“near the San Gabriel Wilderness”
5,300-foot elevation. 83 campsites. Some of the toilets are accessible for visitors with disabilities. Maximum RV length 40 feet. No Hookups. Be Aware of Bear Activity. Little Pines Loop and Manzanita Loop are $12 per night. Campsites are first come - first served. Visitor Center is closed indefinitely. Directions: Location: From Interstate 210 in the city of La Canada, exit at Angeles Crest Highway (Hwy 2) and drive northeast for 26 miles to the signed campground on the left. Call (818) 899-1900 for current conditions and additional information.
Reviews of Chilao Campground
5 people have reviewed this location
Ratings Summary
Cell Coverage
Verizon 5G
Confirmed by 3 users | Last reported on May 28, 2021AT&T 5G
Confirmed by 1 users | Last reported on April 25, 2021T-Mobile 5G
Confirmed by 1 users | Last reported on June 13, 2021Chilao has two loops: Little Pines and Manzanita. I arrived after dark on Saturday and circled through Little Pines without finding an open site. I pulled into the first spot I found at Manzanita, which is ~500 ft up the entrance road from Little Pines. Being my first time to the Angeles National Forest, I wasn't sure what to expect when I awoke. What a view! I was pleasantly surprised at how clean and scenic the campgrounds were being so close to LA.
I actually liked the Manzanita Loop better, and especially liked site 26. The western side of Manzanita traces the ridgeline, and there is a fantastic view down-valley and across the mountain ranges.
Most of the water spigots were turned off while I was there (mid-March), but one was available across camp. The pit toilets were clean and well cared for, and there is a hiking/mountain biking trail about 1/4 mile further down the entrance road (Silver Moccasin Trail).
Nightly Rate: $12.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 9
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon
I enjoyed a week at Manzenita Campground which has several vault toilets, trash cans and non-potable water. The views are great from the western ridge of Manzanita. There is no cell service starting 27 miles away when you turn onto highway 2.
There is also another loop right next door called Little Pines Campground & combined they make up Chilao Campground...I think. Combined they have 41 campsites. There is also a group camp site between which is locked up and only available for reservation.
The views are great and there are a couple of nice hiking trails within walking distance of the campground and many more within driving distance coming in from the west (town). Going south there was a substantial fire and all those trails are currently closed.
Beware this area is not big rig friendly. Highway 2 has no straight-aways. It’s all curves and all uphill. It’s also restricted to 3 axels & less the 4.5 tons. Some how I missed the sign coming up And made it with 4 axels and 5 tons. Totally doable and I don’t see why it’s restricted. Gone up way worse which probably should have been restricted and wasn’t.
Anyway, try it at you own risk.
The only thing I didn’t appreciate about the campsites is about half of them are two pads in one. You literally park next to each other and share a site which has 2 picnic tables and two fire pits. Great if you have a group. Not so much if you are by yourself.
Weekdays had about 5 sites occupied. Weekend it was completely full by Saturday morning. Go late Thursday or Friday if you want to grab a site. Super quiet from Sunday afternoon til Thursday morning and surprisingly relatively quiet on the weekend.
Would definitely go here again!
Nightly Rate: $12.00
Days Stayed: 7
Site Number: 17 & 5
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon
AT&T
We woke up Tuesday morning and talked about the eclipse and the next thing you know we chucked gear in the car and were on our way. We found a perfect spot to view the eclipse, and a blazing sunset. There was no shade to speak of in this spot, so I wouldn't have been happy to stay longer, but there were plenty of spots around. (May) A popup would help too, but this was an impromptu trip. Water spigots near us were not operating. The vault toilets were fine and stocked with TP and there were dumpsters. There was also a recycling receptacle near the entrance. Spots were varied - some sloped driveways, some flat. We had a tent and found a flat enough spot. There was another site pretty close - not too bad but their campfire seemed very close and bright. No real services in the immediate area (gas, food). It was fairly quiet, but it was a weeknight.
Nightly Rate: $12.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 25
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon
I set my chair up in either camping spot number 16,17 or 19. A young man and a women in a white jeep took my camping spot. The man got out of his car, he threw my Helinox chair into the bushes, and then he tried to run me over with his jeep despite me yelling repeatedly to stop. He didnt stop until my husband came to stop it. Terrible experience. When i reported to the two park rangers, one of the old white blonde park rangers interrogated ME. It felt racial. Wow. Never going back again.
Nightly Rate: $12.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: -
Cell Coverage Rating
T-Mobile
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Chilao Campground
Hours
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Parking
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Pets Allowed
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Restrooms
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Wifi
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
- Affiliation
- National forest
- Last Nightly Rate
- 12.0
- Lowest Nightly Rate
- 12.0
- Max Length
- 40 ft
- Max Stay
- 14
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Paved Sites
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Fifty Amp
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Full Hookup
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Pull Through
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Tent Sites
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Dump Station
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Big Rigs
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Open Seasonally
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Age Restricted
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Boondock
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Cabin Sites
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Dispersed Sites
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Firewood
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Fulltime Residents
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Group Tent Sites
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Laundry
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Mobile Homes
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Permit Required
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Potable Water
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Propane
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Public Water
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Pull Through RV Sites
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Reservations
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Sewer Hookup
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Showers
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Standard Tent Sites
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Water Hookup
Campground, Restrooms
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