Best Tent Camping near Wrightwood, CA

Angeles National Forest surrounds Wrightwood, California with several tent-only campgrounds nestled among pine forests and mountain terrain. Little Jimmy Trail Campground, located just 2 miles from Angeles Crest Highway, offers primitive tent camping with access to the Pacific Crest Trail. Jackson Flats provides both drive-in and walk-in tent sites with bear-proof storage lockers and drinking water. Other tent camping options include Manker Campground near Mount Baldy (open May to October) and Stockton Flats Yellow Post Sites, which offer more remote backcountry tent camping experiences in the forest.

Most tent campsites in the Wrightwood area feature natural surfaces with minimal grading, requiring campers to find level spots for pitching tents. Adventure Passes are required for parking at most trailheads and campgrounds in Angeles National Forest. Bear activity is common throughout the region, with some sites providing bear boxes while others require campers to bring their own food storage containers. Seasonal access varies significantly, with higher elevation sites like Little Jimmy often inaccessible until late spring due to snow. Vault toilets are available at established campgrounds, though many primitive tent sites lack facilities entirely, requiring proper waste management practices.

According to campers familiar with Little Jimmy Trail Campground, the site offers "around 7 first-come, first-served sites with fire rings, vault toilets, and vintage backcountry ovens." One visitor noted that despite its popularity with scout troops, the campground rarely fills completely, making it reliable for last-minute backcountry tent camping trips. At Jackson Flats, facilities include "picnic tables, campfire circles, grills, bear-proof storage lockers, flush toilets, and drinking water," with temperatures in early June described as "perfect - warm during the day and cool at night." Tent campers at Big Rock Campground reported wildlife sightings including bears and mountain lions, with the campground described as "nestled in a valley/canyon" providing a quiet experience despite proximity to Highway 2.

Best Tent Sites Near Wrightwood, California (68)

    1. Manker Campground

    13 Reviews
    Mount Baldy, CA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (626) 335-1251

    $12 / night

    "Although the restroom are very dirty but overall it was a great stay!"

    "Tucked away at the top of a precarious winding mountain road. It is very basic, simple and beautiful."

    2. Little Jimmy Trail Campground

    7 Reviews
    Valyermo, CA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (626) 335-1251

    "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"

    3. Stockton Flats Yellow Post Sites 3-8

    4 Reviews
    Wrightwood, CA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (909) 382-2851

    "Great for campers that meet 2 criteria 1) You have a Jeep, Truck it similar vehicle that can go off-road. 2) You enjoy dispersed camping (no water/restrooms etc)

    If both are yes, this place is amazing"

    "Trail was fun (definitely needed 4x4) and the sites around has good shade and good size open spots. Best to get there early as possible to secure a spot."

    4. Appletree Campground — Angeles National Forest

    1 Review
    Wrightwood, CA
    6 miles
    +1 (760) 316-7828

    $20 / night

    "Lower campsites are nice but kinda close to the road so you get the road noise . Not a bad place to go for an overnight trip ."

    5. Jackson Flats

    2 Reviews
    Valyermo, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 249-3526

    $180 - $230 / night

    "Campground review

    This group campground can be accessed by walk-in or motor vehicle. It's a short hike from the Grassy Hollow Visitor Center."

    "It had flush toilets, water spigots, picnic tables, and fire pits as well as large campsites seemingly fitting for big groups.

    When we got there there were a lot of families."

    6. Angeles National Forest Big Rock Campground

    1 Review
    Valyermo, CA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (661) 269-2808

    "There is a nice size creek that runs adjacent to the campsites, which appears to run only during snow melt. It was dry one of the times we camped there, the other time it was flowing very good."

    7. Peavine Campground — Angeles National Forest

    1 Review
    Wrightwood, CA
    6 miles
    +1 (760) 316-7828

    $20 / night

    9. Cooper Canyon Trail Campground

    2 Reviews
    Juniper Hills, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (818) 790-1151

    "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."

    10. Glenn Trail Camp Campground

    4 Reviews
    Duarte, CA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (818) 899-1900

    $5 / night

    "Access to this campground is so easy, whether it's by car or by bike."

