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    Paso Picacho Picnic and Campgrounds

    4.2 (116 reviews)

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    Campfire
    Audra H.

    It's my favorite place to go camping that's within about an hour or so from where we live. It's removed from the hustle and bustle and such a perfect nature retreat. There are tent sites & motorbike sites but the roads are rather narrow and I haven't driven a motor home up here so check and see what is reasonable for the campground. Plenty of hiking in and around the campground. Kids ride bikes, play outside, and enjoy many outdoor activities! Excellent time making s'mores and enjoying family around the fire to be had by all. The showers are decent (bring dollars to get tokens) and the bathrooms are pretty good too (bring your own hand soap). I love this place. I'll definitely be back. Fall time is the absolute best.

    View of stonewall (#34)
    Lisa W.

    Ok so it's tradition to stay here every year for our annual friends camping! We love coming here, we've stayed at campsite #47, #44, and #79. We did not like #79, it's on a slope. And also when we booked it showed it on the left but it's on the right. No privacy. As for #47, nice big campsite, but you'll need to book #48 to make it private. A kid in campsite #48 kept riding his bike into our campsite when we booked #47 because the downward slope made it fun for him. So it was not enjoyable to sit around the fire and have a random kid ride around us. His parents yelled at him but that didn't stop him. The best so far is #44, it's surrounded by trees, no one will walk thru your campsite, and it's private. It can fit 4 cars! Has its own water fountain. Worst campsite #13! Next to the bathroom and people walk thru your campsite to get to the bathroom. You can also hear all the flushes and see people line up. Bathrooms near #13 are disgusting. They need to clean it more often. We walk up the hill instead.

    Alex D.

    Went camping here and it's a good place! You can rent a small cabin, or you can rent land where you set up your own tent. There are actual restrooms (any gender) all throughout the campgrounds for everyone to use (see photos). There are trails you can hike to see a beautiful view from the top of a mountain, and the best part is that it is paved the entire way so it is wheelchair accessible! Yay! It costs $10 just to drive into the campground for the day and leave at night. It costs $40 to camp overnight with no cabin, just your tent. You do get a firepit to stay warm, there is a small spot to get running water, but no lights after dark so bring your own!

    Chris Y.

    Pretty cool campground overall with some beautiful trees around the area. I can't speak for all the sites, but ours was pretty close to the neighboring site. However, the backside of our site was expansive and was really unique compared to some of the other sites we walked past. I don't care how old this makes me sound...but there were some annoying kids skateboarding down the paved roads for a while but it was quiet other than that. The worst sound is skateboard wheels on pavement when I'm trying to chill in nature. Enjoyed our stay here but will mostly likely go back to green valley if we're heading out to this area again.

    Mt. Cuyamaca trail
    Grogu F.

    Easy entry and easy access to trails. Bathrooms were clean. Trails are well maintained.

    Khamphone K.

    This campsite is very nice. They have bathrooms, plenty hiking/walking areas and have so many reserve spots. The bathrooms and showers are pretty clean. I believe it's 25 cent per three minute for the shower. Across the campsite they have a hiking area; I've seen a lot of people go there. The staff drives by every few hours to check on everyone and clean any necessary trash cans etc. There are so many nice photo shot spots. I barely had phone signal in the area but it's okay! It's camping! I have Verizon lol. At night the woodpecker were annoying, pecking at the nearby trees. Other than that I would definitely camp there again.

    Bathrooms
    Marcus F.

    Camping and hiking experience - Two night stay. We rented campsites 41 and 43 with friends. Overall the campground was clean and there were several nice hiking trails close by. There were plenty of bathrooms (septic) and showers (.25 for 2 minutes). I'd say Paso Picacho is family-friendly but also keep in mind that Friday and Saturday nights can get very loud with large group campers binge drinking. There are also family programs for the kids like Jr Rangers, animal tracking classes, and other various fun activities. Better Site locations. Anything on the outer rim. And 3,4,6,7,18. Also 41 and 43 if you're booking for two families. Try to avoid lots next to cabins. Usually large groups take these areas and drink a lot and are very loud 14, 15, 16, 70- 64, 77, 57, 55, 54. Looking for shade? Site 30 is for you. The worst site? Site #13. It's right next to the bathroom and has two bathroom trails going right through this site. It also smells like a septic tank. Hiking trails - Stonewall Peak Trail. Not for those people out of shape. It's switchbacks all the way up! https://yelp.to/qTKq/B5hzzvyrcY Stonewall Mine Trail. Family-friendly and you're likely to see Deer and Wild Turkeys. https://yelp.to/qTKq/cSogbTnrcY Azalea Loop Trail. Some elevation but it's a nice hike along the small creek. https://www.yelp.com/biz/azalea-glen-loop-trail-descanso Tips - All of the bathrooms ran out of TP Sunday morning. Be sure to bring a roll just in case.

