Nira Campground
Open year-round. Nine sites are reservable through Recreation.gov; three sites remain first-come, first-served. Two-night minimum on weekends, three-night minimum on holidays. Dogs must be leashed. No potable water available.
Extreme Heat Warning issued August 28 at 11:16AM PDT until August 28 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
* WHAT...Hot daytime conditions with high temperatures between 95 and 105 common. Warm overnight conditions will bring less relief than usual. * WHERE...Most mountains of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties. * WHEN...Until 8 PM PDT this evening. * IMPACTS...There is a high risk for dangerous heat illness, especially for sensitive groups like the very young, the very old, those without air conditioning, and those active outdoors.
Red Flag Warning issued August 28 at 9:59AM PDT until August 28 at 3:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH 3 PM FRIDAY FOR MANY INTERIOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA DUE TO EXTREME HEAT AND INSTABILITY ALONG WITH LOCALLY GUSTY/ERRATIC WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES... ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH 3 PM TODAY ACROSS ALL OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY TO DO POTENTIAL FOR DRY LIGHTNING... .A hot and unstable air mass combined with locally gusty/erratic winds and low humidities will bring continue to bring a risk of large plume dominated fires with rapid spread and extreme fire behavior. Additionally, tropical moisture streaming across our area will bring a 10-25 percent chance of thunderstorms to the region, with a moderate risk for fire starts across San Luis Obispo County due to dry lightning potential. * TEMPERATURES...Highs 98 to 105 across the lower mountains, adjacent foothills and the Cuyama Valley, and 85 to 95 across higher mountains. Very deep mixing heights of 12,000 to 18,000 feet today. * WINDS...Local north winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph across the interior mountains today, along with strong/erratic wind gusts near any passing thunderstorms or showers. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum humidities 12 to 25 percent. Poor recoveries overnight hours in the mountains and foothills with humidities in the 20 to 30 percent range. * IMPACTS...There is a continued risk of large plume dominated fires with rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior. There is a history of large plume dominated fires this time of year with similar weather and fuel conditions, including the Bridge, Bobcat, and Station fires.
National Forest System Roads
Follow California Vehicle Code on National Forest System Roads
About
Nira Campground is a scenic, oak-shaded retreat along Manzana Creek in California's Los Padres National Forest. The campground offers 12 sites spread among the trees, with 9 available through Recreation.gov reservations and 3 held for first-come, first-served visitors. Each site includes a picnic table, fire ring, and barbecue grill. Two vault toilets and a dumpster serve the campground, though no potable water is available. The campground serves as a primary access point for the San Rafael Wilderness via the Upper Manzana Creek Trail to the Manzana Narrows. Hikers, backpackers, mountain bikers, and equestrians all use Nira as a staging area. The creek running through the campground provides opportunities for swimming and fishing, and the oak woodland attracts abundant birdlife including kingfishers, Steller's jays, and warblers. Small RVs under 20 feet can be accommodated at most sites, though sites 1-3 are restricted to tent and car camping only due to size limitations. The nearby towns of Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, Solvang, and Buellton are all within an hour's drive for supplies.
Directions
From Highway 154: Take Armour Ranch Road to Happy Canyon Road, then drive 11 miles northeast to Cachuma Saddle. Continue north on Sunset Valley Road for 6 miles to the campground.
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | — |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $30 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | 24ft |
| Max Trailer Length | 24ft |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| customerservice@pmcparks.com | |
| Phone | +1 (805) 434-1996 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
Photos
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