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Crystal Lake Camp Ground

4.1 (62 reviews)

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Camp set up
Terra T.

Crystal Lake Campground is one of our absolute favorite last-minute camping spots in California! The best part? No reservations are needed, making it perfect for spontaneous weekend getaways. Although the lake isn't part of the campground itself, the hike in is well worth it. This year has been especially fantastic because the lake is full thanks to the rains. It's great for fishing, though not ideal for swimming. The trail offers stunning views and a rewarding destination for a peaceful afternoon by the water. When we camp, we always bring our own toilet. Crystal Lake has pit toilets, so while they are cleaned from time to time, they are what they are. The serene forest surroundings create the perfect backdrop for relaxation and adventure. We've enjoyed everything from a peaceful hike to tadpole spotting, and simply unwinding by the campfire. We tend to avoid busy weekends and holidays because we prefer a quieter time, and it can get really full during those periods, and not everyone is a camper. The staff is friendly and always ready to help, making our stays here even more enjoyable. There is a wilderness store for firewood and just in case you forgot something. Whether you're planning a quick escape or a longer stay, Crystal Lake Campground never disappoints. Highly recommend for nature lovers and families alike!

Sign
Ramos E.

Excellent campground with plenty of locations to choose from with nearby hiking trails

Crystal "Lake"
Anna-Marie T.

Beautiful, dog-friendly campground with a variety of hiking trails. I took my pup here for a hiking adventure and he had a blast. We did the Windy Gap trail and also did a loop around Crystal Lake. Both were nice... but don't expect too much of the lake. You could get away with your Nike's but hiking shoes are recommended. Adventure Pass requires; $5... cash only.

Foggy day
Karen L.

No better way to kill time during covid than to explore the Angeles National Forest. Decided to drive about as far as Route 39 would take me, which was a few miles away from Crystal Lake. Route 39 continues to be closed indefinitely, so made a U-Turn at the closure and ended up exploring here. The entrance to the parking lot close to the lake is actually closed, but you can park right outside the road (there's a small dirt "lot" when I arrived and two other cars were already parked there, so it seemed fine). Walked a few minutes down the paved road to the actual lot itself to begin the quick walk down to the lake. Note restrooms here are also closed as expected during covid. As others have mentioned, this isn't a very busy spot, and was really quiet. Perfect if you want a quick getaway and to hike around someplace with little to no traffic. I came during a foggy day, and it was a pretty cool scene to be in.

Kitchen, dining table
Jennifer S.

I enjoyed my mini weekend vacation by renting a furnished rustic cabin for $150.00 per night. There is also a $100.00 cash only cleaning fee deposit refundable after your stay. Make sure to ask for a receipt of your $100.00 cash deposit. You must clean the cabin before you leave. Floor vacuum, broom, garbagebags are provided. No smoking allowed.The cabins and the camp store & snack bar are privately owned by Adam, his wife and 2 kids. You can order breakfast burrito, cheese burger, tuna sandwich, drinks, etc. A cart piled up with wood for campfire is $20.00. You need to bring your bed sheets, blanket, pillows, towel, toiletries. The cabins offer fully equipped bathrooms with hot showers, fully equipped kitchens with stove, microwave and refrigerator, heater. All cabins have outside fire rings, barbecue and tables to enjoy the outdoors. The cabins have TV's with VCR's and DVD's and a lot of movies for your entertainment. Sorry, there is no TV signal, no cell phone signals, no internet access in the San Gabriel Mountains! Dont throw toilet paper in the toilet bowl to avoid plumbing problems & overflow due to old narrow pipes. Throw used toilet paper in the trash can and you must discard the trash yourseld in a designated trash bin outside . Quiet time is 10 pm. Checkout is 10 am. You must pour water on the fire ring before you go to bed to prevent a fire and stay safe. For reservations, special rates during weekdays, and for discounts, please call Adam 626 910 1029.

