$35
Burnt Rancheria
Closed for the season
Total sites: 56
Booking Window: 6 months
Booking Window: 6 months
5,970 ft
66°F
52°F
52°F
weak
Cleveland National Forest › Descanso Ranger District › California
› San Diego County
› Mount Laguna
› Burnt Rancheria Campground
Burnt Rancheria Campground, CA - Latest Reviews, Photos & Campground Map
Burnt Rancheria Campground is located in the Descanso Ranger District, Cleveland National Forest (41 min east of El Cajon, CA) with an elevation of 5,970 feet. There are a total of 56 campsites including 8 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from mid April to the end of October. 47 sites can accommodate RVs between 22 and 50 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. Prices start at $32.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, amphitheater, flush toilets.
Campsite Reviews (160)
4.6 out of 5
| 5 star | 73% | |
| 4 star | 15% | |
| 3 star | 4% | |
| 2 star | 3% | |
| 1 star | 2% |
@Christine33606 · Camped on Oct 10, 2025 at Campsite #54
Nice spur trail directly from large campground w/spacious campsites. Fun mountain biking in the area and on dirt roads nearby. Easy access to a couple great spots to eat if you don't feel like cooking on check-out day. Friendly camp host.
@MichaelB697476 · Camped on Oct 10, 2025 at Campsite #19
The campground is beautiful! The hosts were especially helpful and friendly. Feels very "wildernessy," but if you're hungry for brunch, the Pine House is an easy walk from your camp site.
@DavidH4978786 · Camped on Oct 1, 2025 at Campsite #54
Nice campground with attentive camp hosts. Even during the shutdown we saw them frequently around the grounds. The sites were clean, all marked with reservations, and restrooms were clean and well stocked.
@VictorP6125E9D · Camped on Sep 26, 2025 at Campsite #38
Great place, perfect to go with your family.
@TerriHB7C08EF4 · Camped on Sep 25, 2025 at Campsite #32
This campground is my favorite! It is well maintained and beautiful. The park hosts are attentive yet very chill and leave you alone. The campground is beautiful to walk and has easy access to the Pacific Crest Trail for those who like to hike. The campsites are well spaced out and large. There are two restaurant options within walking distance that are both very good, for those who want a break from cooking. I love love love camping at Burnt Rancheria!
@TimW5397967 · Camped on Sep 24, 2025 at Campsite #43
Beware, Recreation .gov doesnt have a system that allows you to access or modify a current reservation without forfeiting a substantial amount of your reservation fees. I was able to contact rec.gov by phone and they were unable to correct a modified reservation ( adding one day was a separate reservation) and they cancelled my original 3 day reservation. Bottom line is if you use their rec.gov web site make sure you dont make any changes. When I got to the campground I was advised that it is best to use the FF system( first come first served)and save the extra fee that rec.gov charges.
@josephs9140090 · Camped on Sep 21, 2025 at Campsite #33
Having recently retired, this was my first time camping at Burnt Rancheria during the week, arriving Sunday afternoon and leaving Wednesday. Very pleasant and quiet. I think maybe two or three campsites were occupied. I couldn't see them. The visitor center is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Over the years this place had been one of my favorite weekend getaways. Various trailheads are short distances along Sunrise Highway. The trail head for the Desert View Trail is within the campground and is part of the Pacific Crest Trail. Very pleasant environment on the plateau with oaks and pine trees. The main facility has flush toilets, showers, with water faucets spaced through out the sites. I highly recommend it. It does fill up on weekends so book early. Closed over the winter but Mt. Laguna campground nearby is open year round.
@ClaireTEF3A05D · Camped on Sep 19, 2025 at Campsite #55
Campground is very large but does not feel crowded; site was perfect, felt very secluded and room for multiple tents and 1 car + 1 suv parking. Firewood available to purchase at site. Would definitely come back to this exact spot
@DeborahH212620 · Camped on Sep 19, 2025 at Campsite #33
We had a great spot. Beautiful ! Trees were nice, Hiking was great. Found the septic tank dump very close and convienent. Thank you for a great stay!
@PaulG9606243 · Camped on Sep 12, 2025 at Campsite #53
A beautiful campground. Clean pit toilets near campsites. Friendly neighbors, very quiet environment, lots of stars. I hope I get to return someday! Easy drive from San Diego.
@DwayneK8A0DB26 · Camped on Sep 5, 2025 at Campsite #20
Lovely campground.
