Caballo Campground
Open — Open year-round, first-come, first-served. Access may be closed November 1st through April 30th due to seasonal road closures. 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
Caballo Campground is a primitive, no-fee campground situated at 5,920 feet elevation in the Mt. Pinos Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest. The campground features an open layout with some sites shaded by surrounding Pinyon Pine trees, offering a peaceful camping experience in Kern County. Accessible via Forest Road 9N27, a half-mile dirt road off Mil Potrero Highway, the campground is approximately three miles west of Pine Mountain Club. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for safe access. The campground provides basic amenities including vault toilets, picnic tables at each site, and fire rings. Two picnic tables and six fire rings are ADA-accessible. Campers must bring their own water, as no potable water is available on-site. The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservation system and no fees. Quiet hours are enforced from 10:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and campers are limited to 14 consecutive days. Pets must be leashed at all times, and all trash must be packed out following Leave No Trace principles. Access to the campground may be restricted between November 1st and April 30th each year due to seasonal road closures under the Motor Vehicle Use Management regulations.
Directions
Located off Mil Potrero Highway, approximately three miles west of Pine Mountain Club. Take Forest Road 9N27 north for 0.5 miles. High-clearance vehicles recommended due to dirt road conditions.
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 | $0 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | — |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (661) 245-3731 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | None |
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