We all love roasting marshmallows over a campfire—and you can often still do that while cabin camping in Yermo. Finding a cozy cabin in California has never been easier. You're sure to find the perfect cabin for your California cabin camping excursion.
Calico is an old West mining town that has been around since 1881 and was abandoned in the mid-1890s after silver lost its value. The town that once gave miners a good living lost its hustle and became a “ghost town.”
Walter Knott purchased Calico in the 1950’s architecturally restoring all but the five original buildings to look as they did in the 1880’s. Calico received State Historical Landmark 782 and in 2005 was proclaimed by then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to be California’s Silver Rush Ghost Town.
Today, Calico is part of the San Bernardino County Regional Parks system, which is visited by people from across the country and from all over the world. Along with its history and attractions, Calico Ghost Town has shops, restaurants and offers camping, hiking and off-roading.
North Shore Campground is a quiet place to camp, away from the hustle and bustle of nearby cities. The campground is nestled among Southern California's pine-covered mountains, providing ample opportunity for outdoor relaxation and recreation.
The North Shore National Recreation Trail connects the campground with Papoose Lake (trail is not accessible). The 1.7-mile trail descends through a mixed conifer forest and settles along Little Bear Creek, providing scenic views of the surrounding area. Please note, nearby Lake Arrowhead is a private lake.
The campground is located 23 miles northeast of San Bernardino in the San Bernardino National Forest. It is about 3 miles from the community of Lake Arrowhead. Settled in an oak woodland environment, the campground is close to many outdoor amenities. Lake Arowhead is a private lake, no access available.
Lake Gregory is located 40 minute away and offers fishing, boat rentals and a waterslide park. Lake Arrowhead is a private lake, no public access.
Rules & Reservation Policies As you make travel plans that include reservations on Recreation.gov, there are standard policies that apply to most locations of which you should be aware. Do keep in mind, however, that there are many exceptions, so it is best to review reservation information listed on individual facility pages for those policies and procedures that pertain to your specific locations. Any location or activity requiring a permit or lottery will have unique requirements and policies. Please check individual facility pages for pertinent information for those sites. Booking Window For most locations, you can reserve six months in advance of your stay for individual sites and 12 months in advance for group sites. There are some exceptions, so it is best to check with each facility. Change and Cancellation Policies and Fees Overnight and Day Use Facilities: To ensure fairness, reservation arrival or departure dates may not be changed beyond the booking window until 18 days after booking the reservation. Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount. You can cancel or change reservations through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Tours & Tickets: You may request changes to tour dates at no cost before the arrival date. If you cancel before your tour date, you may be eligible for a refund. Cancellation fees apply. Please check the tour facility description details page for cancellation policies. Permits: Varies by location. Please check the permit details for the permit location. Late Cancellations Overnight and Day Use Facilities: Late cancellations are those cancelled between 12:01 a.m. (Eastern) on the day before arrival and check out time on the day after arrival. Individual Campsites: If a customer cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival they will be charged a $10.00 service fee and will also forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a single night's reservation will forfeit the entire use fee but no cancellation fee will apply. Cabins / Lookouts: Customers will be charged a $10.00 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee if a cabin or lookout reservation is cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee. Group Facility: If a customer cancels a group overnight facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date they will be charged the $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee. Group Day Use Area: If a customer cancels a group day use facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date, they will forfeit the total day use fee with no service fee charge. No-Shows Camping / Day Use: A camping no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Reserved campsites and group overnight facilities will be held until check-out time on the day following your scheduled arrival. Group day-use facilities will be held until check-in time on your scheduled arrival date. If a customer does not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by the times listed under "Late Cancellations" above, the customer may be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit use fees. Tours: A tour or ticket no-show is one who does not cancel a ticket before arrival and does not arrive for the tour. Tour no-shows are not entitled to a refund. Refunds Customers must request refunds no later than 14 days after the scheduled departure date. Recreation.gov will not grant refund requests after 14 days of departure. Reservation Fee: For some facilities, tours or permits an additional reservation fee is charged. For some overnight and day-use facilities, an additional non-refundable reservation fee may apply. The non-refundable reservation fee for tours and tickets is $1.00. The non-refundable reservation fee for permits varies by location. Refunds for Bankcard Purchases: Refunds for bank card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank card. Refunds for Check or Cash Purchases: Refunds for Recreation.gov payments made by check or money order, and cash payments at selected campgrounds will be issued a check refund. A refund will be processed within 30 days of receipt and approval. Please Note: Refund requests made during or after departure can only be processed when approved by the facility management staff based upon local policy. Refunds for Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team will attempt to notify users and offer alternate dates (as appropriate). If this is not possible, reservations will be cancelled and all fees paid will be refunded. Reservation fees for free tickets are non-refundable in the event of an emergency closure. Recreation.gov Billing Information Reservation transaction will appear on customer's credit card statements as "Recreation.gov 877-444-6777." Changes to Policies and Procedures Recreation.gov reserves the right, when necessary, to modify reservation policies. These policies were last updated July
$29 - $58 / night
A warm welcome is waiting for you at Lone Wolf Colony. We are a multi-use facility located at a 3,000 foot elevation in Apple Valley, California. Lone Wolf Colony has been designated a Historical Landmark in the Town of Apple Valley California.