    Our camp site #57.
    Christi R.

    We absolutely loved the scenery here. This is one of my fav's as far as the landscape. It was our first time here so I tried to read the reviews and pick a good spot, but I would probably pick a different spot next time. We had # 57. It was pretty small and butts up right against 4 other campsites. We usually like to be away from other campers so the kids have room to play catch, but this site definitely doesn't have that. We drove around to check out other sites and next time I'll probably go with 53, 54, or 58. Those have plenty of room and still have beautiful trees nearby. I would stay away from 75/76/78 those are on a hill so you'll be sleeping on a slant. The hiking trails were nice. A couple were overgrown with brush so we tried to stay off those. If you need firewood they have it for sale for $8.00 a bundle. Cash only with the camp host. Not sure about at the front gate. I will say I was disappointed with the bathrooms. They did not clean them all weekend, only stocked toilet paper every now and then. By Sunday morning some had ran out of toilet paper. Luckily we took our own but I would expect them to be cleaned every day on weekends since the place was packed. Overall, we'll stay here again. It's a good place for families. We'll just be better prepared next time. Also, if you're using GPS coming from the 8 and 79, it took me to the wrong location and had me go to the Cuyamaca Outdoor School. Keep going past that about half a mile and it's on the left.

    Nina A.

    Really nice and well kept campground. We arrived at night. The darkness was nice and expected for beautiful night skies! We were a 30 sec walk to the bathrooms, which were convenient since we came with lottle kids. The bathrooms were clean and enough to not have to wait in line to use. Each site had a bonfire pit, which we used. I was only able to stay over night while the rest of my camp stayed longer. I will definitely consider these grounds again for a future camping trip!

    Elizabeth G.

    The best place in San Diego for tent camping!! Been to quite a few and this is the best we have found, lot of vegetation, shade, picnic tables, and grills , very quite and definitely a family camping place! The bathroom were always clean, showers as well. I totally recommend if you are a single family space #15 and 77 are perfect also there's a lot of trails to go hiking

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    Very nice outdoor area. My boys love spending time here. The weather can not be beat.

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    Was a beautifully spectacular time! Everyone that works there was epic and just a lovely experience.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Paso Picacho Picnic and Campgrounds

    Is there cell coverage in the camp ground?

    Yep full coverage and data streaming

    Is Campfire allowed at the campgrounds?

    Yes its allowed in the fire pits only

    What's the best campsite that is secluded? I have a 4 year old toddler and don't want to worry about her loud mouth! Lol 😆

    Try #85 or #70

    Are you allowed to tie a hammock at the campsites?

    Yes

    Does anyone know if the bunk bed in the cabin is full/full or queen/queen?

    Some have a combo of queen and singles some two queen

    Is there power outlet at the campsite ir thr restroom?

    Yes, some of the restrooms have electrical outlets

    Is the water at the campsites potable? Thanks!

    The potable ones there seem to be out of order when I was there. The ones right next to my site was not potable.

    What time is the earliest you can enter the campgrounds? My group will have already arrived Friday, but due to a work conflict, I won't be able to arrive until early Saturday morning.

    Their website says check in is 2pm. If you miss your check in day, you need to check in by noon the next day or else you lose your spot.

    Are their cabins to rent at this campgrounds?

    Yes. There are 5 cabins.

    Is it pet friendly?

    Yes they allow dogs.

    View All 16 Questions

    Review Highlights - Paso Picacho Picnic and Campgrounds

    We've used this campground several times as a launchpad for hiking nearby trails (Azalea Glen, Stonewall Peak, etc).

