Circle X Ranch Group Campground

About

Circle X Ranch Group Campground provides a secluded mountain retreat in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, nestled in the canyons above Malibu beneath Boney Mountain. This former Boy Scout camp is the only NPS-operated campground in the Santa Monica Mountains, offering group camping exclusively for parties of 10 to 75 people. The campground serves as a base for exploring a rare coastal Mediterranean ecosystem featuring coastal sage scrub and mixed chaparral. Trails from the area lead to Sandstone Peak, the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains at 3,111 feet, where clear days offer views of the Channel Islands. The Grotto Trail descends to a lush, fern-studded canyon along the West Fork of Arroyo Sequit. The site features vault toilets and tent camping only. No RVs or trailers are permitted. Dogs are allowed on leash but prohibited on the final portion of the Grotto Trail. Cell and internet reception are unreliable. Wood campfires are prohibited due to fire hazards; only charcoal fires in fire grates and gas stoves are permitted.

Directions

Pacific Coast Highway to Yerba Buena Road. Turn inland; go 5.4 miles to Circle X Ranch contact station. Address: 12896 Yerba Buena Rd, Malibu, CA 90265.