Wheeler Gorge is a natural wonder. The whole campground is magnificent and I hesitate to say but site 35 is magical. I stayed there last night and I was able to dip in a rock pool in the afternoon,evening and I even got up at 2am and swam naked. The campground host, Alissa and her husband are absolutely wonderful. You couldn't ask for a better couple of hosts. I hope whomever employes them reads this. I'll return to WG campground with my friends and family based solely on them alone. But the beauty of the place helps ;) read more

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This is one of our favorite campgrounds in the LA area. We just went this past weekend and they have unfortunately ruined it with the recent renovations. Someone decided it was necessary to excavate the roads and build HUGE concrete and steel highway bridges where the creek used to go over the road by campsites 41 and 40. They destroyed a beautiful place, it's really a shame. read more

Beautiful campsite and well kept. Wont go back. We had a tire vandalized by someone who thought it was a good idea to put a giant screw into the inside wall of our tire. We don't understand why except that we have a little dog that barks a lot. Might have been kids being stupid. Lucky it was a slow leak and I had a tire pump. No cell phone service there. read more

Wheeler Gorge Campground - Tire vandalism. - Campgrounds Near Me - Ojai, California

Went on a group trip. Good camp sites. Pretty trees and creek running through. My tent was close to a road, so occasionally overnight, I'd hear a car driving by fast. No running water besides the creek (don't drink that) which we used for hand/dish washing and such. The vault toilets had toilet paper until about Sunday morning. Vault toilets were clean, but the lock was broken on one of the doors. I can't speak to the reservation process, but I believe our group leader was able to reserve them online and we had no issues when we arrived. Lots of other families camping there with music and laughter and thankfully it got quite around 9/10. read more

Great place right on the stream! During the week it's a ghost town - dog friendly too! Very hot in Summertime, but there is lots of shade. Watch for snakes on hikes in heat! (We saw a rattlesnake one day) read more

Camping here was OK, The spaces were a bit small, but we did like how there were bathroom accessible in many areas. Since the spots are so close together, you are pretty much hear everything the neighbors are doing. Not the best, especially if you have a family continuously fighting on the other side. It was really awkward at times. There is also not too many hikes at this location either, you'll have to drive to few of them. One thing I was really looking forward to was the campfire, but during the time we went, fires were not allowed so the night were really cold. We made the best of it though. My sister and I brought our gas stove and made smores on it with hot chocolate. The view at night was amazing. The stars are extremely bright and so many clustered together. I haven't seem so many stars like that in a while. It was breath taking. With great company, any where is magical. read more

Wheeler Gorge Campground - So many stars - Campgrounds Near Me - Ojai, California

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Wheeler Gorge has access to the river and nice leafy greenery like other reviewers describe! We were in site 53, which had wonderfully flat surfaces for tents and wasn't too downwind of the pit toilets. However, I don't recommend staying at this site at Wheeler Gorge or any ones near it because there is a group camping site nearby (I'm guessing the Holiday Group Campground), and they play music just loud enough to keep you (or me, at least) awake until 2:30 or even 6 am. The host, who was lovely, let us know that they don't have control over the behavior of people at this other location. I would actively look for sites as far away from this group campground as possible if you're booking on a weekend - especially a long weekend. read more

I spent a couple of nights camping at Wheeler Gorge, north of Ojai. Great campground, in the middle of nowhere. A stream ran right by the campsite. This is the first campground I've found in California so far that has large spaces with plenty of shrubbery for privacy. The sites are rocky though, and you have to make sure your tent will fit before choosing one. The website (www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232138) does a pretty good job of giving maximum dimensions for each site. Some sites are along Maricopa Highway, while others are tucked further back, between the stream and the mountains. I found a site (site 40) that was further back and had buffers (hills, stream, shrubs, trees) to cut out on the noise and allowed more privacy for me and my hammock. There were plenty of trees, but none that I could use for the hammock. I have a Tensa4 Hammock Stand, so that wasn't a problem. The hammock and the stand pretty much filled the available space, so a 12 to 15 foot tent would be pushing the limits I think. Each camp site has a picnic table (very short, and about 25 years old according to the gravity), a fire ring, and a grill. Vault toilets are well spaced throughout. There is quite a bit of poison oak in the area, and be sure to bring bug spray along with your calamine lotion. I saw the camp hosts several times each day and they were friendly. Ojai is only about 10 miles away for shopping and food trips. Highway 33 runs through the mountains and ends up in the desert about an hour north. It is one of the best motorcycle roads I've been on. read more

