1 / 5

Tom Lucas Trail Camp

In

Angeles National Forest

2 sites · Tent

Some say fire damaged, we say character. Tom Lucas Trail Camp is primitive as they come with only a couple hike-in sites and no restrooms. Stream water is available nearby, but must be treated first. However, be sure to bring some as well because depending on rainfall, the stream may or may not be flowin’. Solely for the use of backpackers, the views are supplied on the hike in. You’ll have a deeper appreciation for nature when you’re through. Cherish your solitude, but should you hear them coyotes howl, make like part of the pack and howl along with ‘em.

What this place offers

Campfire allowed

Pets allowed

No showers

Toilets

No potable water

Picnic tables

No sewage hookups

No electric hookups

First come, first served

Tent

Explore 659 campgrounds near Angeles National Forest

Available campgrounds nearby

Top-rated for location, privacy, and amenities near Angeles National Forest

Malibu RV Park

35mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 301 sites · Tents, RVs · Malibu, CA

Malibu RV is set on a coastal bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Malibu, California. Founded in the 1970s, Malibu RV offers RV Sites, Van Sites and Tent Camping, a communal ambiance, and a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of your travels along the California Coast. Whether you are a digital nomad, a surfer looking to shack up for the night, or an adventurer looking for an extended stay, we would love to have you. Guests must be a minimum of 21 years of age to book and check-in.

Topanga Oasis

27mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 4 sites · Lodging · Topanga, CA

You will be nestled in a 13 acres with other cottages dotted throughout the property, along with private creeks + trails up the mountain. Visiting this property is a very unique experience, some describe it as “glamorous camping”. No photoshoots, parties or cats allowed. Please read the full description, disclaimer, and reviews, to make sure this is what you are looking for. **************************************************************************** DISCLAIMER: This is quite different from staying in an ordinary hotel. We are really in NATURE here - these are older cottages hand-built by artists in the forest. They are very rustic! It's like living in a mountain village, with other cottages nearby. While we work very hard to keep our places pristine and spotless - if anyone in your group will faint if they see a bug or lizard or little frog inside - then this probably isn't the place for you. Please be very careful booking cottages for someone else - like your parents just arriving from another continent - they might prefer something more conventional. Some folks describe our places as a luxurious form of camping. We make our cottages very comfortable - they have all the basics - electricity - wifi - most have kitchens, bath or shower and comfy clean beds. But they are not like a hotel with perfect walls and a sterile atmosphere. Please look at all the pictures and read all the reviews. We can't offer refunds just because we don't meet the standards of a normal hotel. Most people are charmed by this idyllic and bohemian lifestyle - but it's not for everyone. ********************************************************************* FILM AND PHOTOS SHOOTS: This is an amazing property for photography, and film, with 13 acres of rustic cottages, oak forests and sculpted streams. But please note we have special, and quite reasonable rates for filming, in addition to the normal rental charges. Please let us know ahead of time so we can work out the details. Commercial filming is not permitted without permission. Charming Cabin Ideal for Hikers and Nature Lovers in Topanga, California

Lone Juniper Ranch

48mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 8 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · CA

You will fall in love instantly Camels, Llama ,Guanaco, donkeys, hammock a firepit and grill in the back yard. Book a wood fired sauna (extra)A Perfect mountain cabin retreat next to Tejon Ranch!The private, 100 + acre, mountain-top experience offers a 360-degree view of beautiful Southern California scenery, Super Bloom, Ideal for star gazing and hiking, amazing sunrises/sunsets.This is a 4 seasons paradise!Situated only 8 minutes off Rt. 5, this retreat is quite accessible (4-wheel drive necessary during wintertime snows.

The Oasis At Antelope Valley, CA

23mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 30 sites · Tents, RVs · Palmdale, CA

Scenic Lancaster Oasis 🌄 Perfect RV & Vanlife Spot with Premium Amenities! Welcome to your ideal stopover in the heart of Lancaster, CA — where the beauty of the Mojave Desert meets modern convenience! 🚐💨 Nestled in a prime location, our private land offers a serene escape with panoramic views and a perfect setup for RV travelers and vanlifers alike. We also welcome our beloved snowbirds for extended stays! Come and enjoy our friendly atmosphere. This is the perfect spot to relax and refuel before tackling Los Angeles and its amazing landmarks: Universal Studios (less than 1 hour away), Paramount Studios (less than 1 hour away), Hollywood and the Observatory (a little over 1 hour away), Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, MGM, The Getty Museum, and so much more! At our unique RV spot, we’re committed to fostering a culture of respect, equity, and inclusion across all aspects of our community. We recognize that diversity — encompassing race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, ancestry, and country of origin — is a vital source of strength, innovation, and resilience. Lancaster is a gem in the Antelope Valley, renowned not only for its breathtaking desert landscapes but also for its vibrant local culture and history. Discover the iconic Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, explore local museums, and enjoy a variety of outdoor activities right at your doorstep. Whether you’re capturing stunning sunset photos, hiking in pristine settings, or simply relaxing under the starlit sky, Lancaster provides an unforgettable backdrop. 🌼📸 Your Stay Includes: • Secure Parking Spot: Ample space for your RV or van, providing a safe and convenient base. • Full Bathroom Facilities: Stay comfortable with a private portable bathroom available 24/7. A free dump station is located nearby at Lancaster City Park Soccer Complex, open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. • Pet Play Space: Traveling with furry friends? They’ll love our dedicated area just for pets! 🐾 • Access to Tools: Need to make quick fixes or adjustments to your vehicle? We’ve got you covered. A mechanic is also on call and can service your rig.

