High Camps
Take your summer higher. Head to these three mountain campgrounds for pine-scented days, starry nights, and celestial sleeps. Even better, you might just snag a first-come, first-served site.
Week: 08.18.2026
Regions: Southern CA
Pretty View Campground
Chula Vista Campground in Los Padres National Forest
Situated at 8,300 feet near the summit of Mount Pinos, Chula Vista is the best stargazing spot within two hours of the bright Los Angeles lights.
Read the full storyHolcomb We Haven't Camped Here?
Holcomb Valley Campground Near Big Bear Lake
Holcomb Valley Campground in the San Bernardino National Forest has 19 pine-shaded sites, all of them first-come, first-served.
Read the full storyPalomar's Star Power
Camp at Observatory Campground on Palomar Mountain
Palomar Mountain State Park in northern San Diego is like having a friend in a high place. There are perks to be had! The 6,138-foot namesake mountain offers cooler climates during the hot summer, and a way-up-there campground brings you even closer to the stars—and closer to one of the most famous observatories in the world!
Read the full storyTake the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula
The Quintessential NorCal Experience: All in One Place
The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.
Find Your San Francisco Peninsula Adventure