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Nice Campground 15 minutes from Downtown Ojai , really green & if you get a campsite by creek all night long you got the creek's sound as lullaby No cellular service that it makes it better in my opinion ! I read some reviews complaining about lots of bugs around , we didn't see any most probably because Oct is a cold month . There is available wood fire for sale @ entrance boot & restrooms were acceptable for a campground Be advised: There is no running water or electricity in whole campground read more

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A good campsite very close to Ojai. Absolutely no cellphone service unless you have Verizon and are right next to the ranger station. You walk 20ft away and it goes away again. They have a star link booster right there, which is the reason for the limited service. It's a pretty large campground but the parking is very limited at each particular spot, so it's difficult for group camping. Better for smaller groups, or individuals. You will see other campers from your campsite. Decent pit toilets, and the camp host kept everything pretty clean. There is a creek flowing through the campground so there are two distinct sides, the side closest to the road has better parking but slight road noise. I had site 19 and 20, which was divided by the road unfortunately. But site 19 had excellent access down to the creek, which my friend's kids enjoyed. We were there for Veterans Day in November so it was too cold to swim. Would def go back in summer. read more

Wheeler Gorge Campground - This is over by site 19 - Campgrounds Near Me - Ojai, California

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Beautiful campground,we enjoyed our stay with my family .clean toilets,big sites .Creek is great

Nice campground in the San Padres Forrest. My campsite was large, had a BBQ and and firepit that included a grill on top. The host's were nice but check-in is a bit strange. Definitely recommend buying the firewood at the Vons in town. Only con about this place is no running water, so pack extra! Be alert of bears, one went through my campsite at 5am. read more

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Visited Wheeler Gorge campground on July 26th (2 nights) and had a great time. Stayed at space #46 (close to hwy 33, not to noisy) and it's was big and lots of shade. Creek was very close and water was clean and cool. There is no running water, showers or cell service. Restrooms are kept very cleaned and stocked with toilet paper. Camp host Emily was very nice, sweet and friendly. She is from Tennessee and has a cute southern accent. Had second thoughts coming to the campground due to bad reviews on camp host but had NO problem with Emily!!! Drove down to buy firewood but Emily offered to take it to my site in her golf cart . Her helper (didn't get her name) was out and about in her golf cart cleaning up sites as soon as campers left getting it ready for the next guest. Overall had a GREAT TIME. Will definitely be back read more

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June 26 2019 We had a real camping experience at Wheeler gorge campground, we got a site that was mostly away from all the other sites and with the large stream running behind to drawn all the noise from others and with the toilets near by, luckily no smell, when we left all the campsites were taken for the next 2 nights, lots of people came for the weekend. Some things to remember * No potable water bring all the water you will need for everybody * the water in the shallow stream was warm/ I wouldn't get in that water, in the other stream the water was cold and better looking. The running water is soo refreshing, kids and pets love it. *At the time we were there, there was lots of gnats or some kinds of black annoying flies, bring a net for your food area. * Pit toilets, toilet paper * Picnic table and fire pit read more

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Just stopped in Ojai for one day and was able to pick from plenty of campsites around 6 on a Wednesday. Note, many of the campsites have reserved signs but are dated out for a couple days on most. The frogs and sound of the creek at night was amazing. There are plenty of restrooms around campsite. We stayed at 46 and could walk down and explore the creek from our campsite. I left with some bug bites but nothing too crazy. Host was helpful at check in. read more

