Blue Jay Campground
Cal Trans continues to perform highway-widening work on SR-74 Ortega Highway with periodic nightly closures. Located approximately 4 miles off Hwy 74 (Ortega) on the North Main Divide Road, this campsite has 50 available sites with a varying distance apart for a true "wilderness" feel. Amenities include trash cans, fire pits, grills, vaulted toilets, and plenty of local trails for hiking, biking and equestrian.
More like this: first-come in California · tent only in California
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | $20/Night for single unit and $5/Night for extra vehicle |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Temporarily closed |
| Forest | Cleveland National Forest |
| Booking | No reservations. |
| Fees | $20/Night for single unit and $5/Night for extra vehicle |
| Rules | Vehicles 22 ft. max. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 33.6528° N, 117.4497° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedNorth Arrowhead Pile Plan Rx
46 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 8.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sportsman's Warehouse ↗ | 12.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Camping World ↗ | 17.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Blue Jay Campground Santa Ana Mountains
Worth a stop
- 2.1 mi
- 2.4 mi
- 5 miHotsprings Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 7.6 miWildomar Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miSan Juan ↗11.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miFalcon1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.9 miViejo Tie1.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.1 miChiquito ↗6.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.4 miTrabuco Canyon4.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.4 miLos Pinos ↗8.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.1 miBlue Jay Trailhead ↗Cleveland National Forest
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
San Mateo Canyon Wilderness begins about 3.4 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 3.4 miSan Mateo Canyon Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 39,412 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
Historic landmarks nearby
%2C_Riverside%2C_ca.1910_(CHS-5259).jpg/960px-Exterior_view_of_the_Frank_Miller's_Glenwood_Mission_Inn_(hotel)%2C_Riverside%2C_ca.1910_(CHS-5259).jpg)
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 Blue Jay Campground?
No. Blue Jay Campground is first-come, first-served. No reservations. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Blue Jay Campground?
$20/Night for single unit and $5/Night for extra vehicle
Source: Forest Service
Is Blue Jay Campground open right now?
Temporarily closed as of Oct 26, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Blue Jay Campground have?
51 sites.
Source: Forest Service
Can I bring an RV to Blue Jay Campground?
Blue Jay Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Blue Jay Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Falcon Group (0.6 mi), Wildomar Campground (7.9 mi, first-come), and Dripping Springs Campground (30.5 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby