Sycamore Canyon
9000 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265, United States
Overview
Sycamore Canyon Campground is located in Point Mugu State Park at the foot of the Santa Ana Mountains near Malibu, close to the beach. The 13,300-acre park features stunning beaches, rugged hills, and miles of hiking routes.
Sycamore Canyon Campground has fire pits, picnic tables, access to safe drinking water, coin showers, and toilet facilities in addition to beach access. This campground may get rather crowded during holidays, and the beach is often crowded throughout the summer and on weekends.
Nestled in a canyon with giant sycamore and oak trees, this campground has 58 sites located ½ a mile inland and adjacent to the hiking routes in the Boney Mountains State Wilderness Area.
Thanks to the generous overhead greenery, most sites offer plenty of shade, and each has a BBQ and a picnic area. Tents, trailers, and RVs (up to 31 feet) are allowed at the campsites which can accommodate up to eight people and two vehicles. There is no group camping, hookups, or a dump station.
Pets on a leash are permitted at the campsite, but dogs are not permitted on park trails and must be kept in tents or vehicles at night.
Best Campsites at Sycamore Canyon
Most sites are fairly large and measure about 50 to 80 feet in the table and the firepit area might allow you to fit 3 tents in.
Sites 14, 15, 29, 30, and 35
- Spacious sites with plenty of shade
Site 26
- Nestled among the sycamore trees where you can hang hammocks
Unique Experiences
- Go mountain biking on the several trail loops that branch off the main Sycamore Canyon trail.
- Go hiking along the Sycamore Canyon Trail through a magical and lovely woodland canyon shadowed by stunning sycamores. This trail goes through some of the nicest views in the Santa Monica mountains.
- Sycamore Canyon can be a nature lovers' paradise. Go wildlife watching and try spotting pods of dolphins swimming in the Pacific Ocean. Many hikers spot deer and coyotes. Watch out for snakes!
- Bird watchers will enjoy the many bird species that call Sycamore Canyon their homes like gulls, cormorants, shorebirds, and pelicans.
- While surf fishing is popular at Sycamore Canyon Campground, the cliffs and beaches are infamously treacherous, especially during high tide.
Sycamore Canyon Campground Rules
Max Trailer/RV Length
31 FeetMax people per site
8Max vehicles per site
2Fires allowed?
Only in designated fire ringsPets allowed?
Yes, but not on beach/trailsSycamore Canyon Reservation Information
Reservations Allowed?
Reservations Required?
YesSycamore Canyon Campground accepts reservations throughout the year, up to 6 months in advance of the expected date. Reservations can be made online at https://reservecalifornia.com or by calling (800) 444-PARK (7275) between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. The cost for booking a campsite is $45 at Sycamore Canyon Campground.
Ensure you 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
Group campsites are not available. However, 8 people per site are allowed and with 58 sites, you can always book multiple sites if you have a large group.
In addition, La Jolla offers group camping for up to 50 people and is located 2 miles from Sycamore Canyon Campground.
Campsite Reservation Cancellations
If you withdraw a reservation, you will be charged a cancellation fee of $7.99 per reservation. Cancellations are accepted online or by phone at (800) 444-PARK (7275). This service is accessible from 8 am to 6 pm seven days a week. Customers who cancel after 6 pm the day before arrival will be charged the $7.99 cancellation fee and will forfeit the unit cost for one night.
Sycamore Canyon Campground Cost
Standard Campsite
$45Activities
Fishing
Bike Trails
Hiking
Horseback Riding
Whale Watching
Photography
Amenities
RV/Trailers
Hookups
Pull Through Spots
Pet Friendly
ADA Sites
Showers
Wood for Sale
Grills
Campground Host
Picnic Tables
Potable Water
Trash
Campfire Rings
Directions
FAQs
Nearby Campgrounds to Sycamore Canyon
Thornhill Broome Campground
Thornhill Broome's 62 campsites are lined out along the beach, while Sycamore’s is about a ¼ to ¾ mile inland. The fee for a campsite at Thornhill Broome is $35 which is $10 less than that of Sycamore Canyon. The traffic noise on Pacific Coast Highway is a significant drawback of the Thornhill Broome Campground.
Carpinteria State Beach
The Carpinteria State Beach Campground has 191 family campsites which are far more than the 58 campsites at Sycamore Canyon Campground. Some campsites at Carpentaria have hookups whereas Sycamore Canyon Campground offers none.
Carpinteria State Beach features seven group camping areas that accommodate more campers and vehicles compared to none at Sycamore Canyon.
Emma Wood State Beach
Emma Wood State Beach Campground is a primitive campground that features 90 campsites at two sites along the beach, which is bigger than Sycamore’s 58 campsites. Emma Wood State Beach only allows self-contained RVs or trailers to camp and no tents.
Many campers find it unpleasant that railroad tracks run behind the campground. This campsite has no hookups, showers, or potable water, but Sycamore has clean restrooms with flush toilets.
Leo Carrillo State Park
Leo Carrillo State Park Campground has 130 campsites, some of which have electrical hookups for 20, 30, and 50 amp, in contrast to Sycamore Canyon which has none.
The cost of Leo Carrillo ranges from $45 for a normal site (same as Sycamore), $60 for one with an electricity hook-up, and $225 for a group campsite.
