Cienaga Campground
Permanently closed since 2002. Road access was destroyed by flooding and has not been rebuilt. The former campground is accessible only by hiking approximately 5 miles on the Fish Canyon Trail. No camping facilities are operational.
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.…
Fire Danger Level Downgraded to "Moderate"
Effective January 23, 2025, the Angeles National Forest fire danger level and associated restrictions are moving to MODERATE. Visitors to the forest, including recreational cabin owners and concessionaires, are advised of the following updates: All stoves and campfires require a valid California…
Eaton Fire Area Closure
In effort to protect the public and to facilitate natural recovery of the resources affected by the Eaton Fire, this closure extends the Eaton Fire Area Closure through December 31, 2027.The following roads and trails remain closed:RoadsMount Wilson Toll Road (below Mt Wilson Trail) Mount Wilson…
Forest Order No. 05-01-25-13, Camping Equipment Prohibition
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a), and to provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited within the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. This Order is effective from August 15, 2025, through August 1, 2027.Possessing personal…
Office & Visitor Center Updates - Need Info or Passes?
The information below provides updates to existing information on our webpage about Angeles National Forest offices and visitor centers. Check this alert regularly. Hours and pass availability may change with limited or no notice.When one office is closed, please contact another forest…
Williamson Rock Area and Trail Closure
Hikers and equestrians along the Pacific Crest Trail may be affected by a temporary closure of the Williamson Rock area of the Angeles National Forest. This closure (Forest Order No. 05-01-24-04), in effect through December 31, 2026, is for the protection of natural resources, specifically the…
Planning to Camp? (Stay Limits/Dispersed Camping Restrictions) til Dec. 15, 2026
The following is prohibited within the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument from Dec. 16, 2022, through Dec. 15, 2026: 1. Camping outside of a Forest Service developed campground for > 7 consecutive days in a calendar year. 2. Camping outside of a Forest Service…
Air Quality Alert issued May 20 at 3:59PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
* WHAT...The South Coast AQMD has issued an air quality alert due to increased fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke. Visit https://www.aqmd.gov/alertinfo to check current and forecasted air quality levels. * WHERE...in portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. Levels of particle pollution can vary by time and location depending on fire activity and local weather conditions. * WHEN...until 10 PM on Thursday. * IMPACTS...Particles in wildfire smoke can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, asthma attacks, and difficulty breathing. Everyone can be affected, but people with lung or heart disease, older adults, people who are pregnant, children, and those who spend a lot of time outdoors are at greater risk.
About
Cienaga Campground was once a developed campground in the Fish Canyon area of Angeles National Forest, located in a scenic canyon setting near Castaic in Los Angeles County. The campground provided vehicle-accessible camping with vault toilets and potable water facilities. In 2002, severe flooding destroyed the road leading to the campground, rendering it inaccessible by vehicle. Rather than rebuilding the road, the Forest Service permanently closed the campground. The former access road has since been converted into a hiking trail. Today, hikers can still reach the abandoned campground site via a roughly 5-mile hike from the current trailhead at the end of Templin Highway. Visitors will find remnants of the former campground including decaying asphalt parking loops, posts marking old parking spaces, and two vault toilets with sagging roofs. The water faucets have been removed, leaving only pipes. The area is popular with hikers exploring Fish Canyon Narrows, though overnight camping is no longer permitted at this decommissioned facility.
Directions
The former campground is accessible only by hiking. Take Interstate 5 to the Templin Highway exit near Castaic. Follow Templin Highway to its end where the Fish Canyon Trailhead is located. Hike approximately 5 miles on the Fish Canyon Trail to reach the abandoned campground site.
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | — |
| Toilets | No |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | — |
| 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 | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (626) 574-1613 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Useful Links
| Angeles National Forest Camping |
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