USDA Forest Service · California
Nira Campground
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Sites
- 12
- Hookups
- 12 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Max RV length
- 24 ft
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,827 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- SUNSET VALLEY (NFSR 8N09) · bituminous surface treatment · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Los Padres National Forest
- Phone
- 805 434 1996
- Activities
- Biking, Camping
About
Overview
Nira Campground is a beautiful site covered in oak trees and located along Manzana Creek. Whether you come to cast a line in the river, camp and relax, ride horses, mountain bike or hike, Nira offers a scenic location with a variety of recreation activities.
Recreation
Along with hiking, mountain biking, fishing and swimming, Nira Campground is a great starting point for backpacking and deer hunting expeditions into the San Rafael Wilderness. Located on Manzana Creek just upstream from the mouth of Davy Brown Creek, a trailhead provides access for various trails up and down Manzana Creek that enter the San Rafael Wilderness.
Facilities
While tent camping is best enjoyed in this cozy campground, there is room for small RVs under 20 feet. Nira has 12 campsites, each site includes a picnic table, barbecue grill and/or a fire ring. Sites 1-3 are tent and car camping sites only (no RVs due to size restrictions). There is a vault toilet in the campground. There is no drinking water at this site.
Natural Features
Nira Campground is surrounded and shaded by oak tree- covered mountains. Whether you're a beginner in the art of birdwatching, or an experienced birder, Nira will not disappoint. A bounty of birds such as king-fishers, juncos, Stellar jays, white-breasted nuthatches, warblers and many more flourish in this section of the Los Padres National Forest.
Nearby Attractions
The Manzana River runs through the campground where swimming and fishing are favorite activities. The trailhead for San Rafael Wilderness is easily accessible. Los Olivios, Santa Ynez, Solvang and Buelton are all within a one hour's drive.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 64° | 45° | 34° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| February | 62° | 43° | 30° | 82° | 1 of 11 |
| March | 64° | 45° | 31° | 92° | 1 of 11 |
| April | 70° | 49° | 38° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| May | 78° | 55° | 45° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 87° | 62° | 48° | 108° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 92° | 70° | 60° | 104° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 92° | 69° | 60° | 106° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 86° | 64° | 51° | 100° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 81° | 57° | 42° | 97° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 71° | 50° | 38° | 86° | 0 of 10 |
| December | 66° | 45° | 32° | 80° | 0 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
- Davy Brown Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 13 sites
- Mt. Figueroa Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 34 sites
- Bates Canyon · USDA Forest Service · 13 mi
- Aliso Park Campground · USDA Forest Service · 13 mi
- Cachuma Lake Recreation Area Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 14 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.