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Burnt Rancheria Campground

4.2 (83 reviews)

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Fire pit
Tristen J.

The campground was clean and well maintained. Bathroom was clean. Camp hosts were nice. Will return.

Site 25
Marcus F.

A very nice alternative to the Cuyamaca campsites of Green Valley and Paso Picacho. Burnt Rancheria is definitely less crowded and has more secluded campsites than others in the area. However, like with ALL California campsites, weekend nights will be loud and full of drunk partygoers. I can say it's not as bad here compared to other campsites. Always bring earplugs when camping on the weekends. - Best time to visit is October. Still warm but fall is in full effect and so may yellow and orange leaves on the trees. - Mosquitoes and annoying flies. Bug spray required - Campsites on the outer rim seem to be on slopes. - 27 might be a good site because it's more private than others. - Camp hosts are friendly. They will also deliver firewood to your site when you buy it.. - Desert View trail (attached to property) and the Big Laguna trail (down the road) are both worthwhile. - Raccoons will invade campsites. Don't leave food out. NOTE: Bathrooms aren't as abundant here. It's either Pit toilet or flush, but not enough stalls to support weekend capacity. Also, if you have kids try to get as close to the bathrooms as possible. Sites 25, 26 and 27 were quite a walk to the bathrooms.

Campsite
Tami N.

First camping trip of the year at Burnt Rancheria! Another wonderful camping experience! Our campsite was spotless when we arrived and the bathrooms were clean and well maintained. We met the camp hosts, Anita and Peter, they were very nice and took the time to talk with us. Can't wait to come back next month!

Alycia A.

What a great camping spot! Dogs are welcome! The entire camp is well maintained. There are several bathrooms around, some have sinks to wash your hands, bring your own soap. They have showers so make sure to bring your quarters if you want to shower. Make sure to bring sunscreen during summer months and OFF as well. Each camp site has a fire pit and picnic tables. There are no light posts so make sure you bring a headlamp or flashlight. The sky is beautiful on clear summer nights! You can see lots of birds and other wildlife here. Watch out for rattlesnakes! There is a small fire station behind the camping area. We will definitely return!

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Liliana G.

We had so much fun riding our bikes , hiking watching the starts at night , kids had an amazing time . Showers are a + make sure to bring quarters.

View from our tent - Cherry Loop, site 74.
Birt W.

We loved our two-day stay at Burnt Rancheria Campground! The camp hosts were lovely and friendly. We missed them at the front where you can buy firewood and not 15 minutes later, they dropped off two bundles right at our campsite. As our visit was on a Monday-Wednesday, we didn't experience crowds at all. There were so many campsites to choose from, each loop has its own vibe and scenery. We chose the Cherry Loop, site 74. Plenty of hammock hanging trees, a few flat ground spots for tents, and only about 2 other spots had campers in a loop with a dozen + sites. The nearby coin-operated showers were a total relief and a store about a half a mile away had extra drinks and snacks. The only complaint would be about the flies and ants. They weren't frighteningly excessive, and they really seemed to be well-mannered for flies and ants, but their exuberant interest in our faces and legs was a bit bothersome, especially for one of our dogs. Overall, I would DEFINITELY go here again! Very cool site with tons of hiking, birds, beautiful trees and amenities. Cell service with Verizon was very spotty, but wifi (with a Jetpack) works well if you need to work on the road!

Tents, site 35
Renee M.

So I have no idea how I've missed this campsite before! SITE 35, I LOVE YOU! As always, I can never find the site even based on the map they provide, but the helpful older gentleman directed me! Our site was HUGE, so much space and privacy. We really weren't next to anyone, the only downside (which barely was one) was that there was a path behind us that lead people to the larger bathrooms and showers. We had a full view of that larger facility, but we still had plenty of privacy. Overall, my friends and I will return. It was fantastic, I saw larger off site parking too? REALLY? For my one friend who will drive out for the day? This is the best news! Everyone who we saw that worked there smiled and waved, the bathrooms were INCREDIBLE. All flushable toilets, running water sinks, and plenty of TP stocked up. I was so shocked to see how well maintained they were. Every time I went in, the trash had been emptied.

