USDA Forest Service · California
Burnt Rancheria
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Sites
- 124
- Hookups
- 56 no hookups
- Season
- April 25 to October 18
- Max RV length
- 50 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 5,948 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · T-Mobile good · AT&T good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- BURNT RANCHERIA CG (NFSR 15S01) · asphalt · high degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Cleveland National Forest
- Nearest town
- Mt. Laguna
- Address
- Mile 23, Sunrise Hwy, Mt. Laguna, CA, 91948
- Phone
- 619-473-0120
- Activities
- Amphitheater, Camping, Educational Programs, Ranger Station
107 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Burnt Rancheria Campground is located 50 miles east of San Diego at the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area in Southern California, right off the Sunrise Scenic Byway.
Campers can enjoy hiking, viewing unique birds and wildlife and enjoying cooler temperatures at this mountain facility in Cleveland National Forest, open from mid-April through October.
Recreation
Day hiking and picnicking are most popular at Burnt Rancheria. The facility provides easy access to a segment of the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,650-mile national scenic trail that runs from Mexico to Canada. Hiking and horseback riding are allowed on the trail. Biking is not allowed on any portion of the Pacific Crest Trail.
A short hike to the nearby Desert View Picnic Site provides visitors with a bird's-eye view of the desert 6,000 feet below. On most days, the Salton Sea is clearly visible to the southeast. Restrooms and potable water are available.
Families with children will enjoy activities, campfire programs and guided hikes available during summer. In addition to the guided hikes, a visitor might take the self-guided interpretive trail hike; brochures are available from the camp host.
Campers can also get a glimpse of the amazing night sky at "star parties" organized by the San Diego State University Observatory. These gatherings are conducted on most Saturday evenings during the summer months (schedule can be obtained at the Visitor Information Center on Laguna Mountain or by calling 619-473-8547).
Facilities
Burnt Rancheria is a large campground with several loops of campsites. Each site has a table and campfire ring. There are no hookups or dump station for RVs; the nearest is located at the Buckman Springs Rest Area, 4 miles east of Pine Valley on I-8.
The campground is equipped with restrooms and coin-operated showers (showers open only during reservation season). Firewood is available for purchase from the campground host.
Natural Features
Pines and oaks abound throughout the campground, which sits at an elevation of 6,000 ft. The site is heavily wooded and surrounded by an open oak grove with spectacular desert views.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (619) 354-8776.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 51° | 35° | 23° | 66° | 7 of 11 |
| February | 51° | 33° | 20° | 70° | 10 of 11 |
| March | 53° | 35° | 23° | 82° | 7 of 11 |
| April | 62° | 38° | 27° | 79° | 3 of 11 |
| May | 70° | 44° | 34° | 83° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 82° | 52° | 40° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 88° | 59° | 47° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 85° | 59° | 50° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 80° | 55° | 44° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 70° | 47° | 35° | 84° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 62° | 42° | 28° | 72° | 2 of 10 |
| December | 54° | 35° | 21° | 68° | 7 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
- Wooded Hill Group · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 1 sites
- Horse Heaven Group · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 3 sites
- Laguna · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 97 sites
- El Prado Group · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 5 sites
- Cibbets Flat Campground · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.