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    Paradise Campground

    3.5 (44 reviews)

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    MarVy S.

    My first time camping and it was not bad. The campground is on the Santa Ynez Mountain. There are plenty of trees, greenery, and shade. You can even bring a hammock! :: Experience:: We traveled up the mountain but not very high. The campsites are all numbered and have their own parking. We got #7 which had two parking spaces. I saw one campsite that has four parking spaces because it was bigger. There is a table with two benches, a firepit with a grill, pedestal grill, trash bin, recycle bin and water faucets. :: Customer Service:: There is a Ranger stationed at the campsite. He came by close to the evening and checked on our reservation. :: Highlights:: -Even if it was raining, everyone had a good time. -The restrooms are so clean!! ::Tips:: -Bring mosquito repellant -Check the weather -To reserve a campsite go online -Bring cash to purchase wood for the fire ::M's Notes:: -There are a lot of caterpillars -A $10 fee will be collected nightly for extra vehicles

    Campground with ample room
    Kevin X.

    Beautiful campground tucked away into the Los Padres National Forest. I'm so glad we came after the rains that socal got this past winter - everything is so lush and green, but also there are tons of bugs! The sites have ample space for a large tent and a parked car, and each site comes with a firepit, charcoal grill, and a table. The campground has convenient access to the Santa Ynez River (just go through the tunnel under Paradise Rd and walk down) as well as access to other hiking locations (just ask the host! She is super helpful and very nice!) There are restrooms with flushing toilets and water spigots dispersed throughout the campground. Very nice. Overall, we had a very pleasant stay (besides the bugs. Bring bug repellant.)

    Campgrounds

    Great location, chill campground. Fun trails and Cold Spring Tavern nearby. Arrived Thursday afternoon and there were some first-come-first-serve spots available.

    Spot 9: shady and sunny and thousands of frogs sing you a lullaby when the sun sets
    Lucas G.

    Thirty-five minutes north of Goleta you have two of my favorite just-for-the-weekend friendly campsites in the Los Padres Forest--Los Prietos Campground and Paradise Campground. With Los Prietos under renovation (tree removal from October 2022 to January maybe ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ) my buddies and I decided to set up at a first come site in Paradise Campground. Campsite was $30 per day and was fairly easy to get considering we got there on a Thursday, but the Campground host said any later and we definitely would've missed out. Keep that in mind. We set up at Spot 9 which was lovely and very spacious, check my photo (each site is about 50-100 feet from one another). The campsite is QUIET (hallelujah). We stayed here the weekend of November 18th 2022 and it was low 40s at night MAYBE high 30s with some windchill. The firepit is a nice touch especially when so many areas in CA restrict any sort of fire that isn't a portable stove. If you're lucky enough to score a reservation or bag a first-come spot and you don't want to/can't venture too far from civilization, this is a nice ol' reliable spot.

    White Rock
    Jeff S.

    We were here for two nights, mid-week in August 2017. Family of five with kids. We enjoyed it! Typically we go beach camping, but I was too late trying to reserve a spot. I found Paradise Campground online and thought we'd give it a try. It's a small campground with about 15 sites. There is lots of shade as it's situated in a grove of oak trees. Very restful and enjoyable. There was a nice breeze moving through the valley. Clean air and fresh smell. I think we lucked out with perfect weather for August. Mid to upper 80s in the sun, much cooler in the shade. Yes, there were bugs buzzing around in the heat of day, but not in the morning or during the final hour of daylight as the sun sets. There is a cool little pile of rocks for the kids to climb all over. Other families and campers were friendly. We stayed in site #14 which we liked. Any of the sites would have been great, except site #3 with too much sun. We will probably try to get site #2 next time for its shade and view of Sage Hill (?). White Rock is just about a quarter mile away. An easy hike or a 1 minute drive. It was really nice there late afternoon before dinnertime. Very serene with still water and lots of green. My wife and I sat on camp chairs enjoying the view while the kids were skipping stones and climbing around on rocks. Red Rock Canyon was amazing. This spot really made the trip for us. The photos do not capture the beauty of being there in person. We went about 10 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. We had the swimming hole all to ourselves for about an hour on a beautiful August morning. Then a young couple came with their two awesome German Shepherds swimming around with us. So fun. This is a great place. We had a good time jumping off rocks, swimming and splashing around. Pleasant water temp. Easy "hike." We left around noon as several other families started making their way in. We kind of stumbled upon this campground but will make a point of returning in the years ahead.