While I had only been to Wheeler Gorge Campground one other time (in '17), I had it on my list of favorite local spots. But my opinion has completely changed thanks to the camp host. Here's a recount of the events from 10/11/20, and why I WILL NOT RECOMMEND anyone go here until changes are made: I decided to take a quick one-day SOLO camping trip & arrived around 1pm on Sun. The gentleman at the camp host tent seemed shy, but nice, & offered to pick out the camp spot for me. He told me about a bear in the area, that there were no fires permitted, took my $25 & sent me to spot #34. Because I'm a 5'5 female, setting up a rooftop tent/awning by myself takes me a while. During this time, a lady came by in a golf cart. She said "Are you guys supposed to be in 32?" I said "It's just me. He assigned me 34...do you want to see the hang tag?" She replied by saying, "No, all good. Did he tell you everything? About the bear and no fires?" She seemed to be questioning the other camp host. I went on a walk searching for cell signal and was gone from about 3-4pm. When I returned & walked past the host tent, there was a different, shorter guy sitting inside. He asked if I needed help, and I explained that I'd already checked in. He asked where I had walked, and we had a short conversation. As a side note, I heard the golf cart go past my site a few more times later that afternoon, noticing once that the lady was the driver of the cart. Not sure who was driving the other times because I was sitting on the other side of my truck. I got into the rooftop tent once it got dark and I started reading. Around 8:30, I heard the golf cart coming down the road and stop at my site. This is a very dark, tree-covered campground, so it is pitch black. The only light was from the golf cart headlights and my reading light. I hadn't heard the golf cart in hours (and didn't hear it again the rest of the night after this incident described below), so clearly the hosts weren't patrolling the campsites. So that meant the guy literally got in his cart just to make a special trip to my site. I heard a voice say "hello in there" and I sat up to look outside. I saw the shorter man (who was in the camp host tent after my walk) coming towards my truck & he was yelling at me saying "you have broken the rules & you need to un-camp and leave right now." His demeanor was alarming & he seemed drunk, & I sternly asked him to stop walking & stay where he was. From there, he continued to yell that I had broken the rules & I could not park where I was. I kept trying to interrupt so I could ask questions and try to understand, but he was belligerent, wobbly & aggressive. He kept saying "we can ask anyone to leave and we can refuse service to anyone, so you need to un-camp right now & leave." I finally started yelling back, saying "Are you saying I can't park on flat ground? And are you seriously asking me to break down camp in the pitch black? I'm leaving in the morning! I'm a female by myself in the dark and it would be dangerous and take me forever to tear down." The quantity of rude and unintelligible words coming out of his mouth was staggering, including "you women think you can just do everything by yourself and get away with whatever you want." Needless to say, I felt 100% threatened. His yelling (and me trying to interrupt) went on for quite a while. I said, "If I'm breaking the rules, then why did the camp host lady not say anything when she came to talk with me? And why did no one stop the other four times I heard the golf cart go by this afternoon?" He then said "You're lying & I'm going to go ask my wife if she talked with you. But you will need to leave." He stumbled off, got on his golf cart & I watched him attempt to get it in gear/drive it forward. I sat there stunned and scared, holding a knife, unsure what to do. I had no cell signal and had seen no other campers near me. If I had gotten out of the tent to start the tear-down process in the dark, I would have felt exposed and vulnerable. So I stayed in the tent and I didn't sleep a wink until it was daylight. At some point while I was packing up, the golf cart came by, but I didn't see who it was and they didn't stop to say anything about me "breaking rules." Obviously the behavior is concerning to anyone outdoors & exposed. My husband & I are trying to go through the proper channels to report this man. But as with many government contract situations, it's harder than it should be. He's contacted the Forest Service that has a Harassment Hotline for the purpose of reporting this type of incident in our parks. Also been in touch with the contractor that "manages" this & many of the campgrounds in CA (campone.com) - They said they are "investigating." I cannot stress enough to stay away from this campground & any other managed by Campone aka "Parks Management Service." In the end, it is their responsibility to hire and vet employees. read more

For my first time camping, Wheeler Gorge was a nice spot to start. The camp hosts were nice. You can reserve in advance or there are walk-in spots available. It's part of the Los Padres National Forest and located in Ojai. It's not too far if you really need to restock on ice or forgot something. The site we had was near Matijila Creek with shade, which was good for a very hot weekend. Overall, no one nearby was too loud. It's was a nice and peaceful getaway from LA. The bathrooms were not bad. They had more room than a porter potty and were always stocked with toilet paper. There are yellow jackets roaming around so bring bug spray and/or citronella candles. Also, watch out for the poison oak. Since there is no running water, we came prepared with two five gallon jugs, which was plenty for a three day stay. I would camp here again. read more

Wheeler Gorge Campground - Campgrounds Near Me - Ojai, California

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Was looking for a little getaway not too long of a drive out of the city, and this spot was pretty good. Hosts were awesome at helping us find an open spot, and they kept the vault toilets really clean. Lot's of shade with many trees, so most of the spots don't need pop ups to get out of the sun. If you need sun to charge your RV batteries, you'll need a panel you can move around during the day. Many spots were long enough for our 20 ft trailer on a couple different loops. We spent 3 weeknights in mid October, and the days were quite warm, night only down into the mid 50's. During the week, there were only 4 other campers, but on Friday it filled up. Pluses: Lots of shade, lots of RV sized spots, and really nice hosts--to the point of jump starting another camper's dead car, and stopping by to see how our visit was going. Seriously, these guys were awesome. No cell service, so your camping buddies won't be staring at social media the whole time. Minuses: No water, and quite a bit of poison oak, so study up on what it looks like so you and your pets can avoid it. It got very buggy with little gnat size flies during the day, but they vanished in the evening once the temp dropped a little. Guessing that's due to the half muddy creek. It's also close to the highway, so you'll get some road noise. Look for the spots further away from the road. The nature trail nearby is a disaster. It starts with a low crawl under the highway through a graffiti covered low spot that sketchy characters were hanging out in. Then a scramble back up an embankment to a trail covered in poison oak and fallen trees. Hard pass on that one. read more