    "This hike-in/bike-in campground is located 6 1/2 miles behind a locked gate. The small campground is equipped with stream for water (must be treated), and vault potties."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Wrightwood, CA

1068 Reviews of 68 Wrightwood Campgrounds


  • Tony  C.
    Sep. 20, 2020

    Little Jimmy Trail Campground

    Local gem of a campsite

    This campsite is located in California and is one of my favorites. 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. It has around 7 first-come, first-served sites with fire rings, vault toilets (which are currently not in service), and vintage backcountry ovens. After parking at Islip Saddle, cross the highway and begin hiking for 2 miles up the switchbacks until you reach Little Jimmy Campground on your right. Popular with Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, this scenic spot offers a chance to get away from established campgrounds and live amongst the Coulter Pines and Big Doug Firs. Campers turned hikers have easy access to hop on the legendary Pacific Crest Trail which runs through the camp. There is no fee to camp here other than an Adventure pass for your parking. In the summertime, bears can be common visitors so make sure and secure your food in provided bear boxes or bring your own bear canisters. As always, make sure you follow the "Leave No Trace" principles and pack everything in and out!

  • Les R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 6, 2018

    Buckhorn Campground

    Most beautiful campground in the Angeles National Forest!

    We've wanted to camp here for so long, but we've never been able to get a spot. We finally did this weekend, and it fully lived up to our expectations. Because this campground is set within a ravine that has a stream during the rainier months, so the landscape feels very different than the other nearby campgrounds - very green with tall trees. The campsites have plenty of space between neighbors, so we felt we had privacy and weren't disturbed by any noise from other sites. Each site has a picnic table, firepit, and bear box for food storage. There is a water spigot at the campground, but the ranger advised that it's not potable.

    There's day parking at the end of the campground for the trailhead to Cooper Canyon Falls. In the summer the "waterfall" is barely a trickle, but the hike still has a nice stream and is worth doing.

  • j
    Mar. 25, 2021

    Millard Trail Campground

    Great campground for hiking/biking

    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. There's about 100 yd hike to the campsites. There's a road that leads to the campsite but it's been blocked off. Only the campsite managers use that road so it's not accessible by RV, just tents. A campsite manager stays in a little trailer overnight so if there's any problems there's somebody there you can go to and ask for help. There's about six campsites and their first come first serve, no reservations. 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. You can stay overnight which I did and everything was fine but there's not a lot of privacy. The next day as I was leaving there was another guy sitting up his tent. I bet on the weekends they can fill up pretty fast. It's in Bear country so they provide food storage for each campsite also trash containers too. Each side has a picnic bench and a fire pit. The fire ban has been lifted so you can have a fire. Each fire pit had wood left at it so you didn't have to go searching for campfirewood. Bathrooms included male and female toilets but no showers or water. There's a creek that runs through the campground which makes it very pretty. I saw two to three cabins along the outskirts of the campground that I assume were for rentals. There was one family at one of the cabins the night I stayed. 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. Overall a good campsite four stars. Would have been five stars if they had showers and running water. 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

  • Michael A.
    Jul. 6, 2020

    San Bernardino National Forest Crab Flats Campground

    5 Miles Dirt Road Off Highway YES

    Slow going on the dirt road but boy is it worth it. There are a couple of water spigots. Pack your trash out when you leave. Do not need 4WD to get there but it’s sure fun on all the truck trails if you do! Lots of trees and shade, 26 sites that are usually pretty full on the weekends. Vault toilets. Fire rings, bear boxes and picnic tables provide the basics. The drive out to the lake is also worth it if kids want to play in the water. Kayak and small boat rentals, fishing with stocked waters. All in all a great way to spend a weekend in the mountains.

  • Kate W.
    Sep. 26, 2019

    Dry Lake Backpacking Campground

    Memorable and COLD

    We camped here on our way to summiting San G (as we lovingly call it).  Although it was May and the weather was beautiful at sea level, it was cold up here!  There was snow on the ground but the air was the coldest I've ever felt.  

    We got to the camping area and it's tucked in the woods so there's lots of nooks and crannies even though it's a primitive open group camping area.  It's right next to a dry lake - go figure - and there are lots of areas to go explore beyond the trail that leads to the top.  

    The ranger was there to spend a few nights and said that the night before hit negative digits!  We thought we were prepared with our "all weather" bags and backpacking tent, but I promise you I have never been so cold in my life.  I laid there awake the entire night, and couldn't move a muscle or freezing air would seep in.  The ranger said it only got down to 7 degrees.  When light finally hit we heated some water and went to sit on the frosty ground in the open field/lake and when the sun finally hit us it was like life-changing.  

    FYI it's leave no trace and don't attract bears

  • K
    Jan. 5, 2022

    Oakwilde Trail Campground

    Half Sunk, Overgrown

    The camp site looks like it was buried in mud from a flood a few years ago. There’s been no maintenance to this camp. The cook stoves are covered, half of the one picnic table was underground. But still, it’s a beautiful and remote spot. The river was running when I was there in January and it was just gorgeous. Looks like there’s really only one usable flat spot to set up a tent. But you can’t have a fire or anything. I didn’t camp just hiked in and checked it out. Dunno if I would try camping here.