    Space #9
    Robin G.

    Clean and friendly campground. Plenty of water but no showers. Good fire pits and BBQ grills. Pet friendly.

    Leasa M.

    We had a great couple of days here. Ada the host was very friendly and helpful. The bathrooms are clean & stocked with toilet paper. The campground is also clean. There is allot of dirt but hey your camping. Dogs are welcome and is one of the reasons we picked this campground. There down side is there is no showers and ALLOT of flies, flying bugs & yellow jackets. Ada told us about a "river" that is about 6 miles up the road. It is more of a watering hole but it was allot was so much fun. There is a wall with a rope so you can climb up an jump into the water and around the corner is another watering hole with a rope swinging into the water. The dogs an family had a blast here too. We will definitely be back

    Ernie D.

    On background, I've camped a lot...big campgrounds, backcountry, group, equestrian. I came to the Santa Ynez canyon last minute (mid-May 2016) hoping to score one of the walk ups at Upper Oso. Denied. Getting late, last resort, I ended up here. Camp host Amber was able to accommodate me in the overflow which was PERFECT! Now you won't be camping solo on a weekend, meaning there will be other campers, but the overflow area is spread out and under a canopy of really big oaks. The main campground on the weekend that i was here was overrun by families with kids, screaming playing kids, which is great. Hey, they were having a blast. But at 9 pm, quiet hours go into effect and it was, well, quiet. The overflow is for tents only. You'll have a fire ring/pit with an adjustable grill over each. You'll also have a huge picnic table at each overflow site. Potable water is available from several spigots and the bathrooms are FLUSH toilets, are clean, and were well stocked with tp. Pets are allowed and mine met a few new friends. Firewood is available from the host for $6. Spot cost me $20/night. The host, Amber, was very, very nice. Totally non intrusive, but you can tell that she won't take any cr@p. And that is awesome.

    Breathtaking view on the way to Paradise Road.
    Pam P.

    Thanks to the reviews written by Kelsey B and Ryan C, my family + friends + kids enjoyed exploring a weekend of camping here. The 3-hour drive was worth the trip. Our site was #5, right across the restrooms, next to the host. The site were mostly dirt and dusty, but it had full shade, can fit 6 tents and four SUVs. (We only had 3 tents & 3 cars). During the night, you could hear cars and toilet flushing, but the crickets muffled the sounds. We loved having direct water-faucet access right at our camp. It seemed all I wanted to do was wash my hands! ;) I don't think quiet hours were enforced because you do hear the happy-drunk-groups a few sites down; but again, the mountain animal sounds muffle it. Firewood are for sale $6 cash only. Be prepared to pay cash $5 per night for the additional cars. 2 is max. Paradise Store 5-10 mins away is a convenient store. Be prepared to spend $$ as things there are overpriced. White Rock is a short hike away through the tunnel. Overall, we had a wonderful time. Showers would have been nice, but our portable shower did half the trick. For some reason, all species of flies were on our site! Bug spray, firewood smoke, citronella candles helped, but bring a screened-canopy for more comfort. We were warned about foxes walking around the site and racoons looking for food, but never came across them. We did see a family of deer on the other end of the campground.

    Paradise Campground September, 2013
    David C.

    Dusty, flies, and the nearby river was dry. Beautiful oak trees but not the most exciting camp ground. The campground was fairly quiet, running water, aside from the toilets which were permanent structures but compost style. No campfires allowed (summer 2013). I'd like to check it out once global warming has passed and the California drought has ended.

