MT. FIGUEROA CAMPGROUND
Los Padres National Forest, CAFigueroa Campground sits on Figueroa Mountain among red manzanita, oaks, and pines, offering 33 sites at elevation with views toward the Pacific Ocean. Spring brings exceptional wildflower displays, while the location serves as a base for exploring multiple trailheads into the San Rafael Wilderness. The hard-packed sites accommodate RVs up to 25 feet, though you'll need to bring your own water.
Campground Details
- 💵Fee per Night
- Free
- 📍GPS
- 34.73470, -119.98610
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 📞Phone
- 805-434-1996
- 🗺️Address
- CA
The Camp
The 33 sites sit scattered through groves of red manzanita and mixed oak and pine, providing natural shade and privacy. Each site comes with a fire ring, pedestal barbecue, and picnic table on hard-packed soil that makes several sites accessible. Three double vault toilets are wheelchair accessible, and three dumpsters along Figueroa Mountain Road handle trash disposal.
RVs up to 25 feet fit here, but there are no hookups. The real draw is the elevation and setting — you're camping on what the Forest Service calls "an easily accessed pedestal in the pines" with views stretching to the Pacific Ocean on clear days.
Wildflowers and Wildlife
Spring transforms Figueroa Mountain into one of the region's premier wildflower destinations. The mountain's diverse elevations and exposures create conditions for what locals know as "magnificent displays" that justify the drive up here. Western tanagers arrive to breed and raise their young through August, adding flashes of red and yellow to the canopy.
Trail Access
Figueroa Campground functions as a trailhead hub. The Davy Brown/Fir Canyon and Ballard Trails start directly from camp, while Figueroa Lookout Road provides mountain ridge access for sunset walks. A few miles down the mountain, Davy Brown Campground offers additional trail connections, including the Davy Brown/Fir Canyon Trail. Two miles beyond that, the Lower Manzana and Upper Manzana trailheads open routes into the San Rafael Wilderness.
Popular activities include mountain biking, off-road vehicle use, horseback riding, fishing, and seasonal deer hunting. The mountain also draws photographers and stargazers taking advantage of the elevation and relative isolation.
Planning Notes
No water is available — pack what you need for your entire stay. The campground sees heavy use during spring wildflower season and deer hunting periods. Towns like Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, Solvang, and Buellton are all within an hour's drive for resupply.