USDA Forest Service · California
Falcon Group
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Sites
- 3
- Hookups
- 3 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 3,428 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 4
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T weak · Verizon good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Cleveland National Forest
- Nearest town
- LAKE ELSINORE
- Address
- LAKE ELSINORE, CA
- Phone
- 951-736-1811
- Activities
- Biking, Camping, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Photography, Scenic Drive, Star Gazing, Wilderness, Wildlife Viewing
3 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Falcon Group Campground has three individual group campsites just off the scenic Ortega Highway in Southern California, which connects San Juan Capistrano and Temecula Valley Highway.
The pleasant climate, scenery, trail system and convenient location, make this a popular destination for groups from Los Angeles and San Diego. Hiking is especially popular among campers.
Recreation
Hikers of any level can find trails that challenge and accommodate their recreational goals around the campground. Among them are the Falcon Trail, a 1.4-mile easy trail that connects to the campground, and Trabuco Canyon Trail, which provides scenic 6.8-mile hike into the backcountry.
The San Juan Trial, which is popular with mountain bikers, has a trailhead at Blue Jay campground, adjacent from Falcon Group Campground. The trail climbs a very steep set of stacked switchbacks from the floor of Hot Springs Canyon and traverses briefly before steeply ascending a ridge toward Sugarloaf Mountain.
There are also many ideal picnic spots and scenic overlooks along Ortega Highway.
Facilities
There are three individual campsites within the group campground. Lupine can hold 40 people and eight vehicles, Sage can hold 30 people and six vehicles, and Yarrow can hold 70 people and 10 vehicles. The facility is adjacent to Blue Jay Campground, which has first-come, first-served individual sites.
Natural Features
The campground sits at an elevation of 3,300 ft. off the Ortega Highway scenic drive in the Santa Ana Mountains, a route that offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains, valleys and forest. The area lies in a mixed forest and chaparral ecosystem and is inhabited by a variety of birds, plants and wildlife.
Nearby Attractions
The closest town is Lake Elsinore, which has various shops, restaurants and recreation opportunities.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 58° | 39° | 28° | 79° | 3 of 11 |
| February | 57° | 39° | 23° | 80° | 3 of 11 |
| March | 58° | 42° | 29° | 84° | 2 of 11 |
| April | 65° | 45° | 35° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| May | 69° | 51° | 42° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 78° | 56° | 49° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 85° | 62° | 55° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 85° | 62° | 58° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 81° | 59° | 53° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 75° | 51° | 39° | 89° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 68° | 45° | 32° | 82° | 0 of 10 |
| December | 61° | 40° | 30° | 73° | 3 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Blue Jay Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- El Cariso Campground · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
- Upper San Juan Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi
- O'Neill Regional Park Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 8 mi · 92 sites
- Tenaja Campground · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.