Connectivity
No community carrier report is currently published for this campground.
Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.
Campground
Monte Cristo Campground
Angeles National Forest, California
About this campground
Monte Cristo Campground is a small, developed campground located off the Angeles Forest Highway (County Road N3) in the Angeles National Forest and is part of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.
Monte Cristo campground offers developed campground facilities including 17 individual campsites ,2 double sites, picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets, piped potable water and RV access up to ~ 30'.
Positioned at about 3,600 feet elevation, it’s one of the closer forest camping options to the Los Angeles area, offering scenic mountain and high-desert views.
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 34.341350° N
- Longitude
- 118.109452° W
Know before you arrive
Access, sites & campground features
Official facility and campsite inventory, supplemented by clearly marked community reports when the official listing does not publish the detail.
Access
The available official and community sources do not publish an access type.
Site types
- Standard campsites
Features
For campers
- Toilets
- Drinking water
- Picnic table
- FiresUse only when the current order allows flame
- Pets allowedDogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
For vehicles
- Paved parking
- Paved roads
Official campground guide
Plan with the full campground details
Facility information, site rules, booking windows, and published rates. Source snapshot checked Oct 18, 2026.
Overview
Monte Cristo Campground is a small, developed campground located off the Angeles Forest Highway (County Road N3) in the Angeles National Forest and is part of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. Positioned at about 3,600 feet elevation, it’s one of the closer forest camping options to the Los Angeles area, offering scenic mountain and high-desert views. The campground includes 19 first-come, first-serve campsites suitable for tents, trailers, and RVs up to approximately 30 feet, with a few larger double sites available. Monte Cristo Campground is open year-round, with a nightly fee of $20 and a check out time of 11 am.
Facilities
Monte Cristo campground offers developed campground facilities including 17 individual campsites ,2 double sites, picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets, piped potable water and RV access up to ~ 30'. Cell phone coverage is generally poor or nonexistent. Fire restrictions may be in effect depending on conditions, so it’s suggested to check current Forest Service alerts before arrival.
Recreation
Monte Cristo is positioned for a variety of outdoor activities like hiking, scenic drives, and wildlife viewing. The campground can serve as a base for nearby hikes including routes toward Granite Mountain, Rabbit Peak, Round Top, and Iron Mountain along forest roads and fire roads. Forest roads and local trails give hikers access to ridge climbs and panoramic overlooks of the San Gabriel front range. The Angeles Forest Highway itself is a scenic route with multiple pullouts, overlooks, and access points for exploring the forest by vehicle. Nearby destinations like Hidden Springs Picnic Area and Switzer Picnic Area are popular for day hikes and water features.
Natural Features
Monte Cristo lies in the backside foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and transitions between high desert and mountain ecosystems. The area includes sycamore trees and a mixed woodland/shrub habitat, with a creek that seasonally flows through the campground. It has expansive mountain vistas and rugged ridges characteristic of the San Gabriel range.
It has a high-desert climate with warmer and drier conditions than the higher elevation forest sites. There are also wildlife viewing opportunities typical of the region.
Nearby Attractions
Hidden Springs Picnic Area & Switzer Picnic Area – Short drives offer scenic streamside areas, hike options, and seasonal swimming spots.
Chilao Campground & Visitor Center – A larger developed campground with trail networks and interpretive displays, about 18 miles away.
Angeles Forest Highway Scenic Route – Great for scenic driving, photography, and exploring adjacent trailheads.
Activities & amenities
What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.
Available activities
The official source does not publish a separate activity list.
Amenities and facility features
- Vault or pit toilets
- Potable water
- Picnic tables
- Site fire ring or grillUse only when the current order allows flame
- Pets allowedFollow the exact facility restrictions
- Campfire Rings
- Paved Parking
- Paved Roads
- Self Pay Station
- Vault Toilets
- Water Spigot
Recreation sites
Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.
Standard Non-Electric
19 sites- Maximum people
- 16
- Check-in
- 02:00 PM
- Check-out
- 11:00 AM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Management
1 site- Maximum people
- 8
- Check-in
- 02:00 PM
- Check-out
- 11:00 AM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Site rules, inventory & rates
Facility rules, inventory procedures, and price seasons published by the official source.
Site rules
- Site availability
- The official inventory marks these campsites as first come, first served rather than reservable live inventory.
- Scan And Pay
- 1
- Maximum published occupancy
- 16 people per site
- Check-in
- 02:00 PM
- Check-out
- 11:00 AM
- Food storage
- Monte Cristo Campground's official facility record checked 2026-10-16 does not publish a food-storage method; confirm the posted rule with Angeles National Forest.
- Fire and stove use
- Monte Cristo Campground's official facility record states: Monte Cristo campground offers developed campground facilities including 17 individual campsites ,2 double sites, picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets, piped potable water and RV access up to ~ 30'.
- Pets
- Dogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
Inventory window
No live campsite inventory is published. Sites use an arrival-based, first-come procedure; dates selected in Kampilo are for trip planning only.
Published seasons & rates
| Season | Site type | Nightly rate | Additional person | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-come, First-served SeasonJan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026 | Management | $5 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonJan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $40 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonJan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $20 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonJan 1, 2027 – Dec 31, 2027 | Management | $5 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonJan 1, 2027 – Dec 31, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $40 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonJan 1, 2027 – Dec 31, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $20 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonJan 1, 2028 – Dec 31, 2028 | Management | $5 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonJan 1, 2028 – Dec 31, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $40 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonJan 1, 2028 – Dec 31, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $20 | — | — |
Important facility notices
Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.
- No generators, amplifiers, live bands, or loud music. Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 6 am.
- Bears frequent the area. All food and scented items must be properly stored.
- Check out time is 11 am. Check in time is 2 pm.
- Call (661) 269-2808 for current conditions and additional information.
- Don't move firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information, visit firewood.ca.gov
- Campground is open year-round but may temporarily close due to weather and/or road conditions during the winter months.
Getting there & contact
Facility contact
661-269-2808