  • N
    Sep. 14, 2018

    Heart Bar Campground

    Best off hwy 38

    By far this has got to be the best and largest campground on the 38. First reason is the pricing. At only $21 per night for a single site, this is the best priced campground in the area excluding free yellow post sites. With this price however you get the basics. No showers, no rv dump station, just water from the pipe, toilets, picnic tables, fire ring, and a bear box. can’t complain about that though.

    second reason; there are many many sites to choose from. this camp ground has several loops that each contain roughly 20 campsites, sometimes more. on any given day you should be able to drive up, though a reservation is definitely still recommended.

    3rd; the location. Topography-wise this camp sits right over a small meadow that boarders the San Gorgonio wilderness. it sits higher above the highway and displaces sound nicely. this spot is excellent for wildlife viewing and entry to the wilderness for hiking and exploring. The campground is also littered with tall standing pines and even some massive junipers, providing ample shade. You can’t help but feel like your are elsewhere like the Eastern Sierra with the dry desert winds the blow in and chill on the mountains and the smell of the sage brush. This campground is only about 20 min out from big bear lake as well, and does have cell reception (unfortunately).

    Highly recommend sites 32, 37, 47, 58, or 24 & 49 which are both double sites. This was due to their more isolated positioning to other spots, shade, flat ground, and proximity to bathrooms and the beautiful little meadow where deer graze in the evenings. happy trails.

  • Kayla H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 9, 2019

    Sawtooth Canyon Campground

    Desolate, Beautiful rock formations, great hiking

    This campsite is on BLM land, you can stay up to 14 days. There a wide variety of campsites from single to group sites. Restrooms available. Some sites have shaded structures, picnic tables and fire rings. Popular spot for rock climbers, giant rock formations jet out from the ground. Great hiking and awesome spot in spring for some beautiful wild flowers. Would definitely go back in spring or fall months when not too hot.

  • Tony  C.
    Jun. 24, 2019

    Henninger Flat - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

    Great local campsite

    I recently moved to WA from Los Angeles so this review is legit 😁 This was and still continues to be one of my favorite campsite close to Los Angeles, I have plenty of fond memories with close friends at this site. It’s completely exposed all the way to the top, a well worth 3 mile uphill hike to three different camp sites. My favorite is the middle site where you get a clear view of the city, beautiful views at night. They say there’s no water but there is, there’s a spout located by the restroom close to the museum, you’ll have to treat it before using (but don’t take my word for it, they tend to shut it off so take plenty of water for your time there and check it out if you need more) If you continue past the middle campsite to the upper site, you’ll have plenty of space for tents and hammocks just no view due to the trees on the edge. If you continue on that trail for another 3 miles i believe, you’ll get to idlehour campground. It’s a small site right next to a creek, you can continue on to Mt Lowe campground and inspiration point. Back to Henninger, plenty of trees for hammocks and sometimes they have firewood collected. At the museum you can buy soda cans so take some change. Hauling a 24 pack of cold Modelos in my pack was not fun at all, but boy did they taste good at the top hahaha. Bugs can get annoying so carry some bug spray, hang your food and PACK IT OUT!!! Leave no trace behind.


Guide to Wrightwood

Nestled in the scenic San Gabriel Mountains, Wrightwood, California, offers a variety of tent camping options that cater to outdoor enthusiasts looking for adventure and tranquility.

Explore Scenic Trails and Natural Wonders

  • Experience the beauty of the outdoors at Manker Campground, where you can enjoy hiking trails that lead to breathtaking views and lush forests.
  • The Little Jimmy Trail Campground provides access to the Pacific Crest Trail, perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in nature while enjoying a peaceful hike.
  • For a more secluded experience, visit Glenn Trail Camp Campground, where you can hike and bike along scenic routes while soaking in the serene environment.

Campground Amenities for Comfort and Convenience

  • Cooper Canyon Trail Campground features picnic tables and toilets, making it a comfortable spot for families and groups.
  • At Jackson Flats, you'll find flush toilets and drinking water, ensuring a more convenient camping experience.
  • The well-reviewed Peavine Campground offers essential amenities like picnic tables and toilets, perfect for a hassle-free stay.

Unique Features and Activities

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Wrightwood, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Wrightwood, CA is Manker Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 13 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Wrightwood, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 68 tent camping locations near Wrightwood, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.