AntFarm LA

6.7mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 6 sites · Tents, RVs · La Crescenta Montrose, CA

Looking for a quick escape from the city for a peaceful place to recharge? AntFarm LA offers a private, quiet retreat in nature where you can disconnect from the buzz of city life with the convenience of the city nearby. Hand-built with love and a couple of shovels by our family and friends, this hike-in, tent-only site is the perfect oasis for locals and visitors alike. As you embark on the short hike up, you will experience breathtaking views, shaded trails, and a sense of calm as you arrive at your campsite. You’ll enjoy stunning sunsets, sunrises, and the tranquil sound of birds chirping—an idyllic backdrop to clear your mind. We’ve thoughtfully added a few comforts so you can enjoy nature without completely leaving modern conveniences behind. Take advantage of amenities like a refrigerator, sink, a bathroom with a flushable toilet, and a shower to refresh after a day of exploring. We also have a few electrical outlets and WiFi if you need to stay connected online or charge your devices. If you want to howl at the moon, we have some more remote hike-in campsites available. Send us a message for details. Out of respect to our neighbors, we do not allow car camping in our parking lot. Car or RV sleeping is permitted on our Van Pad site only, although we do not provide RV hookups. To preserve the quiet, off-the-grid atmosphere we’ve created, we ask that you respect our noise curfew of 10PM. We look forward to having you stay!

The Hilltop Getaway

28mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 1 site · Lodging · Lake Los Angeles, CA

Welcome to The Hilltop Getaway! One of the coziest glamping spots near the Alpine Butte, Palmdale with Joshua Tree landscape just an hour from LA. The amazing 360 view from the jumbo rocks mountains on valley with Joshua Trees will make your memories unforgettable. We also have a great landscape for your spectacular photo shoot. If you’re looking for a place to hike, relax, refresh and recharge yourself, you found the place! While our site is private and secluded, it is close to most stores you might need. Palmdale is a 10-minute drive and has a Target, Walmart, Home Depot, Ross, restaurants, fast foods, banks, and more. Additionally, you can visit a lot of unique places just few minutes from us like Antelope Valley Indian Museum, Four Aces Movie Ranch, Movie Set Diner, Club Ed Movie Set, El Mirage Dry Lake, Kill Bill Church, Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, Joe Davies Heritage Airpark, Blackbird Airpark, Dry Town Water Park On our space you'll find 1. Bar/Kitchen area offers a four-burner gas grill with one side burner, kitchen table, sink with foot water pump, bar counter with four chairs on the bar deck; 2. Classic wood picnic table 3. Fire pit with wood chairs and bench for lounging 4. Hammock for relaxing and stargazing 5. Toilet/Shower cabin. Thetford Porta Potti flush toilet, sink with foot water pump, mirror, Eccotemp hot shower We provide towels and soap 6. Cowboy Pool 8ft Open seasonally May - Oct 7. The Geo Dome Tent 23ft (7M) is equipped with everything for a comfortable glamping experience Geo Dome: - Queen bed with memory-foam mattress and bedding - Two Convertable Tri-Fold Sofa Beds - Twin Tufted Back Convertible Sofa - Foldable Camping Cot - Hammock Chair Swing - Dining Set - Nightstands - Kitchen Island with kitchen utensils, pots, tableware - Portable Power Station EcoFlow River Mini for charging and power devices - Propane Portable Heater, indoor-safe (Propane gas is include) - Solar lights - Fresh towel-Fresh linen- Books games for entertainment - fire extinguisher, first aid kit, etc Please note - water in the tank is not drinkable and has a distinct taste Please plan for a “leave no trace” style camping and to take your trash with you upon check out

Rosemead 12 miles to DT Los Angeles

21mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 8 sites · Tents, RVs · Rosemead, CA

Experience Los Angeles from the comfort of your own RV! Our lot in Rosemead, CA, provides the ideal base for exploring the city. Enjoy the privacy and convenience of parking on our secure property, free from the unpredictability of Airbnbs or hotels and save money. With amenities including free water, and wifi, as well as 24/7 security cameras, you can relax and feel at home. We also offer flexible monthly rental options for extended stays.

