Lightning Point Group Campground sits at 6,200 feet in Angeles National Forest, wrapped in Jeffrey pine, scrub oak, and manzanita. It's built for groups—six sites that collectively handle 240 people, with two equipped for horse camping. Currently closed until further notice, but when open, it offers a primitive base camp for Pacific Crest Trail access and Angeles Crest Highway exploration.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Group
- 🏕️Total Sites
- 6
- 💵Fee per Night
- Free
- 📋Reservations
- Reservation Required
- 🏔️Elevation
- 6,200 ft
- 📍GPS
- 34.37194, -118.18306
- 🌤️Best Seasons
- spring, fall
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 📞Phone
- 818-899-1900
- 🗺️Address
- CA
The Camp
The campground handles serious group logistics. Six sites spread across 240 total capacity, with Sites 5 and 6 each featuring six horse corrals (though you can book these without bringing horses). Every site comes with group-sized tables and large gathering areas, plus there's a short nature trail for camp-bound exploration.
This is primitive camping in the truest sense: no water, no toilets. Groups must pack in portable facilities and pack out everything, including waste components. At 6,200 feet, expect summer highs in the low 80s with cool nights that'll have you reaching for layers.
What to Know
Reservations are required, and the horse sites expand your options even if you're not bringing stock. The campground typically operates in spring and fall seasons—summer heat and winter conditions keep it shuttered otherwise.
Being 25 miles southeast of Palmdale puts you in striking distance of civilization for last-minute supply runs, while staying remote enough to feel properly removed from the San Fernando Valley sprawl 35 miles south.
Nearby
The Pacific Crest Trail runs nearby, giving groups access to the 2,650-mile spine that connects Canada to Mexico. Beyond the PCT, Angeles National Forest maintains 557 miles of hiking and equestrian trails, with mountain biking allowed on everything except the PCT itself.
The Angeles Crest Highway provides the scenic drive component—a designated byway that threads through the forest's elevation zones, from chaparral and oak up through high desert landscapes to pine forests. The road showcases the dramatic elevation changes that define this forest, which spans from 1,200 feet in the canyons to 10,000 feet on the peaks.