Hi Mountain

About

Hi Mountain Campground sits at 2,360 feet elevation in the Santa Lucia Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest. The campground is nestled within a shaded oak grove, providing relief from summer heat. It serves as the starting point for both the McPhearson Peak Trail and the scenic Aliso Park Trail (27W02), a 4.76-mile route leading to the San Rafael Wilderness in Santa Barbara County. This primitive campground offers vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings in designated areas, but campers must bring their own water as no potable water is available. The campground accommodates small RVs up to 16 feet in length. OHV camping is permitted for properly licensed vehicles with spark arrestors. An Adventure Pass is required for vehicle parking. The campground is a popular base camp for hunters in the fall season and serves backcountry explorers year-round when open. Access can be challenging, as Forest Road 30S05 may become impassable when the Salinas River runs high, requiring use of the alternate route via Pozo-Hi Mountain Road from Arroyo Grande.

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 via Pozo-Hi Mountain Road. Note: Forest Road 30S05 may be impassable when Salinas River is running high.