Campsite Atlas
Menu
U.S. Forest Service · Los Padres National Forest

Mt. Pinos Campground

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. 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.

Reservable19 sitesAccessibility info
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Mt Pinos Campground Site 5
Photo via Recreation.gov

Campsites

Standard, no hookups19
Total19

Amenities & rules

Pets allowedCampfires allowedMax vehicle length 40 ftRVs & trailersTents

Compiled from site-level records; individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Getting there

Take I-5 north to Frazier Mountain Park Road exit. Go west on Frazier Mountain Park Road for 7 miles to the intersection of Lockwood Valley Rd. Keep right and proceed on Cuddy Valley Road. Continue 5 miles to the "Y" in the road and veer left. Proceed 7 more miles past the first snow and second snow gate past McGill Campground.

Campgrounds nearby

Data source: Recreation.gov RIDB, retrieved August 30, 2026. The Campsite Atlas is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Recreation.gov or any federal agency. Always confirm critical details on the official Recreation.gov page before you travel.