USDA Forest Service · California
Blue Jay Campground
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Cost
- Overnight Use: Single Site: $20 per night Additional Vehicle: $5 per vehicle per night
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 3,556 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 4
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T weak · Verizon good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- NORTH MAIN DIVIDE (NFSR 3S04) · native material · high clearance vehicles
- Nearest town
- Lake Elsinore, CA
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.
Site map · loading…
About
US Forest Service campground. Access to Blue Jay is only available from the Lake Elsinore side of Ortega Highway due to Cal Trans closures every other weekend. Amenities includetrash cans, fire pits, grills, vaulted toilets, and plenty of local trails for hiking, biking and equestrian. For information regarding local and connecting trails, please see our Trail Guide under the Trabuco District. CURRENTLY THE LOWER LOOP IS CLOSED DUE TO HAZARD TREES. Not reservable through Recreation.gov, so plan on first-come, first-served; check with the ranger district for current conditions and fees.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 57° | 39° | 28° | 79° | 4 of 11 |
| February | 56° | 38° | 23° | 79° | 5 of 11 |
| March | 58° | 41° | 29° | 83° | 2 of 11 |
| April | 65° | 45° | 34° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| May | 68° | 50° | 41° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 77° | 56° | 48° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 84° | 62° | 54° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 85° | 62° | 57° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 81° | 59° | 52° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 75° | 51° | 38° | 89° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 68° | 44° | 32° | 81° | 1 of 10 |
| December | 60° | 39° | 30° | 73° | 4 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
- Blue Jay Trailhead · 0.5 mi as the crow flies · Drive there
- Morgan Trailhead · 4.4 mi as the crow flies
Morgan 4.2 mi Hike · Drive there - Hotsprings Trailhead · 5.3 mi as the crow flies
San Juan 7.7 mi Hike · Drive there - Wildomar Trailhead · 8.1 mi as the crow flies
Wildomar - 8 3.1 mi Hike, Wildomar - Wul 0.2 mi Hike · Drive there
All 125 trails in Cleveland National Forest
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
- Falcon Group · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 3 sites
- El Cariso Campground · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi
- Upper San Juan Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi
- Wildomar Campground · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi
- Tenaja Campground · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-06. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.