THORN MEADOWS
Open — Open seasonally from May through December. High clearance vehicles recommended for rough forest road access. No reservations required.
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
Thorn Meadows Campground is a secluded primitive camping area located at 5,000 feet elevation in the Mt. Pinos Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest. Named after W.H. Thorn, an early surveyor with the U.S. Geological Survey who mapped central Ventura County in 1905, the campground was established in 1961 and sits at the site of a former Forest Service guard station. The area was historically used by the Snedden Land and Cattle Company for grazing during droughts. The campground offers 5 primitive campsites shaded by Jeffrey pines, each equipped with a stove and picnic table. A pipe corral is available for equestrians, making this a popular spot for horse camping. Thorn Meadows serves as the trailhead for the steep Trail 21W07, which climbs to the abandoned Thorn Point Fire Lookout. The historic lookout tower, though weathered and no longer staffed, still stands and offers spectacular 360-degree views of the surrounding wilderness. Access requires navigating approximately 8-9 miles of rough forest roads south from Lockwood Valley Road via Forest Road 7N03C. High clearance vehicles are strongly recommended. The campground provides no potable water or modern amenities, and campers must be self-sufficient. The remote location offers excellent day hiking opportunities, with the 3.5-mile trail to Thorn Point featuring interesting rock formations and expansive views across the Sespe Wilderness.
Directions
From Lockwood Valley Road, take Forest Road 7N03C south for approximately 8 miles to reach the campground. High-clearance vehicles are recommended due to road conditions.
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 | $0 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (805) 968-6648 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | None |
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