I'm an avid camper and love trying out new campgrounds. Here are some pros to Wheeler Gorge: Site 26, 27 are Shady and right up next to the creek. Site 27 has a nice easy entrance into the small creek and a nice pool area. Site 26 is much bigger though and the entrance is a little steep and rocky but doable for us adults and teenagers. The drive from my area in Glendora is not bad at all! The creek is small right now but lovely! Enough to get wet and the kids loved it! Cons: Sites 22-24 are not very good because they are right on the hwy! I mean right on it! I would be afraid of someone losing control and blasting into my campground! THERE IS A RESIDENT BEAR! We fortunately did not see it because we put all of our food and ice chest away at night but I know my neighbor across the creek did! I heard yelling, banging and a few car alarms go off in the middle of the night. We kept our Site clean from food! We didn't want any unwanted guests! Also parking sucks! Every spot has an asphalt driveway good enough for an suv but won't fit 2 cars unless the second one is small and can fit sideways behind the first car. The overflow parking is only 4 spots and my hubby had to park there because we had 3 cars total. They charged us $35 for the extra car when I arrived and when he arrived a day later charged him $20! I think they got their info wrong. Oh well. Overall we loved it there. The hwy isn't too noisey and the camp sight was clean. I am going back for Labor day. I already booked Site 26 at least 4 months ago! Happy camping! read more

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What a beautiful campground! While there's no modern amenities like running water, shoreline power or even cell service - it was a great experience being able to connect with my family while disconnecting from everything else. Camp hosts were very welcoming and checked in with us every night. Many reviews posted about bees, black flies and other bugs while we experienced some we had two cintronella candles that we kept near our food at all times and applied bug repellent multiple times per day and had minimal issues. We're already looking forward to next year! read more

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We had such a great time! The campgrounds were very clean and the creek was beautiful. Also, the host who are husband and wife were so nice and very helpful! Coming back soon! read more

Wheeler Gorge Campground - Down the creek - Campgrounds Near Me - Ojai, California

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Don't ignore the warning on the Hosts Please check Facebook for videos soon to be uploaded ever where to warn families of there behavior. It doesn't happen to all but when it doesn't please be prepared and advises. You will not get a refund. You will get harassed. .When approaching the site it right away said camp full. I pulled up to talk to the camp host just to see if she had something at least for Saturday or any cancellations but she right away was extremely unapproachable. She said out loud "more city people great. " I didn't think much of it since I'm sure it can be a stressful position. But as the conversation carried on I realized she wasn't just having a bad day she has some personal issue with me and my family. She advised us to go check other campgrounds like Middle lion they should have sites. We drove over there to find an empty site with no sign so we thought it was available. We unpacked and started a fire and around 8pm a family arrived and claimed the site. We apologized and made an agreement to share the site. 20 mins later a person named Randy arrived and right away approached us aggressively and told us we needed to " Get the fuck out of there." My 11 year old sister recorded him and he kept harassing us as we packed all our stuff back threatening to call the cops on us when we did nothing wrong we where complying and leaving. We had dropped money in the drop box and addresses if we'd get out Money back he didn't want to but we stated we would not drive off till he respectfully gave us a refund for the confusion. There was a group to the side that as well accidentally double booked a site and they where allowed to stay but he attacked us and dismissed us. We decided to just wait for out originally reservation and do things the right way. This past Sunday we returned to Wheeler Gorge with reservation respectfully wanting to enjoy a quiet week. I paid $125 dollars for Sunday through Thursday and from the moment we approached the host stand her she ignored my vehicle helping multiple people that walking up even though I was second vehicle to be helped. Her reactions and response was "why would you even come back here". I wanted to prove to her that the website had some different sites then the one she offered and just wanted her to understand our last visits issue so we could be on good terms and be able to feel comfortable and respected when visiting this beautiful campground so close to home. She gave us our tag and as we drove off stated " I hope you leave tonight!" We got to our site #60 and began to unpack. Not even 10 mins in the male host Drives to our site with no shoes smells like alcohol and walks up right to my face to say "You give my wife attitude your banned from here. You better leave tomorrow or else." He walks away gets back in his golf cart and that's when Fear kicked in and we knew we had to record every interaction and we even had to sleep with one eye open keep in mind it was my 11yr old sisters first time and this was the behavior and threats we endured. My boyfriend arrived 4 hours later and when he arrived I had already drove down to call and warn him of there behavior so he secretly recorded his arrival and that recording as well proves her disgusting behavior not to mention the defamatory accusations to try and manipulate the situation. She allowed my boyfriend through after the disgusting threading confrontation never asking for a car fee or providing a pass just moving the cone and tell him to go get out of my face. Her husband then drove to my site and approached my boyfriend aggressively and not even a few words in says "fuck this I'm calling the cops..!!" Etc and as I stated I have all of this on film. I can go on but you can get a clear understanding of the terror and experience we encounter and the trauma it has cause my 11 year old sister. She has had nightmares since then. We still don't understand where all this anger and hate came from... she seems so angry with her job and her husband the manager is just the same when they are together it is worst it's scary to deal with them you feel threatened attacked and harassed. We have multiple video and I even have a video of the male host running my foot over as I approached him calmly when he evicted us. I would never want this to happen to anyone and i wish every day that never happened to my babysitter. Hateful people are out there but they should not be the face of a campground they should not be allowed to interact with family and kids if they don't know how to approach or Handel situation. Please help us fix this issue. I did not receive a refund and I only stayed one night. Please help us get these individuals removed. read more