Mission Statement Lone Wolf Colony supports many deserving charities, while interacting with the community in which we live. We are continuing to see through Sam Caldwell vison in our ever changing times.
This recreation area is part of Mojave River Dam
$3 - $40 / night
The Shady Oasis Kampground is open all year, and provides camp sites for tents and RV's (up to 70 ft. in length), and we also have one-room cabins for rent. The campground office is open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm, except Sunday when we close at 6pm (closed an hour for lunch Mon-Sat).
Located on 160 acres in close proximity to the Deep Creek Hot Springs. Rural property with natural landscapes in the mountains of the high desert. Showers, bathrooms and running water on site, no RV power hookups. Private hot spring rental and glamping tents available. Large group sites available, secluded sites, event venue available. Ziplines on site.
$15 - $119 / night
Durrwood is a 29-acre pristine wilderness nestled in the San Bernardino National Forest, offering an unforgettable outdoor experience. Your group will have exclusive access to all of our amenities, including a comfortable RV for lounging, picnic tables, hammocks, horseshoes, corn hole, and numerous hiking trails starting from the campground. Our property includes an outhouse in form of a porta potty. No Showers.
We are conveniently located just 2 miles from the Santa Ana River, 5 miles from Jenks Lake, and only a 25-minute drive to Big Bear, making Durrwood the perfect private retreat for your group.
Durrwood is the ideal destination for families, company retreats, club meetups, church groups, girls and boy scouts, and any other groups looking to reconnect with nature. Our beautiful surroundings and wide range of activities make us the perfect choice for your next group gathering.
$300 / night
$80 - $200 / night
$100 - $200 / night
Guide
This campground in Barstow has many things to do. Campground has full hookups first off. Next, they have a separate campground area for OHV campers and vehicles. Plenty of trails and some famous rock climbing just behind the hill. The ghost town is awesome to check out, kids love it. Pan for silver, train rides and explore the mines. Even grab a bite to eat with a beer at the saloon. Gets hot in the summer but fall and winter good times to go. This place even has cabin rentals too.
TravelerWe arrived well after dark and the security folks helped us get into our cabin. Very nice staff. We stayed in one of the bunkhouse cabins. It had 2 sets of bunk beds (twin size) and a sofa (futon style) that was about the size of a queen. We had 2 cars and 2 trailers. Plenty of parking and I felt comfortable with our gear being safe outside. Small kitchen was perfect for our needs. We would recommend the cabin and we will definitely visit again to visit the ghost town.
GuideHad a great time exploring the ghost town with my kids. I recommend doing the tour of the mine for a small fee. A lot was still shut down due to the pandemic. Super windy but we opted to stay in one of the small cabins. It was nice and clean. Bathrooms were also clean and well-maintained. It was an overall good, one-night stay vacation!
