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.
