Connectivity
No community carrier report is currently published for this campground.
Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.
Campground
Upper Oso Campground
Los Padres National Forest, California
About this campground
The campground is open year-round and offers around two dozen sites tent or RV camping.
Upper Oso Campground provides ample opportunity for exploration of California's coastal mountains.
It is a family-friendly campground, equipped with equestrian sites, and is close to a variety of trails and several mountain streams.
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 34.555833° N
- Longitude
- 119.753889° 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
- Drive-in
- Walk-inCommunity report
Site types
- Tent sites
- RV / trailer sites
- Equestrian sites
- Standard campsites
Features
For campers
- Toilets
- Drinking water
- FiresUse only when the current order allows flame
- Alcohol allowedCommunity report
- Trash serviceCommunity report
- 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.
- Reservable
For vehicles
- Big rig friendlyPublished vehicle length up to 45 ft
- Back-in sitesCommunity report
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
Upper Oso Campground provides ample opportunity for exploration of California's coastal mountains. It is a family-friendly campground, equipped with equestrian sites, and is close to a variety of trails and several mountain streams.
Facilities
The campground is open year-round and offers around two dozen sites tent or RV camping. About 10 sites are outfitted with horse corrals and extra long, paved parking spurs. Some additional sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Each site is equipped with a table, campfire ring with grill and a pedestal grill. Accessible flush toilets and drinking water are provided throughout the campground. Firewood is available for purchase from the on-site campground host.
Recreation
A variety of hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails begin in and around the campground, including the Santa Cruz Trail, which traverses 18 miles north to the San Rafael Wilderness. The 2.5-mile Aliso National Recreation Trail leads through scenic areas to a group campsite.
Off-road vehicle enthusiasts enjoy the Camuesa OHV Route, which loops about 10 miles through the surrounding forest.
Fishing and swimming are available at nearby White Rock Day-Use Area, less than two miles from the campground. The Santa Ynez River is stocked with trout in the springtime.
Cachuma Lake Recreation Area, a no-body-contact reservoir, is about 10 miles northwest of the campground. It offers boating, fishing and kayaking. Anglers will find an abundance of annually stocked trout. Carp and bass are also common catches there.
Natural Features
The campground is located in the lower Santa Ynez Recreation Area, not far from Santa Barbara. The campground has large sites scattered among plentiful oak trees that provide pleasant shade. It is situated alongside a seasonal creek, at an elevation of 1,040 feet.
Nearby Attractions
The campground is located about 25 miles north of the city of Santa Barbara.
Activities & amenities
What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.
Available activities
- Swimming SiteSwimming
- Horseback RidingHorse Rentals
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Camping
- BikingMountain Biking
Amenities and facility features
- Flush toilets
- Potable water
- Site fire ring or grillUse only when the current order allows flame
Recreation sites
Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.
Standard Non-Electric
3 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- RV, Tent, Trailer
- Maximum people
- 8
- Maximum vehicles
- 1
- Maximum vehicle length
- 32 ft
- Check-in
- 3:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Equestrian Non-Electric
11 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Horse
- Maximum people
- 8
- Maximum vehicles
- 1
- Maximum vehicle length
- 45 ft
- Check-in
- 3:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Walk To
2 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Tent
- Maximum people
- 8
- Maximum vehicles
- 1
- Maximum vehicle length
- 20 ft
- Check-in
- 3:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Tent Only Non-Electric
3 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Tent
- Maximum people
- 8
- Maximum vehicles
- 1
- Maximum vehicle length
- 0 ft
- Check-in
- 3:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- 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
- Base site allowance
- All single campsite reservations are good for 6 people and 1 vehicle. Maximum number of people per single site is 8 ($10.00 additional charge per person per night after 6 people.) Maximum number of vehicles per single site is 2 ($10.00 additional charge for 2nd vehicle per night). Extra vehicle and person fees will be charged at the facility.
- Holiday-weekend minimum
- 3 nights
- Weekend minimum
- 2 nights
- Reservation cutoff
- 3 days before arrival
- Maximum published vehicles
- 1 vehicles per site
- Check-in
- 3:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Food storage
- Upper Oso Campground's official facility record checked 2026-10-16 does not publish a food-storage method; confirm the posted rule with Los Padres National Forest.
- Fire and stove use
- Upper Oso Campground's official facility record states: Each site is equipped with a table, campfire ring with grill and a pedestal grill.
- 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
Recreation.gov publishes a rolling booking window. The dates below are the official snapshot captured for this catalog build.
- Currently bookable through
- Nov 30, 2026
- Next release
- Nov 15, 2026, 7:00 AM PST
- Next book-through date
- May 15, 2027
- Group sites bookable through
- Oct 18, 2027
Published seasons & rates
| Season | Site type | Nightly rate | Additional person | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2026 – Nov 30, 2026 | Equestrian Non-Electric | $45 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2026 – Nov 30, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $40 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2026 – Nov 30, 2026 | Tent Only Non-Electric | $40 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2026 – Nov 30, 2026 | Walk To | $40 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2027 – Nov 30, 2027 | Equestrian Non-Electric | $45 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2027 – Nov 30, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $40 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2027 – Nov 30, 2027 | Tent Only Non-Electric | $40 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2027 – Nov 30, 2027 | Walk To | $40 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2028 – Nov 30, 2028 | Equestrian Non-Electric | $45 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2028 – Nov 30, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $40 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2028 – Nov 30, 2028 | Tent Only Non-Electric | $40 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2028 – Nov 30, 2028 | Walk To | $40 | — | — |
Important facility notices
Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.
- In order to contact our offices, please use the email: customerservice@pmcparks.com or view our website: CampOne.Com for answers to frequently asked questions.
- Poison oak may be present in the area
- Additional fees of $10/night per extra vehicle will be collected at the campground
- All single campsite reservations are good for 6 people and 1 vehicle. Maximum number of people per single site is 8 ($10.00 additional charge per person per night after 6 people.) Maximum number of vehicles per single site is 2 ($10.00 additional charge for 2nd vehicle per night). Extra vehicle and person fees will be charged at the facility.
- Changing river levels can prompt campground closures during the winter.
- Learn more about Los Padres National Forest
- 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.
Getting there & contact
Official directions
From Santa Barbara, travel north on Highway 101. Exit onto Highway 154 and continue northwest for about 10 miles. Turn east onto Paradise Road and travel about 6 miles. Turn north onto Forest Route 5N15 and continue less than two miles to the campground.
Facility contact
805-434-1996