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This campground does the trick! Easy access to Ojai but far enough away to make it feel like real camping. Becky and Bob are fantastic hosts! I don't think in the 50 years of camping I've done that I've met more friendly, helpful, available, spunky and forthright hosts before. Rare in my experience. The site we had, #67 was not ideal since we had an trailer but the tent site associated with it is fantastic. The sites in this area are definitely too close together but we met and enjoyed our nice neighbors despite their loud 6 year old boys shouting and waking us up at 6:30 am every am. Whatev. Definitely recommend the Sespe Trail about 1/2 hour away for fall colors! And the butternut squash ravioli at the Osteria Monte Grappa in town was incredible! Overall, a great place to visit if you get one of the campsites. read more

First time campers and we had a great! Are camp space was #15 right near the creek. The campsite was clean...the bathrooms were decent...the host we're very nice...we had a blast! Make sure you visit Rose Valley Trail & waterfall very nice! read more

Wheeler Gorge Campground - Campsite #15 - Campgrounds Near Me - Ojai, California

Great location! Beautiful scenery, creek was nice. Great location with kids. Also not to far from town in case you need something. NO CELL SERVICE! Bathrooms are clean. We had site #13 which we really enjoyed , it was very private and larger than most sites. read more

Wheeler Gorge Campground - Site 13 - Campgrounds Near Me - Ojai, California

BEWARE OF CAMP HOSTS Visted several months ago with a group of friends. Site was amazing but the camp host made the weekend a living HELL. Hosts were unfair, rude, and unprofessional. Deliberately picked on our group throughout the entire weekeend calling us "ravers." We don't even listen to EDM. Music was down by 8pm and still were harassed. Regardless, save yourself the time and choose a different campground. Hosts were unbearable. read more

Agree 100% with some, cons: host is a mess, rude, and bossy, and unfair, place is raw camping, no running water, no modern bathrooms, no wifi , etc etc Then :.. we love it even though! Lol..because even we had to deal with her, we succeeded! And we had a great time!! Pros: River was low but water was running! We play, we bathed, we cook! Have games and pit fire! Enjoy the stars! And overall was a great experience! Tips; bring drinking water. Be patient and very nice to the host, and even if she calls you and treat you like a kid, just keep calm and smile and be nice ( it works for us, and yeah, we were ask to pay more for different reasons). Get the sites that are close to the river, not close to the freeway. Bring incense so bugs and mosquitos go away Don't keep food in open containers, to avoid ants and other animals. And remember, is Camping! is not a hotel! It will be hot, in summer And cold in winter, be prepared And make it work! We had lots of fun! read more

