Burnt Rancheria
Campground · California · 56 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Cleveland National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 56
- Bookable sites
- 99 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 8
- People per site
- 2
- Accessible sites
- 5,970 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Burnt Rancheria Campground is located 50 miles east of San Diego at the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area in Southern California, right off the Sunrise Scenic Byway.Campers can enjoy hiking, viewing unique birds and wildlife and enjoying cooler temperatures at this mountain facility in Cleveland National Forest, open from mid-April through October.
Recreation
Day hiking and picnicking are most popular at Burnt Rancheria. The facility provides easy access to a segment of the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,650-mile national scenic trail that runs from Mexico to Canada. Hiking and horseback riding are allowed on the trail. Biking is not allowed on any portion of the Pacific Crest Trail.A short hike to the nearby Desert View Picnic Site provides visitors with a bird's-eye view of the desert 6,000 feet below. On most days, the Salton Sea is clearly visible to the southeast. Restrooms and potable water are available.
Families with children will enjoy activities, campfire programs and guided hikes available during summer. In addition to the guided hikes, a visitor might take the self-guided interpretive trail hike; brochures are available from the camp host.
Campers can also get a glimpse of the amazing night sky at "star parties" organized by the San Diego State University Observatory. These gatherings are conducted on most Saturday evenings during the summer months (schedule can be obtained at the Visitor Information Center on Laguna Mountain or by calling 619-473-8547).
Facilities
Burnt Rancheria is a large campground with several loops of campsites. Each site has a table and campfire ring. There are no hookups or dump station for RVs; the nearest is located at the Buckman Springs Rest Area, 4 miles east of Pine Valley on I-8.The campground is equipped with restrooms and coin-operated showers (showers open only during reservation season). Firewood is available for purchase from the campground host.
Natural Features
Pines and oaks abound throughout the campground, which sits at an elevation of 6,000 ft. The site is heavily wooded and surrounded by an open oak grove with spectacular desert views.Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (619) 354-8776.The facts
- Season: April — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
- 56 bookable sites
- 124 sites in total, including non-bookable
- 2 accessible sites
- Vehicles up to 99 ft
- Up to 8 people per site
- Loops: AREA BURNT RANCHERIA, Amphitheater, Lilac, Pinyon, Yucca
Site types
- 68 Management
- 48 Standard Nonelectric
- 8 Tent Only Nonelectric
Amenities
- Campfires allowed
- Fire pits
- Picnic tables
- Grills
- Shade
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups.
124 campsites at Burnt Rancheria
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 063 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 064 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 065 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 066 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 067 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 068 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 069 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 070 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 071 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 072 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 073 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 074 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 075 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 076 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 077 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 078 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 080 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 081 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 082 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 083 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 084 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 085 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 086 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 087 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 088 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 089 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 090 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 091 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 092 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 093 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 094 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 095 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 096 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 097 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 098 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 099 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 100 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 101 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 102 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 103 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 104 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 105 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 106 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 107 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 108 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 62A | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 62B | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | Back In | Paved | 99 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| XXX48 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX49 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX50 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX51 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX52 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX53 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX54 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX55 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX56 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX57 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX58 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX59 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX60 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX61 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX62 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX63 | AREA BURNT RANCHERIA | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 013 | Amphitheater | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 38 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 014 | Amphitheater | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 42 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 017 | Amphitheater | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 50 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 018 | Amphitheater | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 50 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 033 | Amphitheater | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 40 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 035 | Amphitheater | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 25 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 036 | Amphitheater | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 037 | Amphitheater | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 039 | Amphitheater | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 36 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 041 | Amphitheater | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 40 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 001 | Lilac | Management | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 002 | Lilac | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 45 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 003 | Lilac | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 45 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 004 | Lilac | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 33 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 005 | Lilac | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 006 | Lilac | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 42 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 008 | Lilac | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 36 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 010 | Lilac | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 25 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 012 | Lilac | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 48 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 015 | Lilac | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 38 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 016 | Lilac | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 50 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 019 | Lilac | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 49 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 028 | Pinyon | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 030 | Pinyon | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 038 | Pinyon | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 25 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 040 | Pinyon | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 25 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 042 | Pinyon | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 49 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 043 | Pinyon | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 40 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 044 | Pinyon | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 45 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 045 | Pinyon | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 36 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 046 | Pinyon | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 45 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 047 | Pinyon | Management | Back In | Paved | 32 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 049 | Pinyon | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 28 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 050 | Pinyon | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 051 | Pinyon | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 052 | Pinyon | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 40 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 053 | Pinyon | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 38 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 054 | Pinyon | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 32 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 055 | Pinyon | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 25 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 056 | Pinyon | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 33 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 057 | Pinyon | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 26 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 058 | Pinyon | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 059 | Pinyon | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 24 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 060 | Pinyon | Management | Back In | Paved | 40 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 061 | Pinyon | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 22 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 007 | Yucca | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 38 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 009 | Yucca | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 25 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 011 | Yucca | Management | Back In | Paved | 40 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 020 | Yucca | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 35 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 021 | Yucca | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 40 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 022 | Yucca | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 37 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 023 | Yucca | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 024 | Yucca | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 38 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 025 | Yucca | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 026 | Yucca | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 027 | Yucca | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 50 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 029 | Yucca | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 40 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 031 | Yucca | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 50 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 032 | Yucca | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 40 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 034 | Yucca | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Paved | 40 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
Getting there
Located 50 miles east of San Diego, California. From I-8 take the Sunrise exit. Go approximately 11 miles to Milepost 23. Stop at entrance for campground information and site location.
32.86139, -116.41611 · 32°51'41.0"N 116°24'58.0"W
Typical weather
Typically 83°F in Jul, down to 50°F in Feb.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 50 | 50 | 54 | 61 | 68 | 78 | 83 | 82 | 76 | 67 | 57 | 51 |
| Low °F | 33 | 34 | 36 | 40 | 46 | 53 | 60 | 58 | 54 | 45 | 38 | 34 |
| Precip in | 2.7 | 4.8 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 2.3 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 0.4 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Burnt Rancheria
- Can you reserve a site at Burnt Rancheria?
- Yes, Burnt Rancheria is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Burnt Rancheria have?
- 124 sites in total, of which 56 can be booked.
- What is the maximum RV length at Burnt Rancheria?
- 99 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Burnt Rancheria?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Burnt Rancheria.
- Are campfires allowed at Burnt Rancheria?
- Campfires are allowed at Burnt Rancheria. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Also listed by
Burnt Rancheria also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Burnt Rancheria's operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- Campsites $35/Night for single unit (one vehicle included)
- Extra vehicle $10 (over 2 allowed with each campsite/night)
- Parking at Day Use Parking Area $8 fee; leaving before 6PM
- Day Use parking at campsite $13
Restrictions:
- Vehicles 40 ft. max.
Camping near Burnt Rancheria
- Wooded Hill Group 1.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Horse Heaven Group 2.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Laguna 2.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- El Prado Group 2.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Laguna Information Site 0.5 mi · Facility
- Red-tailed Roost Trailhead 0.5 mi · Facility
- Desert View Picnic Site 0.6 mi · Facility
- Agua Dulce Equestrian Trailhead 1.2 mi · Facility
- Meadows Information Kiosk Trailhead 2.6 mi · Facility
- Pioneer Mail Picnic Site 5.8 mi · Facility
- Cottonwood Campground (El Centro) 6.2 mi · Facility
- Cottonwood Campground 6.2 mi · Campground
Contact
- Phone 619-473-0120
- Email joy@westrecllc.com
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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