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    7 months ago

    We loved it here! We'll be back- restrooms were well kept up! Looking forward to our next trip:)

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    1 year ago

    Small clean campground ,there is water!clean toilets .phone service available .We had a good time

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    1 year ago

    This is the most amazing place ever I think. I had the adventure of a lifetime. I have never felt more free. I love you Paradise Campground

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    9 years ago

    We had a great time. The camp host was very nice. It was quiet and kept clean. I like that they had flusing toilets.

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    Ask the Community - Paradise Campground

    Review Highlights - Paradise Campground

    The camp host cleaned and stocked the restrooms every morning but he was not too friendly.

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    Douglas Family Preserve - Pearl and a too-big stick.

    Douglas Family Preserve

    4.8(188 reviews)
    11.4 mi

    We had no idea that this nice easy trail existed when he headed out to Santa Barbara with our 9year…read moreold lab mix for a 4 night vacay. What a great find this place was. Parking is Free and Plentiful -- In early August 2025 we showed up at 6:30pm on a Monday (to hike the preserve). There was tons of parking in the lots that abut The Boathouse, and the lots are always free for the public. There is also free street parking on the street just past the traffic circle. The hike/trail (The Douglas Family Preserve): A nice easy trail, and really fun for the doggos as it is an off-leash area. I'd say that half the people we saw on the trail had a pup, while the other half had no pets. The loop from the ground to the top and back is 1.5miles. There is 150 feet of elevation gain over a distance of about 1/3 of a mile; the rest of the hike is flat (w/ a large mesa at the top with lots of interconnected trails if you want to make the hike more extensive than a 1.5mile loop). Our dog not only enjoyed the walk, but had lots of fun trying to start some small play sessions with other dogs that she saw on the trail. Bonus: this trail uses the same parking lot as Hendry's Beach (Arroyo Burro Beach), which is leash free along the coastline east of the lifeguard tower (to the left of the lifeguard tower if you are facing the ocean).

    It's nice to see how different the ocean views and the vegetation on this trail changes in…read moredifference seasons. I had previously visited in September and this visit it is May. Still a nice day to walk and enjoy the cool ocean breeze, friendly people and dogs on the trail.

    Photos
    Douglas Family Preserve - Me and Cooper

    Me and Cooper

    Douglas Family Preserve
    Douglas Family Preserve - ** Dogs Welcome ** ** on and off leash ** Starting the BarkDay celebration early!

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    ** Dogs Welcome ** ** on and off leash ** Starting the BarkDay celebration early!

    Aliso Canyon and Loop & Campground - Gorgeous natural contrast of colors

    Aliso Canyon and Loop & Campground

    4.5(2 reviews)
    3.5 mi

    PRELIMINARY FOREWARNINGS: - Three and a half mile,…read moreintermediate to advanced hike with 700-800 foot elevation gain. - This is 30 minutes from Santa Barbara and Goleta within Los Padres National Forest. - Bring $10 in cash bills for the entrance/parking fee. - Drive a 4WD or SUV because you do need to drive over a river wash. - There is very little shade so bring a hat and plenty of water. - Don't confuse it with the "Aniso Trail" which is between El Capitan and Refugio State Beaches along the PCH. This is well within the Los Padres National Forest lands. - A flushing toilet with running water and picnic tables are at the trailhead. - WHAT THE SHALE! Beware when transverse up/down the trail since the ground consists of a lot of shale (fine-grained rock that is a mix of flakes of clay minerals and tiny fragments) which is super slippery. Now with all the 'important' information covered, I will share this Aliso Canyon and Loop is within my top three favorite hikes around Santa Barbara. There is natural beauty with 360-degree views of the greener Santa Ynez and stony San Rafael Mountain Ranges. Along my hike I have seen turkeys, deer, skunks, and many bird species, plus skeletons, scat and foot prints galore. The trail begins as a mile long interpretive trail along a creek and travels through Aliso Canyon (unfortunately I've never seen the tour maps to match the points of interest). Continue in either direction another 2.5 miles to make the loop which climbs out of the canyon and up along the hill crest. At the highest point (1,700 foot elevation) you can enjoy some relaxation on a bench (thanks to the memory of Blanche 1924-1996) with views over the Santa Ynez Valley and both mountain ranges. Directions: Your best bet is to set your GPS to Sage Hill Campground. While it isn't difficult to find the trailhead, it can be potentially confusing at first. Drive on the 154 and turn onto Paradise Road which eventually enters Los Padres. Continue on the winding road until you see the Los Prietos Ranger Station on the left side. (You went too far if you reach Rancho Oso). Turn left and follow the road down and U to the right then left before crossing the Santa Ynez River wash. You will reach the payment area and signage. After depositing your ten dollars, continue to the right until the pavement ends. Cost: - $10 Day Use (CASH ONLY, no checks--they should really modernize and have a machine or even a code that accepts Venmo or Cash Apps!) - No passes accepted (i.e. Golden Age, Interagency, State Park, Federal National Park, or any other pass you can display) - No holidays are observed! Enjoy your time and remember to pack out what you pack in.

