USDA Forest Service · California
Southfork Campground
USDA Forest Service · California, United States · in San Gabriel Mountains National Monument
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 4,554 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 4
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- SOUTH FORK CG (NFSR 4N11A0) · native material · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Angeles National Forest
- Nearest town
- Paradise Springs
- Address
- CA
- Activities
- Camping, Picnicking
Season dates aren't confirmed for this campground yet - opening and closing dates haven't been verified. Check the operator's page or call ahead before you plan a trip.
Site map
The imagery of the campground. Press and hold the map to drop your own pins and notes; the operator publishes no site points here. Your ratings, notes, pins and photos are kept with the campground on your Saved list, the same list the camping map and the drive page keep.
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About
At a Glance:
4,500-foot elevation
21 sites
RV's up to 16'
No water
Vault toilets
Campsites are first-come, first-served
What to Expect
South Fork Campground on the backside of the San Gabriel Mountains is a hidden gem in the Mojave Desert. Tucked in the middle of steep canyon walls descending from Mt. Islip from the South and Vazquez Rocks in the North, this campground offers 21 spacious sites of year-round tranquility. Each site comes with a fire-ring and grill to huddle around and cook those family campfire meals. Additionally, each site comes with a picnic bench should your group decide a game of cards is in order.
After an evening around the fire, the South Fork Campground offers hiking and horseback riding to some of the most beautiful features in the San Gabriels. Campers turned hikers can travel south along Big Rock Creek towards Islip Saddle and see seasonal waterfalls or spot a Nelson's Big Horn Ram. What's more, hikers can head east along the Manzanita Trail towards Vincent's Gap or west to the Devil's Punchbowl - one of the most geologically interesting places in Los Angeles County. Regardless of the time of the year, visitors can find a trail that suits their needs and experience level.
If hiking isn't your "thing," South Fork Campground delivers excellent snow play, fishing, and stargazing.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 56° | 41° | 27° | 74° | 4 of 11 |
| February | 56° | 39° | 25° | 76° | 4 of 11 |
| March | 57° | 41° | 26° | 86° | 4 of 11 |
| April | 66° | 45° | 33° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| May | 75° | 51° | 38° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 87° | 60° | 44° | 103° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 92° | 67° | 57° | 101° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 90° | 66° | 58° | 101° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 84° | 62° | 50° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 76° | 55° | 40° | 89° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 67° | 49° | 32° | 79° | 1 of 10 |
| December | 58° | 42° | 29° | 72° | 2 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Trails nearby
- Islip Saddle Trailhead · 3.2 mi as the crow flies
Pct Dawson Saddle 30 mi Hike, High Desert NRT (south Fork) 5.0 mi Hike · Drive there - Mt. Baden Powell via Vincent's Gap · 4.2 mi as the crow flies
High Desert NRT (manzanita) 5.4 mi Hike, Pct Grassy Hollow 4.4 mi Hike, Mine Gulch 4.2 mi Hike · Drive there - Windy Gap Trailhead · 4.7 mi as the crow flies
Windy Gap Trail 2.6 mi Hike · Drive there - Islip Wawona Trailhead · 5.5 mi as the crow flies
Islip Ridge Trail 4.9 mi Hike · Drive there - Inspiration Point Trailhead · 6.5 mi as the crow flies
Pct Wright Mt to Inspiration P 6.7 mi Hike · Drive there
All 205 trails in Angeles National Forest · All 140 trails in San Gabriel Mountains National Monument
Trailheads the Park Service and the Forest Service map, within 10 miles as the crow flies; each trail's page has its length, climbing and the Service's description.
Nearby campgrounds
- Sycamore Flat Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Sycamore Flat Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 12 sites
- Big Rock Campground · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
- Jackson Flats · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 5 sites
- Little Jimmy Campground · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.