Bates Canyon
Open — Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. Adventure Pass required ($5/day or $30/year). 14-day stay limit.
Gifford Fire Closure Order
Gifford Fire Closure Order 05-07-53-25-21 supersedes Order 05-07-53-25-20 executed on August 24, 2025.
Sespe Condor Sanctuary Closure
The Los Padres National Forest will prohibit entry by the public to the Sespe Condor Sanctuary to support ongoing Condor recovery efforts. This special closure order supports the overall survivorship and sustained population increase of the California Condor species.
Special Closure - SBRD Storm Damage Recovery
Closure of developed recreation sites, roads, and trails in the Santa Barbara Ranger District impacted by storm damage and some roads restricted to non-motorized use.
Special Closure - SLRD Lake Fire Post-Burn Public Safety
Closure of developed recreation sites and roads on the Santa Lucia Ranger District impacted by the Lake fire.
Dry Canyon Area, Roads and Trails, and Wilderness Closure
Mt. Pinos Ranger District, Dry Canyon Area, Roads, Trails and Wilderness Closure
Road Use Restriction - Sycamore Cyn Rd to Pfeiffer Beach
Prohibits being on Sycamore Canyon Road (Forest Road No.
West Cuesta Fire Use Restrictions
Prohibits building, maintaining, attending, or using a wood or charcoal campfire, or cooking fire, on National Forest System lands within the West Cuesta Fire Use Restriction Area. Reference the description of the area and attached map for details.
San Carpoforo Beach Prohibition of Overnight Camping and Campfires
Prohibits overnight camping and building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire on San Carpoforo Beach, which includes all National Forest lands west of Highway 1 to the mean high tide line of the 
Santa Barbara Front Country Fire Use Restrictions
Prohibits building, maintaining, attending, or using a wood or charcoal campfire, or cooking fire, on National Forest System lands within the Fire Use Restriction Area which is the front country of Santa Barbara. Reference the description of the area and the attached map for details.
About
Bates Canyon Campground is a small, established campground nestled in a grove of large oak and sycamore trees in the Santa Lucia Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest. The campground features 6 campsites arranged around a central loop, each with good spacing to provide privacy. Every site includes a picnic table and fire ring, with fires allowed only in designated fire rings. Located at 2,820 feet elevation along Cottonwood Canyon Road off Highway 166, the campground is accessible from Santa Maria and serves as a gateway to backcountry trails including the McPherson Peak Trail and Aliso Trail. The area is popular with hunters during fall season and offers access to the Sierra Madre Ridge and San Rafael Wilderness areas. The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis year-round with no reservations. Visitors must possess an Adventure Pass or valid Interagency Pass for parking. There is no potable water available, so campers must bring all water needed for their stay. Two vault toilets serve the campground. Pets are permitted but must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet.
Directions
From Santa Maria: Highway 166 east for 50 miles, then Cottonwood Canyon Road southwest for 7.5 miles.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $5 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (805) 925-9538 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
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