    Mentioned in 11 reviews

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    Green Valley Picnic & Campground

    Green Valley Picnic & Campground

    3.9(30 reviews)
    3.8 mi

    I had an amazing time connecting with nature at Green Valley Campground. I highly recommend it to…read morethe Yelp Community! This campground is spacious, clean, and well-equipped with firepits, picnic tables, decent restrooms with full working toilets/token showers, and water faucets adjacent to or nearby campsites. The campsites have a good amount of shade and the way they're situated provide seclusion. For hikers, it's perfect for accessible trails. There's a mini waterfall for some water fun. And lastly during my stay, an onsite Park Staff drove around the campsite periodically. I'm not sure if it's a routine thing but it was nice to see. All in all, this place is a gem for an overall peaceful camping experience.

    Great place to spend a night or two. Lovely people who come here. Grounds are really well…read moremaintained by staff as well as by the visitors there. Saw a few wild turkeys and birds on the Thursday night in October when I was there. It was mostly easy to find. The camp rangers gave us the rundown as soon as we entered around rules and regulations including with our dog. Finding our actual camp site was a bit tricky but if you keep driving you'll eventually find your spot. There are a few mini trails that you can wonder off on. I found myself spending about a hour at most on most of them. Hope you enjoy your time here and reconnecting with nature / ancestors. Please clean up after yourself afterwards

    Photos
    Green Valley Picnic & Campground
    Green Valley Picnic & Campground - Sitting beside thr Falls

    Sitting beside thr Falls

    Green Valley Picnic & Campground

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    William Heise County Park - Picnic table at site 19.

    William Heise County Park

    4.1(178 reviews)
    5.7 mi

    This place fills up fast but we booked several months out and were able to choose our campsites…read morebased on proximity to the dumpsters, bathrooms, and even based on whether the sites had shade. We reserved campsites 89 and 90. Campsites were about $37 per night, after the reservation fee, and could fit a maximum of eight people in two tents. Several of us had car set-ups and when we called the reservation office, they confirmed that sleeping in the car wouldn't count towards the two tent limit. Each site also has two dedicated parking spots. If you have additional cars, it'll be $6 per car/night and there's overflow parking scattered around the campground. Quiet hours start at 10PM and all campfires must be out (no embers) by 11PM. The bathrooms were fine, considering this was a campground. Showers are coin-operated and you can get 4 minutes for 50 cents. Make sure to exchange your cash at the ranger station before the sun sets! From my friend group, I heard mixed reviews on the showers. It seemed like the girl's side had poor water pressure and usually was cold. But both times I showered, I had decent pressure and the water eventually turned warm. There's also potable water throughout the campground, with a specific spout with filtered water (for taste). Our campsites were pretty great especially site 90. It's flat and right under a huge tree so it was the perfect spot to hang out and escape the sun. For tents, the ground was kind of rocky so make sure to bring a pad or air mattress if you can. Each site comes with a table and a fire pit. For firewood, you have to purchase from the campground because they don't want you to accidentally introduce any invasive species. Overall, great campsite with decent bathrooms! We didn't get a chance to explore the campground and the trails around it so I would love to come back one day. Oh and dogs are allowed as long as they're on a leash!

    First time at this campground! It's been a while since I've been camping, but this campground seems…read moreto be much nicer compared to what I remember from campgrounds I've been to in the past. The bathrooms were clean and fully stocked with toilet paper and free tampons on the women's side. There were 2 men's and 2 women's showers at the bathroom closest to our site. One of the women's showers didn't have the best water pressure and sprayed more of a mist...but the other was fine. Neither appeared to have warm water, but it wasn't freezing either, so it was bearable. We heard the men's showers did have warm water though. Showers were 50 cents for 4 minutes, and then you could add additional quarters to add on 2 minutes each. There were spigots and bottle refill stations too near the campsites. I'd probably avoid the sites right next to the restrooms unless you want to hear toilets flushing, the loud hand dryer, and foot traffic throughout the night.  There were plenty of trees so most of the campsites around us at least had at least some shade during the daytime. The only issue I really noticed was that some campgrounds were pretty close together so you will probably hear noise from neighboring sites. There was plenty of parking too, but these were also close to the sites, so one night we heard the sound of cars constantly locking throughout the night. Not the biggest issue though and you should probably bring earplugs while camping if you're a light sleeper. Overall, these campgrounds are nicer than a lot of other ones I've been there where you have to drive into town to shower. The tradeoff though is that with the nicer facilities and proximity to neighboring sites, it doesn't feel as remote and sort of feels like you're one step away from civilization. So maybe not the best place to camp if you're looking for a more true camping experience.