Big Agnus Copper Spur HV UL2
Corey H.

I enjoyed this camp ground quite a lot. Came here in early march to do some high school altitude, cold weather camping. Came on a Tuesday. Most of the loops were closed. Which was fine since there was only two other groups in the entire place. Each site was extremely clean. The fire pits were well maintained. The hosts were super friendly. They do sell firewood if you dont bring your own. Lots of trees and nature to take in. Close to the PCT to do some hiking. Please note that during cold season, the running water is shut off and they dont have flush toilets or showers available. They only have vault toilets till it warms up. I'll go again.

Desert view trail
Eileen H.

We loved this campground. Only an hour from San Diego but it feels like worlds away. Easy to get to with plenty of campsites available. We didn't have a reservation but had no problem finding a really great spot. We claimed site 70 for the weekend. It was close to the bathrooms but secluded from other sites. Our site could have fit 3 tents and had a tandem parking spot. When we go again we will try to claim this site. There are rattle snakes in the area so make sure to keep an eye out. We didn't see any but the ranger told us they like to hang out around site 65. The ranger comes around and sells bundles of wood for $6. If you don't use it they'll buy it back from you. There is a coffee shop/restaurant right outside of the grounds and a shop down the street. Plenty of hiking in the area and beautiful views. We will definitely be back.

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1 month ago

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29 days ago

Plenty of room for each campsite! It has running water in the restrooms and great trails around it!

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2 years ago

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9 months ago

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5 years ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

Few level sites. Spotty cell service. Hosts are very helpful. Close to PCT and Desert View trail.

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4 years ago

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8 years ago

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6 years ago

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3 years ago

Great place for family camping. They have clean flushing restrooms and showers. The ground's keepers are very friendly.

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5 years ago

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11 years ago

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8 years ago

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5 years ago

Great campground. Bit chilly at night in may but beautiful area along pacific crest. Some nice showers and baths.

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15 years ago

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8 years ago

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Ask the Community - Burnt Rancheria Campground

Is this campground dog friendly?

ARE THE DOGS ALLOWED ON THE TRAILS?

Do you get cell reception?

Yes with att

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Review Highlights - Burnt Rancheria Campground

It is adjacent to the Pacific Crest Trail, which at this point runs north-south along the edge of Mt Laguna.

Mentioned in 5 reviews

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Mount Laguna Campground - Plenty of shade in spots for a snack

Mount Laguna Campground

4.1(90 reviews)
0.3 mi

Our visit to Mt. Laguna was AMAZING! The campsite was spectacular, it had amazing views the stars…read moreat night were breathtaking, wild animals (we saw a 5' long gopher snake and tons of birds/hawks). We camped in the Sunny Loop area. This provided a massive campsite with friendly neighbors that were far enough away that we had our privacy, yet easy access to go the bathroom/shower when we needed to. This campsite offers both unplumbed (a full toilet and closed in restroom, but with no running water, so you are essentially doing your business into a hole in the ground), and fully plumbed restroom (this was amazing because the shower temperature and pressure was perfect. The only comment on the restroom situation is that you cannot change the temperature of the shower, at least I wasn't able to figure it out when I was there while wrestling 2 young kids in the shower so it might be possible. There is an amazing hike that is easy to do with littles, it was something like 1.5-2 miles and ends at a beautiful lake. My littles had a blast wandering though nature and picking up pine cones and sticks, while also enjoying the stellar views while riding on dad's shoulders for a good chunk of the hike. This was our first official camping trip as a family and 10 out of 10 it was the best experience and best campground one could ask for. Just be aware, I was expecting that they would have a small store at the campsite to purchase water or other misc. items that got forgotten, but the only thing that you can buy is fire wood from the camp host. So plan accordingly. My kids loved the campsite almost as much as I did, we will definitely be going back to enjoy the beauty that is Mt. Laguna. One more thing to be aware of, you won't have much if any phone service (I have AT&T plus Verizon and neither was getting any service) so if you're not looking to unplug you may want to find another campground to visit, but if you are looking to put your phone and computer down, this is the BEST place to do it!

