Mcgill Group Sites
Closed — Closed for the winter season. The campground typically closes from mid-November through mid-April due to snow. Reservations operate on a 6-month rolling basis through Recreation.gov.
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
McGill Group Sites Campground sits in a mixed conifer forest in the Pinos Mountains at an elevation of 7,400 feet in the northeastern part of Los Padres National Forest. The campground features two group sites shaded by dense stands of Jeffrey pine and ponderosa, with each site nicely spaced. Campground temperatures are typically 15 to 20 degrees cooler than the Los Angeles Basin, which is just over an hour's drive away. The campground offers stunning views of mountains and valleys and serves as an ideal base for exploring the area's biking and hiking trails. The McGill Campground Trail meanders for 3.7 miles with splendid views of the San Joaquin Valley and the Sierra Nevada in the distance. The accessible McGill Exploration Trail starts across from the restrooms near Group Site 1. The campground is also near the Chumash Wilderness area, which offers beautiful trails for hiking and the opportunity to hike to the 8,831-foot summit of Mount Pinos. The area is known for hummingbirds that frequent the campground. Los Padres National Forest boasts 1,257 miles of maintained trails, and much of the forest is primitive with 10 congressionally designated wilderness areas.
Directions
From I-5, take Frazier Park exit (Frazier Mountain Park Road) and go west approximately 6 miles. The road name changes to Cuddy Valley Road. Continue up Mount Pinos. The road name changes to Mt. Pinos Highway. McGill Campground is approximately 5 miles further on the north side of the road.
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 | $150 - $152 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (661) 245-3731 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | None |
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