Los Angeles is full of special pockets of nature, tucked away high in the mountains or along the coast. So when we put together a guide highlighting some of the city's best campsites, in the order they come, we asked our readers to share their favorites, too.
What we received were notes from nature lovers waxing poetic about wildflowers and wildlife, and expressing their desire to escape the bustle of the city. As one reader put it, camping is “the ultimate escape from the maddening machinations of our urban quotidian.”
Below we've rounded up some of our favorite responses.
Reader Jan Rasmussen and her husband love visiting Table Mountain, especially during the Fourth of July, to escape the noise of the fireworks that go off in Los Angeles.
(Jan Rasmussen)
A relaxing spot with great views of the Antelope Valley.
Campground: Table Mountain
Where is? Angeles National Forest, near Wrightwood
Why is this campsite your favorite?Some sites can be reserved, but many sites are first-come, first-serve and the campground is so large that you are likely to find a spot. We camped there over the 4th of July weekend and it was not crowded. The campground is mostly on top of a mountain with great views of the Antelope Valley. There is a trail around the campground.”
What is your favorite memory of this campsite?“Table Mountain is our favorite place to camp with the dog and get him out of the city, away from the noise of the Fourth of July fireworks. One time when we were out, we saw a bobcat running down the street. Plus, it’s a quiet, relaxing place.”
Anything else you would like to add?When we come home, we always stop at Evergreen Cafe & Racoon Saloon in Wrightwood. There is a dog-friendly patio and the food and service are great.”
— Jan Rasmussen, Lakewood
Reader Scott Pansky's kids enjoy ziplining and the ropes course among many other activities at Ventura Ranch KOA in Santa Paula.
(Scott Pansky)
The Disneyland of camping
Campground: Rancho Ventura KOA
Where is? 7400 Pine Grove Road, Santa Paula
Why is this campsite your favorite?Located in Santa Paula and just a short drive to or from Ojai, this campground is unlike any other we have ever visited. You can tell a lot of thought went into the development of this campground. This location can accommodate any type of camper. For our family, it has become a home away from home and we try to visit whenever we can to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The best part is that it is less than an hour away for us and we feel like we are somewhere else.
From luxury cabins with Wi-Fi, TVs, showers, air conditioning, gas BBQs, and traditional fire pits, this site offers glamping at its finest. Meanwhile, it also features traditional campsites, tipis, and RV sites. Recreation options go far beyond your average campsite, from a resort-style pool, zipline and ropes course, a rock climbing tower, a jumping pillow, numerous trails and a Bigfoot hike, a tie-dye station, and much more. However, just minutes away you also have access to restaurants and grocery stores. Truly an ideal experience that no one will forget.
What is your favorite memory of this campsite?One of the activities we did was build foam rockets and launch them around the campsite with an air compressor. From sitting on the deck behind our cabin, having a family barbecue, to sharing stories around the campfire, our kids have family stories that will last a lifetime.”
—Scott Pansky, Tarzana
The sunset view from nearby Mount Lowe, which campers can reach by hiking from the trailhead campground.
(Mitchell Miller)
A walk full of history to a great campsite.
Campground: Mount Lowe Trail Camp
Where is it located? Approximately a 5 mile hike to the location in the Angeles National Forest.
Why is this campsite your favorite? “The trip along the Mount Lowe Highway is [a] “Step back in history, when early 20th-century Angelenos took the Mt. Lowe Railroad up the San Gabriels to the resorts of Echo Mountain and Mount Lowe. As you ascend from Altadena through the chaparral hills and eventually into the pine forests, you'll get a thorough history lesson from the interpretive signs along the way. Once you reach Trail Camp, explore the old foundations of the Alpine Tavern and listen to the birds and the creek. Hopefully, you'll have time and energy to continue up Mt. Lowe to watch a beautiful sunset.”
What is your favorite memory of this campsite? “Watching the stars and eating mango candy.”
— Mitchell Miller, Los Angeles
Reader Tommy Bui enjoyed the solitude offered by Hoegees Trail Camp, a 2.2-mile hiking site, when he visited during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Tommy Bui)
A true escape into nature.
Campground: Hoegees Trail Campground (temporarily closed starting in July)
Where is? Angeles National Forest, via a 2.2 mile hike in
Why is this campsite your favorite? “All the amenities and attractive features you can imagine. Ample foliage, scenic and well-groomed trails, and the peace and solitude you seek. The campground has plenty of space and the vegetation is lush and otherworldly enough to compel you to take refuge full-time in nature.”
What is your favorite memory of this campsite? “It was during the pandemic and people were clamoring for safe, outdoor activities. I decided to step out of my own comfort level and gear up for a weekend in the woods. With a tattered map and a sense of adventure galore, I was the only entity there for the entire weekend. With the exception of the wildlife that came sniffing around my tent around midnight. It was a momentous, adrenaline-filled experience as I had never felt so close to nature before. I could smell their coyote breath.”
— Tommy Bui, Pacoima
Reader Kurt Star and his children enjoyed the pale lavender bushes and hoary-leaf ceanothus blooming near the Soldier Creek Trail near Crystal Lake Campground.
(Kurt Star)
Where wildflowers bloom the longest
Campground: Crystal Lake Recreation Area Campground
Where is? North of Azusa, off Highway 39
Why is this campsite your favorite? “It’s a beautiful mix of pine and oak forest. There are also wonderful riparian areas, although there isn’t much surface water. It’s big, so it’s a good bet. I was there a couple of weeks ago. The ceanothus flowers were stunning. The monkey flower, deer grass, penstemon and lupines were also in full bloom. The wildflowers last longer and start blooming later the higher you go. It’s very quiet at certain times of the day. It’s a completely different world than in the valley.”
What is your favorite memory of this campsite? “On my last trip, I took my children to the top, and we walked around to a corner and found walls of color: light blue from California lilacs and violet, blue from lupines, with the gray walls of the mountains in the background. There was a very strong aroma of honey everywhere.”
— Kurt's Star, Covina
