place after a long hike

    This site is next to chorro grande trail which is about a 9 mile hike. After your long hike of you want to rest go up the mountain site across and it’s an awesome place to camp out. This is dispersed campsite. You will also come across many people parked on the side for those who hike the trails so if you go up the little hill mountain you can camp out peacefully with awesome sunrise and sunsets.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 26, 2024

    Angeles Crest Overlook to LA

    Great view

    Great view but on the weekend we had multiple cars doing donuts really close to our van. I felt uncomfortable with that. Next night we moved to the other look out and someone still did donuts behind us- it’s a smaller lookout. Loud music and people talking next to us until about 1 am there is a pull off before this that was very quiet near a trail and nobody bothered us. During the week it’s more quiet. Close to town so that is a plus. Would recommend to smaller vans or car sleepers. I did not feel unsafe except for the donuts that happened near us. If you have dogs I would recommend the trail pull off my dogs really enjoyed the hike

  • Paul O.
    Mar. 28, 2022

    Los Padres NF - Dispersed Camp

    No disperse camping allowed along the 33.

    There is a nice hike-in campsite about 1.5 miles up the Chorro Grande trail called Oak Camp. I think the other review here might be unintentionally implying that camping along the 33 is allowed. It isn't. This is from the district web page:

    "Disperse camping is NOT allowed on Hwy 33, the Rose Valley Recreation Area or the Pine Mountain Recreation Area or Matilija Canyon Rd. These are Restricted Use Zones."

  • robherr The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2018

    Big Cone Camp - Santa Paula Canyon

    Local easy hike to great waterfalls

    This is a fairly easy hike through what would not be considered a typical hike. It starts off going through Thomas Aquinas College, winding through horse property and oil fields, before finally opening up into Santa Paula Canyon. The trail has changed many times over the years because of the nature of flooding through the canyon, but follow the signs through the middle of the canyon and the main trail will head up the mountain to the right.

    Atop the hill on the saddle, nestled among the trees is the primitive Big Cone campsite. It is one of my favorite spots simply because it is close and when my kids were young it was a fairly easy hike to get to, and there's a nice reward when you get there.

    From Big Cone Camp you can easily reach the waterfalls and pools that make this area known as the "punch bowls". Depending on weather and water conditions there are some nice water rock slides, and a few pools you can jump from the cliffs into.

    Please pack out your trash. Because this hike is local and easy, there are many party people that frequent the area and leave their trash.

  • Andrew S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 30, 2024

    Angeles Crest Overlook to LA

    Not a campsite

    This is literally just a roadside pull-off. Only really useful in a pinch. No space for a tent. Sleep in your vehicle.

  • Iris A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2023

    Angeles Crest Overlook to LA

    dispersed camping next to the road

    It is not a real campground, just a the parking area of a view point. So the view was great. I parked at one end of the area but in the evening lots of couples and teenagers came and the parking area was well used. Some people stood silently admiring the view, while others played loud music. There were also tire tracks on the ground that suggested to me, some young people come here to test their driving skills. I spent the night and no-one took really notice of me. 

    There are no toilets, campfire sites or shade but good cell service.


Guide to Thousand Oaks

Dispersed camping opportunities near Thousand Oaks, California primarily concentrate in Los Padres National Forest and Angeles National Forest, with elevations ranging from 1,500 to 5,000 feet. These locations experience significant temperature variations between seasons, with summer daytime highs often exceeding 90°F while winter nights can drop below freezing at higher elevations. Most primitive sites require adequate clearance vehicles to navigate unpaved forest roads.

What to do

Hike to waterfalls and swimming holes: From Big Cone Camp - Santa Paula Canyon, visitors can access natural water features. "This is a fairly easy hike through what would not be considered a typical hike. It starts off going through Thomas Aquinas College, winding through horse property and oil fields, before finally opening up into Santa Paula Canyon," notes one camper about the approach to swimming spots.

Take an island hiking excursion: The remote Del Norte Backcountry campsites on Santa Cruz Island connect to an extensive trail network. A camper reports, "Hiked from Scorpion Harbor cross-island to Del Norte Camp, great way to see the island. Camped at site 1, had the most wind but also the best views of the ocean."

Enjoy stargazing and night skies: The Angeles Crest Highway pullouts provide excellent dark sky viewing opportunities away from city light pollution. Bring warm clothing as temperatures drop significantly at night, even in summer.

What campers like

Secluded camping spots: At Morrow Hill dispersed, campers appreciate the isolation. One visitor shared, "We had a great and quiet night up there in our 21ft RV. But the road is a little tricky and we almost wouldn't have driven there."

Urban proximity with wilderness feel: Free camping near Thousand Oaks, California allows for quick escapes while remaining close to urban amenities. "This site is next to chorro grande trail which is about a 9 mile hike. After your long hike if you want to rest go up the mountain site across and it's an awesome place to camp out," explains one camper at a Los Padres dispersed site.

Wildlife encounters: Campsites on Santa Cruz Island offer unique wildlife viewing. "Saw lots of island foxes - so cute! Note that there are gear restrictions for the cruise (check the website). Also you have to PACK YOUR OWN WATER. And use the food storage boxes to protect your food from the foxes," advises one Del Norte camper.

What you should know

Limited services and amenities: Angeles Crest Overlook provides free camping near Thousand Oaks with minimal facilities. "This is just a few parking lots that overlook the valley and gives a view of the city skyline in the distance. Several others were also sleeping in their vehicles along the road and in the parking lots, so you won't be alone," explains one vehicle camper.

Restricted camping zones: Not all forest areas permit dispersed camping. One camper clarifies, "Disperse camping is NOT allowed on Hwy 33, the Rose Valley Recreation Area or the Pine Mountain Recreation Area or Matilija Canyon Rd. These are Restricted Use Zones."

Wind exposure: Many sites experience significant wind, particularly at higher elevations. A camper at Chorma Camp notes, "Situated high on a bluff it gets lots of wind, and with very little shelter around to break it, if you camp here you will get the brunt of it."

Tips for camping with families

Choose accessible sites: For family-friendly primitive camping, select locations with shorter hiking distances. "It is one of my favorite spots simply because it is close and when my kids were young it was a fairly easy hike to get to, and there's a nice reward when you get there," shares one parent about Big Cone Camp.

Water management: Pack substantial water supplies as most dispersed sites lack potable sources. Each person requires 2-3 liters daily for drinking plus cooking and cleaning needs.

Storage precautions: Protect food from wildlife with proper containers. "Food storage locker provided to protect food from sneaky foxes," notes a camper at Del Norte, highlighting the importance of securing provisions.

Tips from RVers

Road accessibility concerns: For RV camping near Thousand Oaks, verify road conditions before attempting access. "Great view in the morning, beautiful. Would def come back," reports a Morrow Hill visitor who navigated the location in a 21-foot RV.

Overnight security considerations: RV campers at roadside pullouts should be prepared for variable conditions. "I loved car camping here! When I stayed, there were no other people who stayed the night, but quite a few people came throughout the night just for 20 minutes at a time or so. Wasn't too noisy at all," shares one Angeles Crest camper.

Avoid unofficial areas: Stay in designated dispersed camping areas only. Several private properties border national forest land, making boundary awareness essential to avoid trespassing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Thousand Oaks, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Thousand Oaks, CA is Big Cone Camp - Santa Paula Canyon with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Thousand Oaks, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 9 dispersed camping locations near Thousand Oaks, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.