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I just had the best experience at Wheeler Gorge. First of all, I love this campground. It is beautiful and the creek access at many of the sites makes it idyllic. This time I went as a single, female camper without a reservation. The hosts Becky and Bob and their staff member Emily were amazing. They helped me find the best first come first served sites, made sure I had everything I could possibly need, gave excellent recommendations for when I was in Ojai, and were all around lovely people. The sites were spotless, the bathrooms were clean, and my camping trip was everything I hoped it would be. Go give it a try! read more

Awesome campground. A creek runs through the area. Some flies during the day (when we went in May), but they cleared out during the night. Beautiful and peaceful location. Easy to check-in. Pit toilets, fairly clean read more

Had such a great experience this weekend! It was a little confusing when you get there because you're not sure how to check in- but once we figured it out it was perfect. It's one of the only campgrounds in the area you can reserve online- and your name is on your spot when you arrive- (we just missed it the first time) There are campground "hosts" right at the front when you get there, we just didn't realize it at first. Hope was super helpful and very hospitable:): we ran out of firewood but luckily they come prepared- you can buy a bundle for $8. (Keep cash on you just in case you run out!) The spot was perfect! One or the best on the grounds. (I'll keep that spot a secret for the next time we come) there was no trash, and was immaculate for our arrival. There was a barrel with a grate and also a charcoal grill- so you don't need your own cooking equipment (just bring wood and charcoal) and the creek behind the spot was so relaxing to listen to! Some sites are really not private so I would suggest checking the map before reserving in advance. There is a fun creek running through the whole grounds and the water wasn't all that cold- very fun to play around in! Only downside was the bathrooms- they were kept up and had toilet paper, but it's really just a glamorized porta potty. It's a giant hole in the ground and stinks to high heaven but you can't really avoid that, and was kept in pretty great shape considering the park was full. All in all- great experience!!!! read more

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Wheeler Gorge is about as far as you can get from civilization. Sure it can be a great thing, but not so much other times. I'll explain below. Review is for the entire campground and site #44. Pros: - As close to nature as you can get. - Large campground with many sites. - A few hiking trails. - Lots of greenery, trees, plants etc. - Host and hostess are nice and helpful. - They have porta-potties throughout the campground. I've never smelled anything from them. Cons: - No cell phone signal (could be a con to some, but not others) - No running water, no showers. Need to make sure you have plenty of water. - Back end of the campground is close to a highway so you can hear the cars flying down the road. - There were rowdy folks on sites #47 and 48 that did not want to lower their voices. No one came out to tell them to keep it down. They were partying, singing, laughing and playing music until 2am. Needless to say, it was a sleepless night. Site 44# is a two level type of space where you place your tents at a higher level and your bench, fire pit and bbq are on a lower level. It's not the most spacious, but it has a unique layout that gives you a place to separate your tent from your eating area. There is also a little walkway/path that leads you behind some bushes that can be used as a private shower area. read more