LegendTalk about good times!! Get dirty as you can and have a blast doing it!! Razrrrr city!! Super cool ghost town, and really family friendly! Clean bathrooms and well maintained. You can fill up your propane here and dump your rig if needed. This place has cool little mining caves and a cool train for kids to ride on. Somethings are locked down due to covid but this place isn’t shy of family fun! Really neat place! Bring your fire wood for a cool fire at night, if you don’t want to camp they do have cabins that are without bathrooms but shelter if you prefer. Also plenty of parking for your vehicles.
TravelerWe stayed here with family who had an RV. At the time, we didn’t so we rented one of the cabins. They have bunks, a bed AC and heat and that’s it. Lol. You have to use the public restrooms and showers. It was raining and super cold when we stayed here but one of the days it cleared up and we walked to Calico ghost town. We had the best time exploring, shopping, eating at the restaurant, panning for gold, touring the mine. Super fun. We also enjoyed some off roading. Bathrooms were clean. Showers are run by quarters and were hot although the windows high above don’t close so the cold air was constantly blowing in. It made for an adventure that my daughter and I will remember for many years. Lol. I’d stay here again. It was fun.
LegendI had always wanted to visit a ghost town so when this came up in our travel path, we had to stop for a night. Located in Yermo, CA, this campground offers over 250 sites although we were about one of 5 campers there on our visit which made it even more ghostly. It is a desert like area with few trees. There was a bathroom with showers nearby, fire ring and hook-ups. Also lots of steep canyon walls and abandoned mine shafts. Since there were hardly any others there, we picked our spot and set up for the evening. I kept wondering when a coyote or some other wild animal was going to show up. The next morning, we wandered into the Ghost Town for some entertainment. We took pictures of the bottle house, mercantile, and many other buildings. There was a shooting show going on that was really cool and the boys enjoyed ice cream on a hot day. I loved the ghost town themed park and would like to visit again one day and explore when we have more time.
Legend
We reserved and camped at this beautiful campground back in July of 2018. It was a great experience. We pulled a 27' Travel Trailer from Livermore, CA and picked out the perfect site #94. It was the furthest RV site north of the campground and we had power, water and sewage. It was a lake front campsite so we had a nice view of the lake right in our "front yard" :-) We had a picnic table and a fire pit for our use.
The fishing was awesome, but I suggest fishing in the mornings before the afternoon winds come in as the weather cools down. We had our kayaks and it is a beautiful lake to kayak. But when it gets windy, know your limits :-)
The campground is close to the Lassen Volcanic National Park. We took a drive there for a visit and it was spectacular.
The campground also has a great store there. It has all the camping necessities. If you are into hiking and biking, this campground has the accommodations for that activity. It also has a kid's park. They also have cabins if you do not want to use a tent or RV.
Traveler
I had to change my reservation three times, and the staff was incredibly helpful. They went above and beyond to give us the easiest possible stay. The campground itself was reasonably clean with a gorgeous view of the desert and mountains. Sites laid out well and most are pull through and accommodate big rigs. Pool, laundry, general store, showers and lavatories. They did not however have the shuttle to the silver mine as advertised (ended with Covid) and the Enterprise rental in Barstow does not “pick you up“ and were rude besides.
TravelerThis Covid summer my family and I took two trips out to the Calico Ghost Town campground. The first was over Fathers day weekend and the second at the end of September. We had a great time despite the over 100 degree weather. Because there are so few people the wildlife is abundant. It was nice to take walks and hike the hills. The night sky is amazing (download the app that tells you what everything is, "star walk 2") your kids may have never seen the stars like this. Lots of places to ride OHV and great shooting in Mule Canyon. Caves to explore in camp and free admission to the ghost town.
Campground could use more trees but the showers and toilets are nice.
A great desert get away! ENJOY and please keep it clean!
Ranger
This was our first time going to this campground and we loved it! It was entirely sold out for both weekend nights, so plan ahead.
We found the campground to be very clean and well-maintained. The toilet facilities were also very clean and did not smell.
The campsites in the area where we were, were spacious and spread out. We liked very much not being on top of one another and appreciated how vast this campground is.
It was incredibly windy when we went in April 2021. In addition to the wind, it was very chilly in the evenings and through the night. Plan accordingly.
T-Mobile signal was poor and Verizon and AT&T cell signals were slightly better.