@SabrinaV557F14 · Camped on Sep 2, 2025 at Campsite #3
What a **lovely** campground! Truly amazing. Spots with tons of shade, spots with some shade, spots with sun. Gorgeous trees everywhere, and lots of space between units. We've stayed in 3, 52, and 54. 3 had a little road noise because it's closer to the highway, but not bad. 3 and 54 had an enormous amount of space beyond the campsite to explore. Really nice section of trail next to the campground that's easily found. Bathrooms and sites were very clean and well-kept. We stayed during the week and it not very busy at all. Highly, highly recommend. But behave yourselves and take good care of it. :D Oh, it's right down the road from a restaurant and some other establishments which we didn't visit. There's an RV dump you can pay to use at the Little House Block right next door, but it's small and informal, so don't overwhelm.
@PatriciaP14087 · Camped on Sep 1, 2025 at Campsite #44
We 4 had a wondeful stay at Burnt Rancheria campground. 2 reserved sites, toilets a short walk away. Sites were clean, green and private. Hiking trails nearby our sites. We walked on the Pacific Crest Trail. It was fairly level and nicely shaded in sections. Even walking in the campground to view the first come first served loops for future visits was enjoyable. Campground hosts were friendly and offered assistance. This campground is highly appreciated by us seasoned campers.
@MatthewB318226 · Camped on Aug 22, 2025 at Campsite #43
Remember to bring quarters for the showers and cash for firewood! For an offline map of the campground, I recommend using Organic Maps.
@TerraH3C7708A6 · Camped on Aug 15, 2025 at Campsite #58
Well-kept, clean grounds. Decent bathrooms.
@KimA9943387 · Camped on Aug 14, 2025 at Campsite #25
i think this is the best site in the campground. No snakes during the stay but we got raided by 6 RACCOONS during the night.
@RichardH338463 · Camped on Aug 14, 2025 at Campsite #51
We love Burnt Rancheria campground. Need the feeling were in a forest, which many of the campsites do provide. Great getaway only a little more than an hours drive from San Diego. Easy access to water and restrooms, which are pretty clean and well maintained. In terms of neighbors its the luck of the draw - you can get some loud ones but for us most of the time people have been respectful of the 10 pm quiet time rule. The campground has been less than full each time weve camped. Hosts are helpful. Great stargazing country.
@AgustinBA9BB7F · Camped on Aug 4, 2025 at Campsite #28
Clean campground and restroom.
@JamesAntF7E2FB · Camped on Jul 25, 2025 at Campsite #7
Site 007 was great. There is practically no shade during the day, except for a small spot closer to the road, but it allowed for an extra wide view of the sky at night which was breath taking. We had a canopy so it worked out fine. We hiked during the day anyways. I had a trailer and backed it in, definitely a tight turn radius as the description says. I practically had to drive into the camp site across from me to back in, so be careful.
@LucasS3129241 · Camped on Jul 18, 2025 at Campsite #49
Absolutely loved my time at Burnt Rancheria. The area is beautiful and access to hiking is great. Awesome view of the milky way at night. Pretty close to the site next to you, but just set up your tent in the trees between to give you some privacy.
@BretAVA3469781 · Camped on Jul 18, 2025 at Campsite #57
Site 57 is quite pitched. Not a good trailer site. Other than that the campground and weather were terrific!
@AndrewP1911421 · Camped on Jul 8, 2025 at Campsite #61
Don't trust any of the campsite photos! We booked a night at site 61 after seeing the pictures and reading reviews. What looked like a nice shaded campsite had no tree coverage and the entire campsite was in the blazing sun in the blazing sun! We ended up moving to 58 (it was mid week and it's pretty empty there mid week) but had to pay AGAIN for it. Would not reserve a site there again mid-week. I'd just show up and take one. Also, I learned that the racoons know what a hot cocoa packet is. Even with everything away except a few unopened cocoa packets that I didn't see, a family of racoons came by and tore into all of them leaving a chocolate covered mess to clean up in the morning! Beautiful campsite and I will definitely go back, but don't trust the dated pictures on line!
@AtharvaK3981D5 · Camped on Jul 3, 2025 at Campsite #40
Site #40 has excellent shade (and most of Pinyon loop does as well). 40 was a bit far from bathrooms (few mins walk) but not too bad. Each site has lots of space for multiple tents/gazebos. Hosts were very kind. Hosts only take cash for firewood payment, or you can travel 1/2 mile down the road to the store for firewood/ice/other essentials.
@JoAnnR6F77B7EE · Camped on Jun 30, 2025 at Campsite #18
Great camp host and cell service
@PhilipE3DDF3FD · Camped on Jun 27, 2025 at Campsite #32
WEATHER WAS BEAUTIFUL
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