Most people think of beaches and skyscrapers when they think of Los Angeles (for good reason!). But did you know that there are many natural spaces around Los Angeles? If you are a nature-lover, you can easily escape the city for some alone time with trees and wildlife. These beautiful campgrounds are within an hour of Los Angeles.

Awesome Campsites within an Hour of Los Angeles

Buckhorn Campground

Buckhorn Campground is located in the Angeles National Forest, which is in the San Gabriel Mountains and the Sierra Pelona Mountains. The campground is located at 6,300 feet above sea level: this means that it is very cool at night. For this reason, it is a great escape for campers during the summer months, but it is closed in the winter months. From the campsite, hikers can take the Burkhart Trail, which connects to a lot of famous trails (called National Recreation Trails, or NRTs) in the area. Some of these famous trails include the High Desert NRT, the Pacific Crest NRT, and the Silver Moccasin NRT.

You cannot make reservations for this campsite, so if you want to spend the weekend there, it is advised that you come early: then you will be sure to get a campsite. Campsites are only $12 per night to rent.

Henninger Flats

“Rugged” is a word that people often use to describe places that are far from civilization. Often, a rugged location is missing the comforts of everyday life, such as running water.

It is safe to say that Henninger Flats is rugged. The campsite is just a three-mile hike from the city of Altadena, and you cannot access the campsite by car: you must walk! The campsite has a forest ranger there to make sure that everything at the camp runs smoothly.

Henninger Flats has 24 campsites with stoves. You must have a permit to camp there and use the stoves: you can get a permit from the ranger when you arrive. To get a permit, you must show an ID and be over 18. There are toilets but no running water.

There is no official website for the rugged Henninger Flats campground, but you can call the foresters at (626) 794-0675 if you have any questions.

Horse Flats

Yes, you can bring horses to Horse Flats . . . but it’s also a great campground for campers and hikers. The campground has 26 campsites: you need to come early to camp because there are no reservations for the sites. It costs $12 per night to rent a campsite.

There are toilets at this campground, but not drinking water. Be sure to bring your own. Also, be sure to dress warmly: the campsite is 5,500 feet above sea level, so it is cold at night.

 

Sycamore Canyon

Sycamore Canyon Campground is located in Point Mugu State Park, which is in Ventura County (near Oxnard). It has lovely campsites surrounded by trees and has access to many hiking trails.

Campsites are more expensive than the others on this list ($45 per night) but campers enjoy more amenities: it has showers, well-maintained toilets, fire rings, and handicap access for those in wheelchairs. You can also make a reservation on this website.