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AN UPDATE: Since I wrote the review below, I have been in contact with Los Padres National Forest and the concessionaire that runs Wheeler Gorge. While I'm impressed that they responded to my complaints and took the time to look into them, I'm not impressed that the concessionaire is siding with the host. The host is lying about what happened - stating the cops were called and that he talked to the group - neither of which is even remotely true. Also, to all the people who love Wheeler Gorge: I'm happy for you that your experience wasn't crappy. Not everyone is going to hate it. It takes all kinds. But there's no need to say that if someone hates it, they must be unreasonable or inexperienced at camping. Look at my profile: I camp all over, I run a camping blog, I'm not fussy and I know what's reasonable to expect in terms of the host, noise and campground conditions. And it's hard to argue with photographic evidence. Don't be shitty about it just because you had a better time. Review your own experience; don't knock others. And puhlease, you can have Wheeler Gorge all to yourselves! *** Wow. Where do I even begin? Our hopes were high for camping in Wheeler Gorge. Its high praises were sung on Yelp and Trip Advisor, and it came personally recommended to our group. One word ought to sum up Wheeler Gorge: horrible. And I blame the hosts for 99% of the misery we and other campers experienced. Problem 1: How about that group at sites 17 and 18? ELEVEN cars (most of which were minivans), 15 tents, at least 22 chairs and at least twice as many people. They also had at least five dogs of all sizes, all of which were kept off leash the whole time. The per-site limit is eight people. These people were completely blowing that limit and the host didn't care. They were blasting their music, they were LINE DANCING IN THE STREET. And if they weren't doing that, they were busy trashing the bathrooms and letting their dogs run all over the campground shitting everywhere. People all over the campground complained about them. The host's response when we complained? "Well, I have to watch 600 people all weekend." We wanted to point out that at least 400 of those people were all crammed into one site. Problem 2: The bathrooms. We were right across from two of them, so I can attest to this: the camp host never cleaned them. They went from vaguely unpleasant on Friday to putrid by Saturday afternoon, swarming with flies, toilet paper completely gone from all of the bathrooms and much of it covering the floor. Replacing the toilet paper was the one thing the camp host was willing to do when complained to. Thanks? Problem 3: The garbage. That massive group quickly filled the dumpsters, which were overflowing by Saturday morning and resembling a landfill on Sunday. Check out my photos of this below. Problem 4: Those hosts. With "hosts" like that, why bother having anyone at all? I don't know if these are new hosts, but they should be fired. The only thing they ever expressed concern about was our fire and selling us firewood. Anything that revolved around creating a pleasant atmosphere for the guests wasn't anything they could be bothered with. Sure, they have to manage a lot of people. But we never saw them managing anything! They stayed in their satellite-TV equipped tent the entire time, except to emerge and do a loop around the grounds to try and sell firewood. I'm going to be complaining to Los Padres National Forest, and I'm not the only person camping there that weekend who plans to do that. Problem 5: The location. The campground is right next to the 33 highway, a popular route with motorcyclists. You're going to learn just how popular it is with them indeed. Fortunately, it quiets down at night. Problem 6: The bugs. Biting ants that get all over everything. Mosquitoes. Spiders. Problem 7: The campground itself just isn't very nice. Some sites are shady, others are a mixed bag. But mostly, it's just scrubby, dirty and sad looking. When we pulled up, the first thing we noticed was all the trash. Plastic bottle caps, plates, cups, beer bottle caps...it was all over the place. The bottom line: Wheeler Gorge sucks, people. Avoid this campground at all costs. We'll never go back here. P.S. If you're going to ignore me and visit this craphole of a campsite anyway, here are some tips: If you're coming from LA, take the 5 to the 126, to the 150, to the 33. It's pretty! Get there before 10, since the gates close.. Ojai is nearby and there are a couple grocery stores. Von's is most convenient. Bring bug spray and water. There IS non-potable water for dishwashing. Vault toilets, which aren't kept up. Bring toilet paper (see photo 3). Don't worry about any of the rules, except for fire. Hosts don't care - pack as many people into your site as you want, bring as many cars as you want, bring your drugs, your drumkit, trash the bathrooms, graffiti the walls and whoop it up into the wee hours read more

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Overall a very nice campground. Took off one star for being very close to the main road. We camped in site #18 which seems to be one of the more secluded sites. It's a pull through spot located next to a stream...very nice! lots of trees in the park. Although we didn't use them, there are bathrooms all around the park. Hosts were very nice. Firewood for sale by the hosts. Lots of birds and squirrels!! Close to Ojai so lots of cute little shops if you have spare time. The only bad part about the park itself is the very close proximity to the main road. We were far enough away from the main road to only hear the louder vehicles but there are many sites located within feet of the road with no physical barriers. Some graffiti also. Like with any public park, some people treat it like a trash can as well as letting their kids run amuck unsupervised bothering other campers. You come to expect those idiots so I didn't take that into account when rating the park. I recommend looking at the park map before booking so you don't get stuck next to the main road. And if you expect to blow dry your hair after showering in a 5-star facility, this place is not for you....it's a no electric/water tent/RV campground. If you want to get away and have a campfire, watch birds, and experience some nature close to LA, then this is a great park! Happy camping! read more

Wheeler Gorge Campground - Wheelers Gorge site #18...birds and squirrels abound! - Campgrounds Near Me - Ojai, California

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I went to Wheeler Gorge twice last year and enjoyed it both times. It's about 8 miles from Ojai, so it's not too isolated. You can easily pick up forgotten supplies at the Vons nearby. During the day, you can go rock jumping in the creek or go on the many hiking trails nearby. They have this amazing nature trail towards the back of the campsite. To access other trails, you have to drive several miles up the road. You can get a hiking guide at the main office in front of the campsite's entrance. Beware of certain campsites when you book. The site that I booked (site #50) had red fire ants, was very small, had no shade whatsoever. Thankfully, there was a site closeby that was unoccupied that wasn't infested with ants. The second time we went, we stayed at site #7 which had plenty of shade and was really easy to find. Wheeler Gorge has may outhouses, but it didn't seem like they were cleaned often. You can smell the outhouses 20 ft away. Contrary to what the previous reviewer said, not all sites are along the stream. Only a few of the are. The campsite map on recreation.gov (where you go to book the sites) is not accurate to where the stream is. Overall, Wheeler Gorge a fun place with good company. But if had swimming, fishing, and water sports, it would be a lot better. You're not really "roughing it" here, which may or may not be a good thing. read more