    Family Friendly - The Aliso trail is located in the Sage…read moreHill Campround. You'll need to buy a day use pass ($10) to park and hike here. Just put the cash in one of their envelopes and put your pass on your dashboard. Is it worth ten bucks? Well, while I love free hikes I do think this was a good loop trail and worth the fee. Start the loop trail on your right up the mountain ( you'll see the sign) and soon you'll be hiking counter-clockwise along the ridge, and back down into the Aliso canyon. There are some great views along the way and the final decent into the canyon along the side of the hill is exhilarating fun for the whole family. Yes this is kid friendly, but it's not easy. Be prepared for some complaining going up. We came after a large rain yet the river that runs through the Aliso canyon was mostly dry. - 3.3 miles total - Little shade so come early or late.. - Good Shoes are recommend as some of the trail is small rubble.

    Photos
    Aliso Canyon and Loop & Campground - Made it to the top!!

    Made it to the top!!

    Aliso Canyon and Loop & Campground - Trail market at top of Aliso Canyon

    Trail market at top of Aliso Canyon

    Aliso Canyon and Loop & Campground

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    Mono Campground - Hot Spring Pool

    Mono Campground

    1.7(3 reviews)
    12.5 mi

    I found Mono Campgrounds on GORP and it was listed as a top ten campground for Southern California…read more I was stoked to hear that there was swimming, hot springs, and many more great things to do. However, this campground is not all it is promised to be. First, the hot springs are pretty cool. However, they really are HOT. I mean too hot to go into when I was there. Hotter than a jacuzzi for sure. And they are literally piped into a little pool type concrete thing. Still nice though, but don't expect a natural swimming hole. Second, the area is very beautiful. You are not that far from Santa Barbra, but once you are over the first mountain range, you are into the middle of no where and it is beautiful. However, be prepared that you will have to drive 15+ miles over rough road. I saw some BMWs out at the campground, but man, I do not know how or why these people would take their cars out there. It is rough for a standard SUV and most people out there bring old beat up four wheelers. There are multiple water crossings and steep roads. We went in July (2010) and it was hot, about 95 when it was only 70 by the ocean. But this wasn't a surprise. But the millions of flys were. They were everywhere and unbearable. We left a night early because they were so bad. As for the swimming hole, we didn't find it. We did find an old dam, that was nothing special. I think there is a larger lake downstream a little bit, but it was so dry in July that I would doubt if there is any appreciable water that isn't stagnant and gross. Overall, this is a beautiful campground and the hot springs are something to see. But you really have to plan on taking forever to get there over the roads and be ready to battle the flies, heat, and lack of water. There is also no water at the sites themselves, so be sure to bring in your own water. There are vault toilets. Also do not forget your adventure passes!

    I agree with the previous reviews. Our party also got feasted on by flies and ticks. The so called…read more"Hot Spring" is an ugly cement basin. The drive out there is very beautiful but easily 15 miles of rough road not suitable for my poor little sedan. If you're looking for a Santa Barbara Hot Spring check out the Gaviota hot spring. Right off the road, easy to find, good times to be had by all at good ol Gaviota.

    Paradise Campground - campgrounds - Updated May 2026

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