The view south from Mt. Islip.  Crystal Lake is near the middle.
Ron L.

What's the difference between Crystal Lake and Crystal Lake Camp Ground? A big difference indeed. If you come for the lake, it's one star. As of this writing, it's much fuller and clearer than it was the last time I visited, but it's still a sad excuse of a lake. If you come to get away from the craziness of LA, enjoy nature, or go on a hike, then it's four stars. This is probably the largest campground in Angeles National Forest. At one time, it deserved it; it was a very popular destination. Look at the historical pictures, and this was clearly a resort that people wanted to be at. Not so much anymore. The loops are slowly opening back up after the disastrous 2002 fire. The ampitheater is nice, but goes unused. The ranger station is open on weekends only. Still, I arrived on Saturday afternoon, and there were only two spots left. I was impressed. My spot was next to the potties, and I was worried about the stink and the flies; I got no stink, but the bugs were a little bothersome. I had great neighbors. Read the reviews, though; some campers are not as considerate. You don't need an adventure pass, but if you have one, it's a $2 discount per night. Amazingly, the recreation area is only a 45 minute drive from Highway 210. If you want to hike, then this is an awesome place to be. In my opinion, the trails and not the "lake" are now the overriding reason to go to Crystal Lake Campground. Short hikes, day hikes, and overnighters can be had from this campground. I did a 10-miler to Windy Gap and then to Mt. Hawkins and Mt. Islip, and it was so good. Note that Mt. Islip has an old stone cabin at the top. I don't know if you can use your proof of payment to park where Highway 39 is barricaded, and walk the remaining four miles to the Angeles Crest Highway, to see the rockslides and the jaw-dropping views. The store. As you can imagine, being a small remote general store, it doesn't stock much, and what it stocks is expensive. It comes in handy. Plus, it doubles as a cafe. I got a $5 bowl of chili with cheese after the 10-miler, and it was goooooood. Bottom line: The Crystal Lake campground is being used differently than it was 2+ generations ago. But it has its purpose, and depending on your purpose of going into the forest, it could be just what you're looking for. It was for me.

Crystal Lake "This is about the long and short of the Lake. More like a pond, wouldn't you say?
Matthew M.

As high as you can go in the San Gabriel Mt. is Crystal Lake. When I need to escape the electric lights and cement covered hive that is Los Angeles. This is my go to camping spot. Why only two stars you might ask. Well, I hiked to the lake only to find what those of us from Texas call a "small pond". It was not fit for swimming and didn't yield much in the way of fish, since there are some nice places to drop a line or get wet in California it's only fitting to rate Crystal Lake accordingly. Perhaps it improves at certain times of the year. Who knows but the lack of water and a site that doesn't really fit the name left this Crystal encampment with only two stars.

Bulletin board. This is where you'll begin your check in.
Edward K.

How to reserve (first come first serve): 1. Bring a pen and small bills like 10s, 5s, and 1s. 2. Grab an envelope at the bulletin board in front of Crystal Lake Cafe. 3. Drive around and find a campsite. 4. Write down the campsite info and your info on to the envelope and stub. 5. Remove the stub from the envelope and clip it to the campsite's post to reserve that spot. 6. Go back to the bulletin board. 7. Deposit the envelope into the pipe sticking out of the ground with the correct dollar amount. No change is provided. 8. Hang the 2nd tag from the envelope on your rear view mirror. 9. You're ready to use the campsite! Tip: Make sure to bring toilet paper and wet wipes. The bathrooms are not pretty. Best to bring your own soap, water, towels, and hand sanitizer.

A small portion of the random items
Kay J.