    Photos
    William Heise County Park - Valentine's gift from one teardrop gal to another.

    Valentine's gift from one teardrop gal to another.

    William Heise County Park - Loved the snow!

    Loved the snow!

    William Heise County Park - Snow fun, thanks to my friend Anne's gadget find!

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    Snow fun, thanks to my friend Anne's gadget find!

    Lake Cuyamaca

    Lake Cuyamaca

    3.7(152 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    It's a challenge to find serenity in San Diego county. And even harder within driving distance of…read moredowntown. But then there's Lake Cuyamaca, a hidden gem. I went on a 6 mile hike with my wife around the lake and also through a couple of spurs off the main trail. There's one spot where you can look down into a valley and see where all the water collects. In those moments I try to use my mind's eye to see all sorts of animals running around thousands of years ago.

    I didn't realize how much you could do at Lake Cuyamaca. Look no further if you want a great…read morecampsite with fishing spots and trails scattered around the area! If you're just visiting for the day like us, you'll need to pay for day use which is $10 per car. This fee is waived for campers or if you purchase a fishing permit (which is separate from the California fishing license). We started off at the Tackle Shop where we figured out our day passes and fishing logistics. The worker gave some great recommendations for fishing spots and this is where our group split, with several people fishing and the rest hiking. The Lake Cuyamaca Loop Trail is fairly easy and straightforward. It's about 3 miles total with little to no elevation gain. The trail mostly wraps around the edge of the lake but there was a section through an open field...the lake probably at one point stretched all the way out there but has dried up now. There's only a small section that had shade so for the most part, you'll be exposed to the sun (I got extremely sunburnt). You can use AllTrails if you're worried about getting lost but I thought the trail was pretty clear. We finished the hike in about an hour and just hung out with the rest of our friends fishing. We got lucky and it was such a beautiful day, with clear blue skies. Will definitely be back because I heard you could rent boats to fish off of! Oh and dogs are allowed as long as they're on a leash!

    Photos
    Lake Cuyamaca
    Lake Cuyamaca
    Lake Cuyamaca

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    Laguna Mountain Recreation Area - Mount Laguna

    Laguna Mountain Recreation Area

    4.7(26 reviews)
    10.9 mi

    I love Mount Laguna!!! I've been hiking and mountain biking out here for years. It's got such a…read morevaried landscape, ranging from huge desert overlooks to green meadows and trees. There is adequate parking along sunrise Highway pretty much anywhere you go. You are supposed to have an adventure pass to park here and they have a kiosk to pay for it but it never works. Fortunately if you have the America, the beautiful pass, you can put that on your dashboard and that will cover it. Today, my man and I went out and did a hike on the PCT portion to Foster point. Absolutely stunning, one of my favorite overlooks in the area. On this portion of the trail, there is very little tree cover and you've got to be careful not to get dehydrated. It was only 74° and it got toasty in the sun. We were out there for three hours, and I had 3 L of water. I drank pretty much all of it and a Gatorade bottle that I brought. If you come out here for biking, be sure to hit Los Gatos Trail. It's so flowy and fun and has a bunch of little features you can play on. Noble Canyon is a legendary trail but if you are going to ride it, make sure you've got strong bike skills because it is quite technical.

    Some of my favorite hikes in the winter are here. Previous years when I came here in February there…read morewas snow but no snow when we went today. We could tell that the snow recently melted because parts of the trail was muddy. There are at least 4 trails here. The trails range from easy to moderate depending which one you go on. The views are stunning!

    Photos
    Laguna Mountain Recreation Area - Desert View

    Desert View

    Laguna Mountain Recreation Area - Desert View

    Desert View

    Laguna Mountain Recreation Area

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    Paso Picacho Picnic and Campgrounds - campgrounds - Updated May 2026

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