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Burnt Rancheria Campground

Part of Tent Camping, our guide to tent camping in San Diego County.

Burnt Rancheria is a large Cleveland National Forest campground at 6,000 feet in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area, 9.4 miles north of I-8 on Sunrise Highway. A single site is $35 a night. Book on recreation.gov. The page gives two different season descriptions.Checked October 23, 2026.

$35single site per night
6,000 ftelevation
$10extra vehicle
9.4 minorth of I-8 on Sunrise Hwy
LocationSunrise Highway (S1), 9.4 miles north of I-8; Laguna Mountain Recreation Area
FeesSingle site $35; extra vehicle $10; day-use parking area $5 (leaving before 6 PM); day parking at campsite $10. Adventure Pass required for day use. recreation.gov adds a reservation charge.
AmenitiesTable and fire ring at each site, no hookups, restrooms, coin-operated showers during reservation season, firewood from the camp host, summer ranger programs
TrailPacific Crest Trail access for hiking and horses; no bikes
Who it suitsAll ages.
Bookingrecreation.gov, 1-877-444-6777

Season

The page says the campground is open from mid-April through October, and also “late April through late October/early November,” with dates set by weather. Treat the dates as unconfirmed until the booking page shows them.

Nearby

See Laguna Mountain Visitor Center and Kwaaymii Nature Trail and Mount Laguna Observatory Summer Visitors Program.

Fire Rules Read Today

Forest Order 02-26-10 (June 12 to December 31, 2026) prohibits building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or charcoal fire except within a Developed Recreation Site listed in its Exhibit A. This campground is on that list (read 2026-10-23). Read the order on the Cleveland National Forest fire page before lighting anything.

Burnt Rancheria Campground Open the map. © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What We Could Not Verify

  • The number of sites: the page does not state it. The Descanso Ranger District (619-445-6235) can confirm.
  • The exact opening and closing dates; the page gives two different descriptions. The Descanso Ranger District can confirm.
  • Whether the restrooms are vault toilets or flush: the page says both vault toilets and showers and restrooms. The ranger district can confirm.

More in Tent Camping

FAQ

How much does Burnt Rancheria cost?

The forest page lists $35 a night for a single site and $10 for an extra vehicle, plus a recreation.gov reservation charge.

Can I have a campfire here?

Fires are allowed inside the campground under Forest Order 02-26-10 because it is on the Exhibit A list, as read 2026-10-23. Check the order for changes.

Sources

  1. Cleveland National Forest: Burnt Rancheria Campground
  2. Cleveland National Forest: elevated fire use restrictions

Checked October 23, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 23, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.