USDA Forest Service · California
Mt. Pinos Campground
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Sites
- 19
- Hookups
- 19 no hookups
- Season
- May 15 to October 31
- Max RV length
- 40 ft
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 7,484 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 2
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T good · Verizon good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- MCGILL CG. (NFSR 9N08) · bituminous surface treatment · high degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Los Padres National Forest
- Phone
- 805 434 1996
- Activities
- Biking, Camping
About
Overview
Mount Pinos or in the Native American Chumash language, "Iwihinmu," was considered to be the center of the world, the point where everything was in balance. At 7,800 feet, the campground, bursting with views of mountains and valleys, is an ideal base for several biking and hiking trails. The dark and clear night skies make this a picture-perfect stargazing setting.
Recreation
Ride your bicycle to the top of Mount Pinos or hike the Mount Pinos Trail, McGill exploration trail, or enjoy the views of the valleys below from your campsite.
Mount Pinos is considered to be one of the best star gazing locations in California due to its dark skies, extremely low light pollution and frequently clear skies. It is a favorite place for amateur astronomers. On a clear day, you can see the entire San Joaquin Valley and the surrounding mountain ranges.
Facilities
This seasonal campground is open daily, May through November. There are 19 single campsites that include picnic tables and fire rings. Fires are allowed only in designated fire rings. RVs over 22 ft. and trailers are not recommended. There are two vault toilets. You should plan to be completely self-sustainable for the duration of your trip. There is no potable water (drinking water) or electricity onsite. There is also no dump station.
Natural Features
Along with views of the Lockwood Valley and Frazier Mountain, Mt. Pinos Campground is best appreciated by camping enthusiasts who prefer being nestled within the shaded enclave of Jeffery pines that dominate the scenery.
Nearby Attractions
Hiking trails, biking, fishing and swimming are all within 30 minutes of the campground. Restaurants, gas and shopping are within 15 miles at Pine Mountain Club or 19 miles in Frazier Park. Lake of the Woods and Frazier Park are about 10 miles to the east. Lockwood Valley and Cuddy Valley are located at the base of Mt. Pinos.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 46° | 30° | 20° | 65° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 45° | 28° | 12° | 67° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 46° | 29° | 9° | 73° | 9 of 11 |
| April | 55° | 33° | 22° | 70° | 10 of 11 |
| May | 64° | 41° | 28° | 76° | 4 of 11 |
| June | 76° | 50° | 31° | 88° | 1 of 11 |
| July | 81° | 58° | 47° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 78° | 57° | 48° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 72° | 51° | 39° | 79° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 65° | 43° | 27° | 77° | 2 of 10 |
| November | 55° | 35° | 23° | 68° | 6 of 10 |
| December | 49° | 32° | 19° | 61° | 8 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
- Mcgill Campground and Group Campground · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi · 80 sites
- Chula Vista · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Campo Alto Campground · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 19 sites
- Chuchupate Campground · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 29 sites
- Toad Springs · USDA Forest Service · 8 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.