By far, this is our favorite local mountain getaway from San Diego. The campground is always well…read morekept up, the vault toilets are relatively clean with toilet paper always stocked. There is firewood available for purchase from the campground host ($10 a bundle). Great location, wonderful hiking opportunities right from the campground. Short drive to the local store and restaurants. The campsites are pretty spacious, and usually a pretty quiet campground. Not a lot of loud late night campers. If get a site in the meadow loop you can hear the frogs in the distance. It is usually windy so be prepared, but always have a wonderful time.

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Mount Laguna Campground - Woodpecker

Woodpecker

Mount Laguna Campground - Place

Place

Mount Laguna Campground - Big Laguna Trail

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Big Laguna Trail

William Heise County Park - Picnic table at site 19.

William Heise County Park

4.1(177 reviews)
15.7 mi

This place fills up fast but we booked several months out and were able to choose our campsites…read morebased on proximity to the dumpsters, bathrooms, and even based on whether the sites had shade. We reserved campsites 89 and 90. Campsites were about $37 per night, after the reservation fee, and could fit a maximum of eight people in two tents. Several of us had car set-ups and when we called the reservation office, they confirmed that sleeping in the car wouldn't count towards the two tent limit. Each site also has two dedicated parking spots. If you have additional cars, it'll be $6 per car/night and there's overflow parking scattered around the campground. Quiet hours start at 10PM and all campfires must be out (no embers) by 11PM. The bathrooms were fine, considering this was a campground. Showers are coin-operated and you can get 4 minutes for 50 cents. Make sure to exchange your cash at the ranger station before the sun sets! From my friend group, I heard mixed reviews on the showers. It seemed like the girl's side had poor water pressure and usually was cold. But both times I showered, I had decent pressure and the water eventually turned warm. There's also potable water throughout the campground, with a specific spout with filtered water (for taste). Our campsites were pretty great especially site 90. It's flat and right under a huge tree so it was the perfect spot to hang out and escape the sun. For tents, the ground was kind of rocky so make sure to bring a pad or air mattress if you can. Each site comes with a table and a fire pit. For firewood, you have to purchase from the campground because they don't want you to accidentally introduce any invasive species. Overall, great campsite with decent bathrooms! We didn't get a chance to explore the campground and the trails around it so I would love to come back one day. Oh and dogs are allowed as long as they're on a leash!

First time at this campground! It's been a while since I've been camping, but this campground seems…read moreto be much nicer compared to what I remember from campgrounds I've been to in the past. The bathrooms were clean and fully stocked with toilet paper and free tampons on the women's side. There were 2 men's and 2 women's showers at the bathroom closest to our site. One of the women's showers didn't have the best water pressure and sprayed more of a mist...but the other was fine. Neither appeared to have warm water, but it wasn't freezing either, so it was bearable. We heard the men's showers did have warm water though. Showers were 50 cents for 4 minutes, and then you could add additional quarters to add on 2 minutes each. There were spigots and bottle refill stations too near the campsites. I'd probably avoid the sites right next to the restrooms unless you want to hear toilets flushing, the loud hand dryer, and foot traffic throughout the night.  There were plenty of trees so most of the campsites around us at least had at least some shade during the daytime. The only issue I really noticed was that some campgrounds were pretty close together so you will probably hear noise from neighboring sites. There was plenty of parking too, but these were also close to the sites, so one night we heard the sound of cars constantly locking throughout the night. Not the biggest issue though and you should probably bring earplugs while camping if you're a light sleeper. Overall, these campgrounds are nicer than a lot of other ones I've been there where you have to drive into town to shower. The tradeoff though is that with the nicer facilities and proximity to neighboring sites, it doesn't feel as remote and sort of feels like you're one step away from civilization. So maybe not the best place to camp if you're looking for a more true camping experience.

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William Heise County Park - Valentine's gift from one teardrop gal to another.

Valentine's gift from one teardrop gal to another.

William Heise County Park - Loved the snow!

Loved the snow!

William Heise County Park - Snow fun, thanks to my friend Anne's gadget find!

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Snow fun, thanks to my friend Anne's gadget find!

Alter Experiences - Suspension net with sleeping pod above.