Camped here last year in August and this year in September with a bunch of friends and it was a blast. I love how local it is and how spaced out the sites are. Both times we came the weather was great, no too hot during day time and very cool at night. The great thing about this camp site is there are cabins you can rent out if u have family or friends who don't like sleeping in tents. My friends' wives and kids stayed in the cabin at night which I believe was $150 a night with a bathroom/shower, a bedroom with bunkbeds, a cozy little living room with a comfy couch, a nice little kitchen, and a black & white TV to make it a little creepy LOLLL. Next to the cabins, there is a store/cafe that sells many camping necessities that you might need, loads of random items, food and snacks, and they also have a kitchen and they make fresh food, see the menu I've posted. They also have indoor and outdoor seating. The hiking trails are beautiful and quiet. Our first time camping there we decided to hike to Crystal Lake and nothing was crystal about it. Apparently, it used to be very beautiful and it was a nice little resort but it is definitely not the case now, but it was good to see what it looked like. The hike there was fun. We also hiked to the amphitheater at night and hung out there with friends and had some fun, pretty cool spot. I would definitely go back here because it's local and it's super chill and beautiful.

Crystal lake
Fayco G.

This was my first time going to this campsite and it was very very nice. I read a good amount of reviews saying there was many people going up for the weekend to party and very noisy. I did hear it a little at night but nothing too crazy, it was full. I think there's 50 something campsites and all of them were full. Even though it was very full, it is very well kept. There was restrooms there with toilet paper and running water for dishes or other things. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because the trails around there aren't the best and very little signs. The trail to the lake is confusing if you don't download a map. You're supposed to cross the road and it continues but the sign says to go back (if you're coming from the side of the campsites). Also, the last day there, all campsites were full and since ours was pretty big, it kind of looked like 2 but it was only 1. And someone decided to go in the spot where there was space and we let them know it was 1 site. And they didn't care and to avoid problems we just let them, after all they were out on the sloped part of the site. Also, there is NO service at all when you're up the mountain. And you can't get in the lake, there's no swimming or fishing, but you can hike all around it. It's a very nice view. All in all, it was a very good experience and I would recommend to anyone wanting to find a place not too far from OC or LA.

Rudy G.

Just went today after the rain. Lots of snow not even far from my neighborhood. I always go to big bear or crestline, but tried this spot and it didn't disappoint. Not even packed at all.

Tony K.

I can't speak much about the camp ground. But this area has some really good hiking trails. Just drive all the way into Crystal Lake, it will dead end to a parking lot. Remember to have your adventure pass, and there is restroom in the area. You can hike in and hike out or hike about 9 mile loop to Mount Islip from Windy Gap Trail and hike down from Big Cienga Trail or vice versa. Because we hiked this past weekend and it's been raining a lot this year. We knew snow will still be at the summit, Mount Islip elevation 8,250. So pending on the season, pack accordingly. We all brought our micro spikes and hiking poles just in case. There is a lot of fallen trees on this trail, so expect to be hopping over or crawling under to get past it. Hopefully, someone will come by and clear these by summer time. We start the hike at the camp ground. We stayed on Windy Gap Trail all the way up and came back down on Big Cienega Trail. Near the summit to Mount Islip, there were a lot of snow that it covered the trail. So we ended up climbing up the mountain till we made it on top. If coming down Windy Gap Trail, it would of been difficult to find the trail with all that snow. You probably will not have any issues during the warmer months. Mount Islip is beautiful and a good place to soak in the views and take lots of pictures. We will definitely come back and hike South Mount Hawkins and you can even hike further to Mount Hawkins, Throop Peak, and all the way to Baden Powell if you have the time. There is a cabin on Mount Islip, but it was covered in snow when we were there. To complete the loop, we hike back down on Big Cienega Trail. It has some awesome views, and there were still snow in this area, but it was easier to follow the trail back down unlike the Windy Gap Trail going up. Throughout this hike, they're plenty of posted signs in the area. This trail is not crowded like the popular trails in the same area, like Bridge to Nowhere. So if you hate the crowds, this is a gem. As always pack accordingly to the weather and have fun hiking.

This is a sign leading you to a heavenly and graceful place.
Jo Grace T.

A+ ! Beautiful lush and rich in vegetation and scenery. The campsites are well kept (no trace) and are spaced out considerably from one another for some more privacy, yet still close enough to others to spare generosity with. - $12 camping fee/night plus $5 for/ extra vehicle - really laid back spot, everyone is considerate of one another. - there is a supply store really close to the campgrounds where they sell wood so if you don't have any you could easily buy some. If you have no money, it's easy to find tinder and wood lying around the forest (try to bring an axe and/or saw) * The navigation app called Waze will now take you all the way up the mountain to the campsites. Make sure you type in "Crystal lake campgrounds" and choose the one in Azusa. If you are lost or confused I highly advise to call a number provided for crystal lake campgrounds on google BEFORE 4PM. Someone can easily give you directions. The crystal lake campgrounds are high up in the mountains, make sure to look out for signs because it may feel like a long time that you are driving and that you have missed a turn or a sign. You will be driving a bit more than the 30 mile marker so it'll be quite a drive up.

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Greatest place ever been coming here since I was a kid with my father! It's nice, fun, cheap to visit!

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Ask the Community - Crystal Lake Camp Ground

Can you bike around the campsite and is it paved bikeway?

Yes, it's paved so you can ride around the campsites

What time do the slots usually fill up? What's the best time to arrive on a weekend?

Arrive around noon because most people would've gotten up by then.

Are small camper trailers OK or is this tents only?

Car camping or tents is your best bet.

Do they have showers? Is it only first come first serve?

Don't expect showers. You get those toilets that drop to a pit and you get the spigot.

Where do you pay for the night?

How to reserve (first come first serve): 1. Bring a pen and small bills like 10s, 5s, and 1s. 2. Grab… Read more

Do we have to pay a fee to camp? Or how does this work?

How to reserve (first come first serve): 1. Bring a pen and small bills like 10s, 5s, and 1s. 2. Grab… Read more

Does it have electricity hookeups? I'm using inflatable beds and would like to know if there's electricity

Your lips or a hand pump or something that plugs into your cigarette lighter in your car.

Are the campsites dog friendly?

Yes

Is swimming available for kids? Or a shore they can play in the water? Thanks!

I would not advise swimming in the lake. Its not very lean. stagnant

What kind of bathrooms do they have?

Vault toilet

Is it first come first serve or reserved sites?

Yes. It is first come first serve.

Is this campsite first come first serve or is reservation needed?

First come first serve

Is it hot there in the summer?

Yes and buggy. Bring bug spray and candles to keep them at a distance.

Ahí algún río donde se pueda uno bañar?

No wtf you can't shower in the river. That's disgusting. No se pueda banar, no sea asqueroso

Are the cabins dog friendly?

I don't know. I never asked. Call the cafe and ask Adam. He's the owner.

The fishing going to be this year doing Thanksgiving 2017?

No fish. The lake has not been stocked since it became a mud puddle. Nothing could have survived. But call the ranger office to confirm.

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Review Highlights - Crystal Lake Camp Ground

You can just go there for the day but you'll still need an adventure pass to park in the parking lot.

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Crystal Lake - Crystal Lake

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4.1(62 reviews)
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Very beautiful place. Just an hour's drive from La Crescenta, much closer than Big Bear…read more There's still snow there, the road is clear, and along the way, there's a mountain stream and a reservoir where you can stop. Download a map in advance, as there's no signal there. There's a small lake where you can take a walk, and a forest with a cozy family café where you can grab a snack.

Plenty hiking opportunities, refreshing air, and a nice scenic drive in. Be sure to have a full…read moretank, as there is no gas services. There is a cafe/ convenience store across from the campground where you can also purchase your day use park pass for $5. I experienced a foggy day, which gave a cooling effect to my hiking. Restrooms are vault toilets, so unpleasant smells and a mess are a given. The lake has lots of swampy algae, therefore not appropriate for swimming or water sports. However, they do allow fishing with permit. I am a nature enthusiast and it was saddening to see the lack of humans respect for nature, with graffiti and trash in some areas of the park. Crystal lake definitely could use more funding to preserve its natural beauty. The loveliest part is listening to woodpeckers as they work, watching an eagle fly above with a fish in its talons, and treading quietly not to startle the squirrel who is crossing my path. I suggest picking up a map with hiking trails from the rangers post or convenience store, before planning your day!

