Thorn Meadows Campground
Jeffrey Pines and shaded camping area, high clearance vehicles recommended. Elevation: 5,000 feet. Facilities: 1 Pipe corral, No piped water, 4 stoves, 4 tables and 1 toilet. Location: Located at end of the spur road, 9 miles south of Lockwood Valley and 23 miles west of Frazier Park. Day hiking in the Thorn Point area. Trail distance: 3.46 miles. Thorn Point is located in the Sespe Wilderness, within the Los Padres National Forest. About 20 miles southwest of Frazier Park, 90 miles from Los Angeles. This peak has a Lookout tower is very weathered has seen better days, but the tower can still be accessed via a small ladder.
More like this: first-come in California · free in California · tent only in California
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | No fees required to camp |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Temporarily closed |
| Season | May to December |
| Forest | Los Padres National Forest |
| Fees | No fees required to camp |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 34.6269° N, 119.1131° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Ojai Valley Surplus ↗ | 14.2 mi |
| Dump station | Lake Casitas Recreation Area ↗ | 19.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | Harder RV Storage ↗ | 39.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 1.3 miFishbowls Trailhead - 21W05 ↗Trailhead
- 3.5 miJohnston Ridge Trailhead - 20W12 ↗Trailhead
- 7.5 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miThorn Point3.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.5 miCedar Creek ↗5.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.9 miFishbowls ↗7.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.8 miHalfmoon Trail OHV #1323.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, 4WD
- 3 miFishbowls Campground Spur0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.5 miJohnston Ridge ↗9.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 1.9 miFishbowls Trailhead - 21W05 ↗Los Padres National Forest · Season May to December
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Sespe Wilderness.
- inSespe Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 219,209 acres
- 9.1 miChumash Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 37,793 acres
- 13.5 miMatilija Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 29,207 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Thacher School Historic DistrictHistoric district · Ojai · 11.9 mi
- Charles M. Pratt HouseBuilding · Ojai · 14 mi
- Isis TheaterBuilding · Ojai · 14.5 mi
Guidebooks for California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Thorn Meadows Campground?
No. Thorn Meadows Campground is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Thorn Meadows Campground?
Nothing. Thorn Meadows Campground is listed as free. No fees required to camp
Source: Forest Service
Is Thorn Meadows Campground open right now?
Temporarily closed as of Oct 26, 2026. Season May to December.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Thorn Meadows Campground?
Thorn Meadows Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Thorn Meadows Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Middle Lion Campground (6.1 mi, partly first-come), Rose Valley Campground (7.6 mi), and Goldhill Camping Area (11.3 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby