Campo Alto Campground

Show on map 805-434-1996

Los Padres Fire Use and Firearm Restrictions

Prohibits building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, on the Los Padres National Forest System lands, except in the Designated Campfire Use Sites. Reference the sites listed in Exhibit A.
NOTE: Only persons with a valid CA Campfire Permit are exempt from this Order and may use one of the following: portable lanterns, or stoves that uses gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel within the Los Padres National Forest.
Discharging a firearm, air rifle, or gas gun, except in the authorized public shooting ranges: Winchester Canyon Gun Club and Ojai Valley Gun Club

FOREST ORDER NO. 05-07-00-26-05
USDA FOREST SERVICE
LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST

FIRE USE RESTRICTIONS

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a), and to provide for public safety and
protect natural resources, the following acts are prohibited within Los Padres National Forest.
This Order is effective from June 04, 2026, through January 31, 2027.

Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, except in the
Designated Campfire Use Sites listed in Exhibit A. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(a).
Discharging a firearm, air rifle, or gas gun, except in the authorized public shooting
ranges listed below. 36 C.F.R § 261.58(m).
a. Winchester Canyon Gun Club
b. Ojai Valley Gun Club

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

Persons with a valid California Campfire Permit are not exempt from this Order.
However, persons with a valid California Campfire permit may use portable lanterns or
stoves using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel within the Los Padres
National Forest.
Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire-fighting
force in the performance of an official duty.
Persons hunting during the open hunting season as specified by the laws of the State
of California, and possessing a valid California hunting license, may discharge a
firearm at a legal game bird or mammal.

This prohibition is in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 C.F.R. Part 261, Subpart A.

A violation of this prohibition is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual
or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.
16 U.S.C. § 551 and 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.

Executed at Solvang, California this 3rd day of June 2026.
Jeanne E. Dawson
Deputy Forest Supervisor
Los Padres National Forest

Ojai Ranger District
Holiday Group Campground
Middle Lion Campground
Pine Mountain Campground
Reyes Peak Campground
Rose Valley Campground
Wheeler Gorge Campground

Santa Lucia Ranger District
American Canyon Campground
Baja Campground
Bates Canyon Campground
Brookshire Campground
Buck Spring Campground
Cerro Alto Campground
Cumbre Day Use Area
Davy Brown Campground
Figueroa Campground
Friis Campground
Hi Mountain Campground
Horseshoe Spring Campground
La Panza Campground
Miranda Pine Campground
Navajo Flat Campground / Staging Area
Nira Campground
Pino Alto Day Use Area
Paradise Campground
Wagon Flat Campground

Mount Pinos Ranger District
Aliso Park Campground
Ballinger Campground
Caballo Campground
Campo Alto Campground
Chuchupate Campground
Chula Vista Campground
Dutchman Campground
Halfmoon Campground
Kings Camp Campground
Marian Campground
McGill Campground
McGill Group Campground
Mt. Pinos Campground
Pine Springs Campground
Reyes Creek Campground
Toad Springs Campground
Valle Vista Campground

Santa Barbara Ranger District
Falls Day Use Area
Fremont Campground
Live Oak Day Use Area
Los Prietos Campground
Lower Oso Day Use Area
Paradise Campground
Red Rock Day Use Area
Sage Hill Campground
Upper Oso Campground
White Rock Day Use Area
Lower Caliente (Rock Camp)
P-Bar Flat Campground
Middle Santa Ynez Campground
First Crossing Day Use Area

Overview

Tucked away high atop the Cerro Noroeste, you'll find solitude, serenity and unsurpassed scenery as you lose yourself in a pleasant grove of Jeffrey pines at Campo Alto Campground. Campsites are spacious, the air is filled with a pine-sweet scent, and you will enjoy end-of-the-road privacy. Invigorated by the fresh air, your inner hiker will hunger to head out on the Vincent Tumameit Trailhead to enjoy the scenic mountain vistas. Do your best to leave this natural setting just as you found it. The campsites have no barriers to block your view, so most modest sized RVs, and all tent campers fit well here.

