Open

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.

Los Padres National Forest

National Forest System Roads

Follow California Vehicle Code on National Forest System Roads

Los Padres National Forest

Fireworks and Explosives are always Prohibited

Fireworks and explosives (including explosive targets) are always prohibited on national forest lands. The prohibition of fireworks and exploding targets on national forest system lands is part of a set of permanent fire safety regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), listed below.…

Los Padres National Forest

Los Padres Fire Use and Firearm Restrictions

Prohibits building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, on the Los Padres National Forest System lands, except in the Designated Campfire Use Sites. Reference the sites listed in Exhibit A.NOTE: Only persons with a valid CA Campfire Permit are exempt from this Order…

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

Email customerservice@pmcparks.com
Phone +1 (805) 434-1996

Cell Service

AT&T None
Verizon None
T-Mobile None

Availability

Photos

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