Meadow Group Campground sits at 5,300 feet in the San Gabriel Mountains, designed for organized groups rather than individual families. With two sites accommodating 24 and 80 people respectively, it's positioned strategically between Chilao Campground and the ranger station along the Angeles Crest Highway. The setting puts you in Coulter pine and oak country with direct access to San Gabriel Wilderness trails.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Group
- 🏕️Total Sites
- 2
- 💵Fee per Night
- $78
- 📋Reservations
- Reservation Required
- 🏔️Elevation
- 5,200 ft
- 📍GPS
- 34.32389, -118.01778
- 🌤️Best Seasons
- spring, fall
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- Yes
- 📞Phone
- 661-269-2808
- 🗺️Address
- CA
Amenities
The Camp
Two group areas handle different crowd sizes. Area 1 works for smaller gatherings of up to 24 people with three picnic tables and fire rings, plus its own water spigot. Area 2 scales up dramatically for groups of 80, equipped with ten tables and fire rings. Both share vault toilets and include animal-resistant dumpsters — a necessity at this elevation where bears and other wildlife move through regularly.
The campground sits in mixed forest of Coulter pines and scrub oaks, with grasslands opening up views. At 5,300 feet, nights cool down even in summer, and spring and fall are the recommended seasons here.
What to Know
Reservations open 12 months ahead and are required — this isn't a drop-in spot. Groups need to coordinate well in advance, especially for peak seasons. The location along Highway 2 means you're 26 miles north of the 210 Freeway in La Cañada, so factor in the winding mountain drive time.
The area attracts bird watchers specifically for its woodpecker diversity — ten species according to the nearby Chilao Visitor Center, which sits 1.5 miles east and offers evening campfire programs.
Nearby
San Gabriel Wilderness boundary lies 1.5 miles away, opening up hiking and equestrian routes into designated wilderness. Local trails around the campground also accommodate mountain bikes in addition to hikers and horses.
Highway 2 itself — the Angeles Crest Scenic Byway — provides the backdrop with vista points offering views across the Mojave Desert and down into the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys. The road's mountain curves and elevation changes make it a destination beyond just camp access.