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Crystal Lake - My Cheeseburger from the Crystal lake cafe.

My Cheeseburger from the Crystal lake cafe.

Crystal Lake - Steps to/from Crystal Lake to the parking lot

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4.6(986 reviews)
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Bungee America - Part of the Trail

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3.7(245 reviews)
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Peaceful, Quiet, plenty space to Walk , Ride Bikes, Jogging, Picnics . Only $8 to get in if you…read morequalify or you could buy a yearly pass that's good for all State Parks.

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Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area - Heart shaped cactus on the trails in the flood control basin!

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4.8(41 reviews)
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Locally owned & operated

My son attended his first season at Camp Adventurewood in 2023 - it was his first experience at a…read moresummer camp and he was a little nervous and shy but all his counselors made him feel so welcome and comfortable and after the first day he was hooked! He loved the variety of activities and made so many new friends. He came home with fun stories each day. I loved that they offered a variety of options from 2 days/week to 5 days. We returned last summer and an unexpected and sudden medical event threw our summer for a loop. They were beyond kind and accommodating. Michael, the owner, personally made sure we were taken care of at a very scary time and was just incredibly kind and communicative. I can't thank him and his staff enough for the support. I would recommend this camp for any family. Its like a classic, old-school summer day camp experience!

My son attended Adventurewood camp for the first time this week. For the most part he enjoyed…read morehimself -- particularly the characters they introduce throughout the week. However, we decided to pull him out for next week because of a very disturbing situation. He shared that a counselor had pushed him with both hands on his shoulders during a capture the flag activity. He had dropped his flag and was putting it back on when a counselor (he didn't know her name) pushed him back hard enough to make him lose his balance and fall. She also barked "you need to reset!" She didn't ask if he was ok or help him up. You'd think if this was an accidental push and he fell over she would say something like "sorry bud are you ok? Here let me help you up" but nope, not a word. A friend he's attending camp with witnessed the whole incident. Since I pick them both up in the afternoons they both recounted this situation to me and both of them noted how inappropriate her behavior was. I immediately reached out to Michael, the owner of the camp. He said he wanted to identify this counselor and get her side of the story. Understandable. My son felt uncomfortable going back the next day but I reassured him it would be handled and offered to drop him off in the morning and stick around to talk to Michael and the counselor. I wanted him to feel safe. Michael identified her (her name is Carson) and said he wanted to talk to her first, which he did a few feet away from me. I heard her say she didn't push him. They then walked over to me and she again denied everything. So we asked both kids to come over and recount what happened. They both did -- in front of her -- and reiterated she pushed him. She denied even touching him. So Michael suggests at this point that perhaps it was an accident and my son responds by saying "how do you push someone like that by accident?!" No response. So I ask her, are you saying these kids are lying? She again said she didn't touch him and at this point we send the kids away. I'm incensed because not only does she gaslight both of them to their face but tells this bold faced lie to her boss in front of the campers and me. I tell her I believe them and I think she's the one lying. At this point she gives me this dirty look - angry, irritated and almost rolls her eyes at me. I turn to Michael and say "and now she's giving ME an attitude?!" Unbelievable. In a follow up call, he tells me how good of a person she is and that this is shocking for him to hear but that she doesn't seem like someone who would do something like this...that she's getting her teacher credentials and he knows her really well. I am getting the vibe he doesn't actually believe any of this and he sounds very skeptical. I respond by telling him that it's almost always surprising when people exhibit bad behavior and that even teachers do bad things...that doesn't make her any more credible in my eyes. He acknowledged that. In fact, it's worse because I would be really concerned to have someone like that teaching a kid. Lack of empathy, accountability, and integrity. I mean, I think it's great he's trying to have her back but there are moments in life when you need to draw a line and act swiftly...these are one of those moments. Because ultimately, this impacts the reputation of your camp. I told him that it would be good to offer training to his staff in case this ever happens again in the future and honestly he sounded baffled and asked me to clarify...I said well maybe tell your staff not to give dirty looks to a mom who's clearly upset that her son just got pushed by a grown adult at summer camp?? I told him that the response to this situation could've resulted in a totally different outcome. Had she said something like "I really don't recall pushing you but if I inadvertently did and made you feel bad I'm sorry - I didn't mean to do that" - I would've went home that morning feeling fine about the situation. When I told him this he said that he's not going to police all her reactions, that she's still young, that she's still learning and made all kinds of excuses for her. Exhausting. Apparently she got a "warning" and will sit out of the flag activity (umm, ok...). He seems like a smart guy and wish him nothing but success in the future and I was earnestly trying to offer advice for how to handle a situation like this better but it fell on deaf ears. I really hope that some kind of learning comes out of this for both of them. Oh and to top it off, my son's friend told her mom that Carson was giving her looks several times throughout the day today and when she asked what kind she said "side eye" looks. NOT COOL. My son also said she was kind of mean to him but wondering why they were even in close proximity when Michael said they'd absolutely be separated and would not see each other? Validates we both made the right choice by pulling them both out. He offered a refund but I'm still pissed about the situation.

