Mono

Open — Open year-round, first-come, first-served. No reservations. Access requires 12 miles of dirt roads that become impassable during wet weather; gates close before storms. No potable water, trash service, or services available. Adventure Pass required.

About

Mono Campground is a historic walk-in campground located in the upper Santa Ynez River Recreation Area of Los Padres National Forest. Originally improved by the CCC in 1938, the site served as a spike camp during construction of the nearby Mono Debris Dam. The campground features 3 walk-in sites situated approximately 300 yards from the parking area in a scenic meadow setting with large oak trees providing shade. The campground sits next to the Santa Ynez River, though water levels drop significantly in summer. Below the debris dam is a swimming and fishing hole, while the area above the dam has filled with silt over time. The site serves as a trailhead for the Cold Springs Trail and provides access to Little Caliente Hot Springs, located about 2 miles away. Access requires driving 12 miles on dirt roads, with the last section consisting of steep adobe clay roads that become dangerously slippery in wet weather. Gates may close before storms, and vehicles can be stranded for up to a week waiting for roads to dry. Higher clearance vehicles are recommended. The campground is particularly popular with deer hunters from mid-August through late September and typically fills on weekends during hunting season.

Directions

From Santa Barbara, take Highway 101 northwest 8 miles to Highway 154. Drive east 20 miles on East Camino Cielo Road, then 6 miles northwest on Forest Road 5N15. Walk in approximately 300 yards from parking area to campsites.

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