Burnt Rancheria Campground
Sunrise Hwy, Mt Laguna, CA 91948
Overview
Burnt Rancheria is a beautiful, forest-sheltered campground located 50 miles east of San Diego at the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area in Southern California, right off the Sunrise Scenic Byway.
This campground is nestled at 6,000 feet so you’ll get to enjoy cooler temperatures, especially in the warmer months. Hiking and picnicking are popular activities, and you can also check out parts of the Pacific Crest Trail nearby.
You’ll find 109 campsites at this campground, all designed to accommodate tent camping and RVs. 25 of these sites can accommodate RVs between 30 and 39 feet and 24 other sites have paved spurs between 40 and 49 ft for larger RVs.
There are no hookups or dump stations available at the campground but there is a station in the nearby Buckman Rest Area on I-8.
Pets are allowed, but they must be leashed and attended to at all times.
Burnt Rancheria doesn’t offer group sites and is open from late March to late October or early November, depending on the weather.
Best Campsites at Burnt Rancheria Campground
Below are Power Camper’s recommended sites if you want to have the best experience at Burnt Rancheria Campground.
Sites 2,4, 5,3,16,19,37,39, 109 & 110
- Proximity to the area manager
- Proximity to host campsite and parking
Unique Experiences
- Get some air and energy pumping when you hike up Cedar Creek Falls, a 6.6-mile-long trail of moderate difficulty that takes about 6 hours.
- Spend some quality time with family and friends while fishing at Loveland Reservoir.
- Dance and enjoy a good Star Party at Laguna Mountain and Palomar Mountain organized by the San Diego State University Observatory or Riverside Astronomical Society.
- Discover 51 miles of trails and roads when you drive or walk around Corral Canyon OHV Area.
- Experience thrilling sights and sounds while you walk the Kwaaymii Cultural Interpretive Trail.
- Give your kids an unforgettable experience at any campfire program in the summer.
- Join a guided hike and learn more about the flora and fauna of the Laguna recreational area.
- Enjoy the glistening sands and unique views of the desert when you hike to the Desert View Picnic area.
Burnt Rancheria Campground Campground Rules
Max Trailer/RV Length
49 FeetMax People per Site
8Max Vehicles per Site
2 (3rd costs $8)Fires allowed?
Only in designated fire ringsPets allowed?
YesBurnt Rancheria Campground Reservation Information
Reservations Allowed?
Reservations Required?
YesAny of the 109 campsites of the Burnt Rancheria can be reserved when the campground is open. Some sites are also available on a first-come-first-served basis.
Reservations to visit this campground can only be made between 6 months and two days before your arrival date. Usually, reservations open up in mid-April and run through mid-October.
To make reservations, you can call the Toll Free number 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or online at <http://www.recreation.gov>. Campsites reservations cost $29/night. In addition, Recreation.gov charges an $8 fee if you book through them online and $9 if you book the site from their contact center.
Before you make the reservations, be sure to have the following information to make a reservation:
- Park selections
- Date you wish to start camping
- Type and size of camping equipment
- Number of people that will occupy the campsite
- Number of nights you wish to camp
- Alternative park and camping date choices
- Your phone number and area code
- Method of payment/Credit card number and expiration date
- Mailing address
Group Camping Reservations
There are no group campsites at the Burnt Rancheria Campground.
Campsite Reservation Cancellations
Campsite reservations may be canceled or changed. They are, however, to be done as early as possible. Changes cost a $10 fee per reserved site. Cancellations made will not lead to a forfeiture of your campsite fees, but you’ll be charged a $10 cancellation fee if you cancel two days in advance.
Late cancellation fees apply from midnight one calendar day before your scheduled check-in. If you cancel late, you’ll also forfeit the first night’s reservation fee.
Burnt Rancheria Campground Campground Cost
Standard Campsite
$29Activities
Hiking
Backpacking
Bike Trails
Amenities
RV/Trailers
Hookups
Pull Through Spots
Pet Friendly
ADA Sites
Showers
Campfire Rings
Grills
Picnic Tables
Campground Host
Directions
FAQs
Nearby Campgrounds to Burnt Rancheria Campground
While Burnt Rancheria Campground has such an unforgettable experience, several things may be missing. You’ll find that there are several campgrounds near Burnt Rancheria Campground that have these features.
Laguna Campground
Laguna Campground is fairly similar to Burnt Rancheria. Located also in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area, both campgrounds are located at 6,000 feet elevation and will have similar temperatures. They are both approximately the same size as well, with Laguna having 104 sites and Burnt Rancheria having 108.
They also cost the same amount ($29) and both campgrounds can accommodate RVs and trailers but have no hookups. Laguna is more liked by bird watchers and butterfly enthusiasts. Some sites are home to the endangered Laguna Skipper butterfly, and these sites will have a maximum occupancy of two, instead of the usual eight.
South Carlsbad State Beach
South Carlsbad State Beach campground is a beach campground while Burnt Rancheria is more of a forest campground. Since South Carlsbad is at sea level, it will be significantly hotter than Burnt Rancheria. South Carlsbad also offers full hookups while Burnt Rancheria has none. South Carlsbad is significantly larger as well, with 215 sites compared to Burnt Rancheria’s 108.
South Carlsbad is more expensive with standard sites costing $35 and full hookup sites costing $50, compared to Burnt Rancheria’s $29 fee.
Carpinteria State Beach
Another beach campground, Carpinteria is a larger campground with 191 sites compared to Burnt Rancheria’s 108. Carpinteria also offers sites with full hookups, a dump station, and beachfront sites to watch the sunrise on the beach.
Carpinteria offers 7 group camping sites that can accommodate 25 to 65 people depending on the site while Burnt Rancheria only offers single sites. Carpinteria also offers a hike and bike site while Burnt Rancheria has none.
Observatory Campground
With only 43 sites, the Observatory Campground is much smaller than the Burnt Rancheria Campground. It also costs much less to stay here, costing only $15 for single sites and $30 for double sites compared to Burnt Rancheria’s $29 for a single.
While Burnt Rancheria is popular with hikers and picnickers, Observatory Campground is the choice for astronomers and stargazers. It is located near the Palomar Observatory, a top-notch center of astronomy research.