There are easy to make hikes - meaning not necessarily any specific trails at the campground, but there are plenty of places to explore and wander from the campground. I understand you can also drive a short distance to Trail head hikes which we did not do.
Another review here on The Dyrt states something about a burning man group. When I called the number for the campsite to inquire about this, I was told that there is a large group of people that come here regularly and do their ‘burning man thing’. We really didn’t notice much of a difference between this or any other campsites as far as people/activity other than they have a live DJ who played one night until 2 AM.!
Being that there is no camp host here, you may want to keep that in mind. Although we were in the other loop, we could hear the thumping of the base from their music throughout both evenings.
For a desert getaway, I would highly recommend trying this place out.
TravelerSo this weekend, I got a wild hair up my butt to go camping. Keep in mind I’m 8 months pregnant and kept forgetting everything at my house.
With that said, I tried Silverwood to late and KNEW that it’d be packed. I was a bit disappointed but came across North shore.
It’s a nice little getaway from the hustle bustle with decent shade(depending on site) and relatively cool neighbors (campers).
I will say it’s down the way from a community hospital so you might here some forms of traffic including a rescue helicopter but it’s not an end all.
Again this was not my first choice. We got there and found no showers but they did have running toilets and cool tap water near our site. We totally lucked out and were able to switch with a couple who wanted more privacy and shade.
We eventually stayed on site 4 which was even and open. Our tent (as pictured) was nestled amongst the few trees on our site- only downside was the constant traffic going to and from sites 5/6- a bit of a drag. I felt like it was the prefect spot given the leveled ground and the fact that we had a kid and dog posse.
But let me tell you about the ranger named Shawn. Omg, he’s a character but he’s a good one. Gave him a tip, he tried to help us not spend money unnecessarily on wood and lent us his ax to go collect nearby. Super chill, down to earth guy who was just generally a lover of nature- you could tell.
Again, no showers. A bit of noise, but manageable. Quiet hours are the usual 10-7 but we unfortunately were situated next to a group that violated both times- how can someone go to bed after 10 and manage to wake up before 7 and make noise is beyond me....but it’s also been a while since I knew what having no kids and a dog meant- lol.
Would recommend IF you reserve a decent site. The first one we originally had was 3, super hilly and not leveled. Recommend 4,5,6 if you can and even the one right next to that (assuming it’s 7). Lake is a stones throw away!
Hope that helps!
Legend
Jake from the Dyrt here! I am happy to welcome Camp Durrwood to our site, the location is among the vast forest in California and with almost 30 acres, the perfect spot for a large group looking to enjoy the forest together. Check them out and make sure to leave a review and some photos on the Dyrt!
GuideThere were no trees at all. We were told to wait for a white truck when we got there. No one came. We called the security number and they told us they would be by. We waited about 20 minutes and ended up leaving. The tent sites were gravel. Overall not impressed.
GuideI was here one October where the weather was above 100F during the day. The sites have absolutely no shade or cover, and are just lined up in a row next to each other with no privacy. We ended up choosing to spend more of our time at Owl Canyon (BLM campground nearby) because it was much more secluded, had better views, and offered shade. The advantages to Calico are: bathrooms with showers, water, and dump stations. However we were ok with a primitive site and did not want to feel crowded in.
RangerWe arrived on a Friday night, without reservations. Our first night of van living. Found the security guard who connected us with the ranger. There were plenty of sites to chose from. The ranger then found us a better site for $5 less, The place was quiet, Beautiful sunset. We aren't off-roaders but noticed a lot of ATVs around. Seems like the place to be. There are also mountain bike trails around. In the morning we discovered the Calico Ghost Town attraction right next to the park. In fact entrance to the ghost town is included in the camping fees. The town is an abandoned silver mining town. There's a few historical buildings and mines you can hike around. You can pay for a tour of the mine. Lots of old west quaint shops, and restaurants. We watched a skit of a shoot out preformed in the main square. Spent more time there than planned, it was that fun.