Photos
Camp Adventurewood - Campers row their canoes in search of battery-operated fish.

Campers row their canoes in search of battery-operated fish.

Camp Adventurewood - The campers erupt in cheers at Camp Adventurewood!

The campers erupt in cheers at Camp Adventurewood!

Camp Adventurewood - Megan and Giovanni's Troop of campers arrive at the campsite.

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Megan and Giovanni's Troop of campers arrive at the campsite.

Equestrian Visions Xtreme - Andrea and the new vaulting horse Foxy

Equestrian Visions Xtreme

4.5(11 reviews)
7.6 mi

I found Andrea on Yelp when my husband and I bought a house in the Duarte area. I used to ride as…read morea child, and I decided now was the best time to get back into it. Andrea has been nothing short of AMAZING! She is very experienced and knowledgeable, and allows you to move and grow at your own pace. She has been incredibly flexible with my schedule, and she has always been very prompt to reply when I contact her. I love that she allows me to arrive early to take my time to get my horse ready. I never feel rushed when working with her. She is very patient and kind with her teachings. I cannot believe more people do not know about this hidden gem and incredible instructor right here in north Duarte! I am now taking 2 riding lessons a week with Andrea, and I am learning so quickly and having so much fun all at the same time. She really cares about the safety of her horses and riders, and she instills a ton of knowledge upon you about her craft as well. She always makes me feel safe when I am riding, and that was something that was very important to me. I highly recommend Andrea to any beginner riders, experienced riders, or children just getting started for the first time. You certainly will not be disappointed!!

Andrea the owner is so nice and, I'm so glad I was brought to this hidden place of peace…read more I got to finally ride my dream horse for the first time; Friesian horse, his name was Acke German like the owner. I haven't done vaulting in 15 years, this was so much fun, I do yoga so it helped for sure because vaulting is a mix of acrobatics and riding. The place is so peaceful, and this helps a lot to relax and focus. So close from where I live and work, who knew this kind of hidden gem would be found in Duarte! Thank you Andrea. Posted a picture, it talks for itself.

Photos
Equestrian Visions Xtreme - Flag on Foxy

Flag on Foxy

Equestrian Visions Xtreme - So proud of these two :) :) :)

So proud of these two :) :) :)

Equestrian Visions Xtreme

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Crystal Lake Camp Ground - campgrounds - Updated May 2026

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