Alter Experiences

4.9(70 reviews)
14.0 mi

This was the best experience ever! I love camping but my husband does not so having a true camping…read moreexperience without all of the set up and breakdown was incredible. The setup was perfect. Alter experience had everything we needed. We were comfortable in the tents. I can't wait to go back already. Shantel the host was so responsive and thorough not to mention very sweet. It was the best experience ever.

We had an amazing glamping experience and would definitely stay here again! Shantel was incredibly…read morefriendly and helpful. She met us on our first day, made sure we were settled in, and checked that we had everything we needed throughout our stay. The setup was in great condition, and the campsite itself was so much fun. We especially loved the hammock, all the shade, and how well-stocked everything was. They truly provided just about everything you could need except food and clothing, which made packing and camping so much easier. There was plenty to do around the campground, and we had a fantastic time exploring and relaxing. The only downsides were that a couple of the campground showers were closed and the bathrooms were a bit of a walk from the site. We were also a little disappointed that the zipper on the tree tent was broken, so we couldn't sleep in it. However, that didn't stop us from enjoying it during the day, and it certainly didn't take away from the overall experience. Overall, this was a wonderful glamping getaway, and we can't wait to come back!

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Alter Experiences - The trail is close to the campsite.

The trail is close to the campsite.

Alter Experiences - Suspension net for relaxing. Loved this spot for Stargazing.

Suspension net for relaxing. Loved this spot for Stargazing.

Alter Experiences - 2x Full sized in one tent and a queen sized tent in the other.

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2x Full sized in one tent and a queen sized tent in the other.

Paso Picacho Picnic and Campgrounds - Pine cone

Paso Picacho Picnic and Campgrounds

4.2(116 reviews)
11.5 mi

This review is specific to the group campsite…read more Full disclosure: I am not an avid camper nor do I like the idea of camping in nature whatsoever. So this review is from someone who actually doesn't like camping and won't go willingly. Group site camping was something I was willing to try, given that it's ideal for families and a group site is contained a little better than individual sites. The group site has several tables under a overhang area and there's a nice spread for laying out meals. can accommodate 50 people, unfortunately kids count within that number so the downside is that you do have to be mindful of how many people are in your party. I think the group site could have easily housed 50 adults and 30 kids under the age of 13. There are bathrooms and showers on site to the group site, tokens need to be purchased at the entrance, it's $1 for 2 tokens, and 1 token is 2 minutes of water. One of the families in our group was smart to take a shower as a family before leaving and they didn't need to use as many tokens as they thought they needed. Bathrooms were fairly clean, bring your own soap. I highly recommend the travel soap sheets to throw in your pocket which will dissolve to soap with water. I did find that there were a ton of flies in the picnic area, so remember to cover your food because it'll be annoying. There's a water spigot in the picnic area so you'll be set to boil your water. There are nearby trails that are Kid friendly on this site, which was fun for everyone. Julian was 18 minutes north of this site and it was a nice place to stop by for an apple pie. I would camp here again but only in a group setting. I still stand by not being a camper willingly, at the end I just wanted to leave but it had nothing to do with the actual site. I can see avid campers enjoying this site

This was my first time staying at this campground and I really enjoyed my stay! The weather was…read moregreat, the views were beautiful, and everyone at the campground was courteous. I wanted to share some info. I would've found helpful when researching this campground. *The campground is relatively close to Cuyamaca Lake (about 10 mins away) and Julian (about 20 mins away). *Water spigots are scattered throughout the campground at random campsites. The downsides (in my opinion): *Some of the campsites are on a slope so you have to choose wisely. (Campsites 1-19 seemed flatter than most sites) *The restrooms were also not as tidy as I was expecting but they got the job done. BRING YOUR OWN HAND SOAP. *The showers work on a coin system. This means you use dollar bills to get change in the form of campground tokens (NOT QUARTERS) which you use to shower. The change machine is located outside the restrooms.

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Paso Picacho Picnic and Campgrounds - Pinecone

Pinecone

Paso Picacho Picnic and Campgrounds - Trees again!

Trees again!

Paso Picacho Picnic and Campgrounds

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Burnt Rancheria Campground - parks - Updated June 2026

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