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No Service = Relaxation Spent one night here: 12-Jul-14 to 13-Jul-14 We had no service on our cell phones the entire time. The ability to truly get away was a nice treat. Now to break down the details that may help you. Remember, you're looking to go tent camping NOT to go on a ritzy vacation. Hosts: Hospitable couple. Site: We had site 26. It was quite large and parallel to the river. River: Main attraction? Yes! But unless you love under a rock, you know that California is in a drought, hence the low levels. The hosts cannot control this. You can stop by the visitors center and see the hummingbirds and much more. Restrooms: Kept clean. There is no running water and it's a septic system. A little smelly but if the door is left open, it's manageable. Reminder: This is camping, not a ritzy vacay. This is a step closer to the real deal camping with a shovel. Creepy Critters: There are tons! You are in nature. Flies are a bit of a pain and yellow jackets come at the smell of meat cooking. So, if you have a popup with netting all the way around you should be good. Bring bug spray. You are near or next to water, which means bites. We will be coming back. Hopefully we get some rain in Cali because that river has to be gorgeous when it's fully flowing. read more

Wheeler Gorge Campground - Wheeler Gorge Camp Ground - Campgrounds Near Me - Ojai, California

Keepers are all nice and helpful! Best campsite is #26! You'll have your own creek for yourself! Enough water for you to get soaked and just hang out! Site is also roomy, a lot of space for your tents. We felt safe too as there's a roving security especially at night. read more

Wheeler Gorge Campground - Campgrounds Near Me - Ojai, California

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I love Wheeler Gorge! All campsites run alongside the Gorge, which holds small waterfalls, jutting boulders, and pretty moss-- all of which equate to super fun time! The weather was nice, and the nights were comfortable. I was surprised to find that the campground didn't have flush toilets (must've overlooked it in my research,) so I avoided going to the restroom as much as possible. It would've gotten 5 stars from me, had it not been for the cringe-worthy lavatories! **Edit: I guess not all campsites run alongside? I had site 58, which was literally a hop, skip, and a jump away. =] read more

Wheeler Gorge Campground - Our tent, from gorge level - Campgrounds Near Me - Ojai, California

For those of you who gave this place a bad review, too bad bc this is a place we went camping on New Year's eve and one we won't forget. Although it rained a bit when we arrived, it didn't ruin our parade. It was surprising to see many people camping but there were still many sites open. This place is year round and about half are first come first serve. It's relatively inexpensive as well, $25 per night. There are streams flowing by camp sites and hiking trails. The restrooms were clean however there are no running water or showers. But then again, who needs to take a shower when ur camping and one with nature. Perhaps if you go in the middle of summer you will run into bug and mosquito bites and a lot of people getting drunk and acting obnoxious so best time to go is in the spring, fall or winter. The sites are well maintained with many trees and if you run out of wood, there is a self serve area where you can buy wood on an honor system. We will surely be back soon. read more

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It was a nice campground. The best time to stay is the first 2 weeks of December where it was very quiet, no crowd, and no bugs or insects pestering you. The camp site are quite close to each other, so I can see this place being pack in the summer. We stayed in #69 close to the creek. Unfortunately, hwy 33 is quite popular by bikers, cyclist, and sports car. The noise from the hwy can be heard from the campground loud and clear. Most of the site is very shady, especially the ones close to the creek. The out house is not too bad. It's decent and lots of toilet paper. If you happen to be using the gps, the direction is not quite exact. The entrance to the campground is about 1/2 mile from where the gps indicated as the final destination. Drive a little further north and you will see the sign that the campground is up ahead. Driving at night can be scary as there was no light, but just follow your gps and the sign and you will find this place. Again, best time to come here is in the winter time as it can be pretty unpleasant in the summer where bugs, flies, and insects will be gladly to welcome you. And as for holidays, i can see this place being packed and noisy. As for my experienced, it was fantastic. We came at a very nice weather. read more

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Great campground. We had the group site 36/37 which was very large and private. Nothing like falling asleep and waking up to the sound of a flowing creek. There were also quite a few great hikes close by including the Rose Valley Falls. Would definitely recommend. P.S. It was 32 degrees the night we stayed so dress warm (Feb 21st) read more

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