Campo Alto sits at 8,250 feet on Cerro Noroeste, tucked into a grove of Jeffrey pines at the end of the road. This is where you come to lose the crowds — 17 sites scattered through sweet-scented forest with sight lines stretching across four different valleys. It's seasonal camping for people who pack everything in and don't mind packing their garbage out.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Group
- 🏕️Total Sites
- 17
- 💵Fee per Night
- $30
- 📋Reservations
- Reservation Required
- 🏔️Elevation
- 8,250 ft
- 📍GPS
- 34.83140, -119.20480
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- Yes
- 📞Phone
- 805-434-1996
- 🗺️Address
- CA
Amenities
The Camp
The Jeffrey pines provide shade but don't block the views — you'll see across the Carrizo Plain to the north, Cuyama Valley and Quatal Canyon to the west, the San Joaquin Valley eastward, and south toward Lockwood Valley and the Sespe ranges. Sites are spacious enough for modest RVs, though this feels like tent country. Fifteen single sites plus two group sites, each with a picnic table and fire ring, but no barriers between them.
This is pack-it-in, pack-it-out territory. No potable water, no electricity, no dump station. Two vault toilets serve the entire campground. Come prepared to be self-sufficient.
What to Know
Campo Alto operates May through November and requires reservations. The $30 fee covers single sites; group sites cost more. At this elevation, nights can be cold even in summer — the thin air and pine forest don't hold heat.
The Vincent Tumameit Trailhead starts right from camp, leading into the Chumash Wilderness. End-of-the-road location means you won't get drive-by traffic, but it also means a commitment to get here.
Nearby
Pine Mountain Club sits 15 miles away for restaurants, gas, and supplies. Frazier Park is 25 miles if you need more options. Within a 30-minute drive, you can reach hiking trails, biking routes, and spots for fishing and swimming, though the source material doesn't specify where.
The real draw is stepping out of your tent and into wilderness. This isn't a base camp for touring — it's a place to settle in and let the high country work on you.