Hi Mountain

Closed — Currently closed due to seasonal road closures. Hi Mountain Road typically reopens in spring after the rainy season ends, usually around mid-April. The campground operates when accessible, generally from spring through fall, but access depends on road conditions maintained by San Luis Obispo County and the Forest Service.

About

Hi Mountain Campground sits at 2,360 feet elevation in a scenic oak grove within the Santa Lucia Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest. This primitive, no-fee campground is located in the back hills between Lopez Lake and Pozo, accessible via Hi Mountain Road which is subject to seasonal closures during the rainy season when conditions deteriorate. The campground accommodates RVs up to 16 feet and is particularly popular with hunters during fall season and OHV riders year-round, as vehicles on nearby OHV routes require proper licensing and spark arrestors. The campground serves as a trailhead for the McPherson Peak Trail and Aliso Trail, providing access to the Santa Lucia and Garcia Wildernesses. Basic amenities include vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings, but no potable water is available. Visitors must pack out all trash. An Adventure Pass or America the Beautiful pass is required for vehicle parking. The 14-day stay limit applies, and quiet hours are enforced from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM.

Directions

From San Luis Obispo: Take Highway 101 north 8 miles, then Highway 58 east 3 miles, then Pozo Road southeast 16 miles, then Forest Road 30S05 southwest 4 miles. Alternate route: 10 miles northeast of Arroyo Grande Forest Service Station off Pozo-Hi Mountain Road. Note: Forest Road 30S05 may be impassable when Salinas River is high.

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