Manzanita Loop sits at 5,300 feet in the San Gabriel Mountains, where coulter pines and manzanita shrubs replace the smog and heat of Los Angeles below. It's a solid base camp for exploring the Silver Moccasin Trail and Pacific Crest Trail connections, with the San Gabriel Wilderness less than a mile away.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Group
- 💵Fee per Night
- Free
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 📞Phone
- 661-269-2808
- 🗺️Address
- CA
The Camp
Manzanita Loop is one of two camping areas at Chilao Campground, reached via the winding Angeles Crest Highway through oak woodlands and chaparral. The 41 sites each come with picnic tables and fire rings, plus large parking spurs that handle RVs up to 40 feet. Bear-proof dumpsters are scattered throughout — necessary given the black bears that roam these slopes along with deer, coyotes, and the occasional bighorn sheep.
The campground shares a group fire ring and maintains four vault toilets with potable water available. At this elevation, you'll find cooler mountain air and reduced light pollution that makes for decent stargazing. The mix of coulter pines and scrub oaks provides some shade without blocking the panoramic views of surrounding peaks and ridges.
What to Know
The elevation means temperatures drop significantly from the valley floor, so pack layers even in summer. The location within the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument puts you in prime wildlife habitat — store food properly and expect to share the space.
Nearby
The Silver Moccasin National Recreation Trail runs nearby, connecting to sections of the Pacific Crest Trail for day hikes or longer backpacking trips. The San Gabriel Wilderness boundary sits less than a mile away, protecting 36,000 acres of rugged terrain that ranges from dense chaparral at lower elevations to pine and fir slopes above 8,200 feet.
The Chilao Visitor Center operates about a mile east with interpretive exhibits and a birdwatching deck, open Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am to 3 pm. The Angeles Crest Highway continues past camp to additional scenic overlooks and trailheads for mountain biking and horseback riding.