Recreation

Campo Alto Campground is best appreciated by pristine camping enthusiasts who prefer to leave the hurried life behind. Hiking into the Chumash Wilderness by day, and star gazing by night are the chosen methods of decompressing.

Facilities

This seasonal campground is open daily, May - November. There are 15 single campsites that include picnic tables and fire rings, and two group campsites. Two toilets are located near the campsites. You should plan to be completely self-sustainable for the duration of your trip. There is no potable water or electricity onsite. There is no dump station. Please bring garbage bags as this facility is "Pack it in. Pack it out."

Natural Features

Located at 8,250 f.t, the campground is shaded by a thick blanket of Jeffrey pine. Great views of the the Carrizo Plain to the north, Cuyama Valley, Quatal and Apache Canyons to the west, as well as views of the San Joaquin valley to the east and Lockwood Valley and Sespe ranges to the south, are also some prevalent attributes of this little piece of heaven.

Nearby Attractions

Hiking trails, biking, fishing and swimming are accessed within 30 minutes. Restaurants, gas and shopping within 15 miles at Pine Mountain Club or 25 miles in Frazier Park.

Camp site features

Across 19 camp sites:

Picnic table: all 19 sites
Pets allowed: all 19 sites
Group sites: 2 of 19 sites
Longest rig: 40 ft
Largest party: 70 people

Directions

Located off Mil Potrero Highway, approximately 3 miles west of Pine Mountain Club. On Forest Road 9N27. From I-5 take Frazier Park Mountain Park Rd in Lebec. Go west 10 miles to Mil Potrero Rd and make a right. Turn left at the Mil Potrero Ranger station (Cerro Noroeste Rd-Forest Road 9N27) and proceed 6 miles to the end. The campground is at the top of My Abel. GPS: 34.8314, -119.2095

Stay Limit

Check in from 3 PM, check out by 12 PM.

Reviews

47 reviews

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 stars

Sarah-Jane O

Loop:Loop 1

Site:

Reviewed 14 days ago

I really like this campground for the layout, views and access to toilets. However Site 1 Loop 1 is advertised as accessible for a trailer. This is not correct as, wooden posts have been installed preventing access to the campsite table and firepit. The only place to park a truck and trailer is alongside the road, making it awkward and inconvenient to benfit from using the caming trailer.

Cathy T

Loop:Loop 1

Site:

Reviewed a month ago

Cleanest bathrooms I’ve ever been in.

MARIA F

Loop:Loop 2

Site:

Reviewed a month ago

The area was pleasant and lived the lights in the bathrooms.

Diana D

Loop:Loop 1

Site:

Reviewed 2 months ago

The campground is beautiful and well maintained. The roads getting to the campground are also very well maintained. We met the campground host and he was very friendly. I've stayed here twice and the noise curfew is always observed, no drunken wahoozers will drive this far so it is a wonderful place to rest and recharge.

Colleen R

Loop:Loop 1

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

We shared campsite 9 with another family, 6 people total, with a travel trailer and tent trailer and we had plenty of room. The campsite was spacious with a "backyard" of gently sloping pine forest. Really a beautiful, peaceful campground, with sites spread out and not on top of one another. Very little cell reception so you can unplug! Nice to walk around, beautiful sunsets through the trees, great stargazing at night. We went end of May, and there were some type of gnats/flying bugs that come out when the sun is out, but they don't bite - just part of nature, and they were gone once the sun set.

Bryan C

Loop:Loop 1

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

This campsite is a long family tradition. My husbands family has been going 60 yrs. Even though the roads to get there are rough and scary we still love it. It was quiet this time and not a lot of other campers.

Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

Reserve Watch

Popularity: Very quiet

Busiest in August, when about 15% of guest capacity is reserved. Based on 8 years of reservations.