GuideFree admission to Ghost Town with camping reservation. Good fall to spring. Way to hot in summer. No shade. Dusty but that’s expected in an OHV Campground. We just held an outing there with 24 people. Great time!! https://hitched4fun.com/2018/09/15/2018-calico-ghost-town-ca-outing/
ScoutMost of the wet camping spots are very rocky and not level. Bring extra blocks to level your RV. Restrooms were not very clean.
TravelerBut very rock to tent camp on. A ton of RV’s, so the noise was a premium. Great hiking into the mountain and mines.
TravelerThe campsite at Calico Ghost Town is nice with hook ups for RV and spaces for tent camping. Our boys scout troop spent a weekend October. The boys and their families enjoy touring the ghost town. We hiked around the area and on hills during the day. The facility has running water, restrooms and showers.
RangerThere are 253 different sites. There are primitive sites, only electric sites as well as full hook up sites. Section A came with the full hookup, I saw mainly large class A RVs parking there, probably came for a longer time. I took a space in camp B with only electricity, which is enough for me and my Class B. Basically when you drive to the gate, they tell you to go inside and pick a place for yourself, the ranger will come and collect the fee later. I liked that.
The bathrooms and the park is clean, it has paid showers. Park admissions are also included for both days in your nightly camping fee. The town itself has many little tours that they charge extra for. I only tried the train ride. The ranger was around all day and at night, security took over. I visited in February and it was perfect weather to stay outdoors all day, however, in the summer camping, there might be too hot. I did not see many shaded areas.
If you don’t go when there is a big event there it will be peaceful and quiet. It can get crowded and dirty when there are special events going on there, Halloween or New Years Eve.
GuideYou can’t beat having a campsite AND you can enter the ghost town either by foot or drive to the ghost town’s parking lot. Your camping fees include all that. Very cute little town and lots to see.
LegendThis little town is dope for sure... it's off the beaten path and it's one hell of a time boy!
Great for families for sure!!! Bathrooms could be a little improved but over a super dope place with plenty of history and cool stuff to get into!! It's a must you check it out! Stay a night or two and plan ahead because this place is always busy with people and sand toys!!!!
They do have a dump station and a propane area if you need to fill Up your tanks!!
GuideI’d give this a 3 star during COVID but it’s probably closer to a 3.5 star post-COVID if not a 4* for kiddos!
The grounds themselves are OK; not much to look at. The bathrooms were old and a bit dirty. The ghost town is walking distance through a short cut or you can quickly drive over to the parking lot.
I wouldn’t recommended visiting during covid. There were only a few gift shops open. I just wanted to grab an expensive beer and sit outside on one of the patios and that wasn’t an option. Everything from the train to going into the mine was not available. Mostly understandable, but still, it would have been nice if there were socially-distanced, safe food or entertaining options. You can just walk around the town right now.
TravelerIf you have to camp near Barstow, this is a good place for a week-day stay. Calico ghost town was a fun spot for our kids, not too busy on a week day in the spring though I’m sure it can be crazy (and hot) at other times. The campsites were hit or miss. We staid in a tent site which was tiny, right next to all the others, with no trees or vegetation for privacy, and no permanent fire ring or picnic bench. We walked around and some of the other RV sites are bigger and nicer. Classic desert views. I give it 4 stars for access to the ghost town and price.
RangerAs other reviewers mentioned, most of the campground is tucked into a narrow sort of canyon just below the Ghost Town. Sites are tightly packed and simple but the proximity to the ghost town, nearby OHV trails, and the ability to walk up out of the canyon for views make this a great spot. There’s little in the way of privacy but being tucked into the canyon makes it all feel less crowded and more intimate than it otherwise might.
GuideAbsolutely love Calico and Ghost Town! There’s something for everyone. Explore the caves and tunnels, ride off road, visit the ghost town and shops or just hang around the campfire. I always look forward to our annual trips!
TravelerWe came in after dark and were escorted by the ranger to the campsites. It was really nice not having to fumble our way through the dark in a place we didn’t know with an RV. Very friendly, sites were easy to drive into and the location is gorgeous
Cabin camping near Yermo, California offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure and comfort, making it an ideal getaway for nature lovers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Yermo, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Yermo, CA is Calico Ghost Town with a 4-star rating from 44 reviews.
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