Camping @ Quail Run Ostrich Ranch

28mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 7 sites · Tents, RVs · Lake Hughes, CA

Run by three generations, our ranch has been in our family for more than 70 years. We opened our doors to the public in 2014 to help support feeding our animals, bred and rescued, after the Powerhouse Fire almost burned us out. We’ve survived a county quarantine(2018-2019), the COVID Lockdowns (2021-2022), the Lake Fire (2020), and the Hurricane Kay burn scar debris flow and flood (9/11/22), depending on hard work and strong family and community bonds. In addition to camping and educational tours, we host private and community events, grow and sell produce and eggs, hatch and sell chicks, rescue ratites, and support the local bee population (which gives us RAW honey to sell), and are working to open a private U-pick-by-appointment orchard. We are all animal lovers, and conservationists, and try to do our part to ensure our children inherit a healthy and viable world. This is our home where we live, work, love, and play. We enjoy sharing our space with visitors who we hope learn about ostrich and make some great memories.

The Hacienda

26mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 2 sites · RVs · Hacienda Heights, CA

Urban camping in a nature setting. Close to hiking trails and centrally located in LA county, just over the hill from the OC. Short trip up adjacent street to hiking and nature park/fitness area.

Old West Mountain Camping Near LA!

11mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · Acton, CA

Learn more about this land:A vast expanse of oak trees, California Junipers and rugged, mountainous land running with jackrabbits, quail, and owls that is just 3 miles from Vazquez Rocks and the PCT, our ranch transports you. From the tent campsite, you look out for 20 miles and see nothing but nature across small mountains and canyons all the way to the peaks of Angeles National Forest in the distance. The campsite is a large flat area. For a trailer or RV it's a great place to park and the view is towards wide open spaces. With a tent or if you want more pure nature, you can drive out onto the property further towards the small ruin of the old homesteader's cabin or beyond. The property has a long-abandoned gold mine and circular arrastres where miners used mules to break up rocks. Nearby Acton has pick-your-own apples/pears/peaches at Bloom farms. We are at 3000 feet with strong sun during the day and cool mountains air at night. The camping is set away from structures, but if you want to stroll, closer to the ranch buildings, we have friendly small goats you can visit if interested and horses and a donkey to say hello to across the corral fence.

Terra Vivus

33mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · Lake Hughes, CA

Terra Vivus is Latin for "The Earth is alive." Welcome to a great balance of being away from civilization, engulfed in nature with peace and quiet yet also being 10 minutes away from the nearest market and 30 minutes away from the nearest city. Chipmunks, crows, doves, crickets, coyotes, sparrows and many other creatures call this land home. This is protected land called a Significant Ecological Area mostly because of the thousands of Joshua Trees. Send a photo/video of you sharing your water with the plants at terra.vivus.inquiries@gmail.com and receive $3 off your stay. 25% of all revenue goes to restoring, preserving and enhancing the existing ecosystem. Come experience and contribute to the preservation of this beautiful landscape. It can be windy at times, in order to mitigate this I recommend using your car(s) to block the wind. Local markets also sell neck gaiters for face protection. I also have pieces of plywood with bricks that you're welcome to move and shift to fit your needs. I am in the process of building a tree/shrub wind block. There's about .4 miles of dirt road to get to the property, there are some dips to watch out for but I come out here in a little Prius so it's manageable. Overall, there is an element of seclusion but occasionally people do drive by on the dirt road. I would rate the cell phone service a 7/10, it's pretty solid but can go out at times.

New Yurt City

33mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 10 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Lake Los Angeles, CA

New Yurt City is one of those hidden gems. The daily views are breathtaking. You can see every star down to the horizon, sunsets are amazing with snow capped mountains. There are lots to do nearby: 30min to ski resort, 1hour to the beach. Near lots of national parks and centrally located. It’s got a small town feel with amazing food trucks with handmade taco 5 mins away. We have atvs and Dirtbikes for rent, a beautiful garden with lots of fresh rosemary and lavender to share.

More to explore nearby

Be the first to review

Share your experience here to help other campers.

LocationTom Lucas Trail Camp, Angeles National Forest, California, United States

Is anything missing?Suggest edits to improve this listing for fellow campers.

What this place offers

Campfire allowed

Pets allowed

No showers

Toilets

No potable water

Picnic tables

No sewage hookups

No electric hookups

Other campgrounds in Angeles National Forest

I really like HipCamp's campaign "finding yourself outside."(Great Video HipCamp!) That is my favorite part about camping/hiking, especially waking up in the morning. Here is a photo of the moon greeting me on my cold morning at Tom Lucas.

Tom Lucas Trail Camp

2 sites · in Angeles National Forest

Lightning Point Group Campground

Lightning Point Group Campground

4.2mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 6 sites · Tents, RVs · in Angeles National Forest

Messenger Flats Campground

Messenger Flats Campground

4.5mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 10 sites · in Angeles National Forest

Fall Creek Trail Camp

Fall Creek Trail Camp

5.1mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 6 sites · in Angeles National Forest

Oakwilde Campground

Oakwilde Campground

6.8mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 5 sites · in Angeles National Forest

Monte Cristo Campground

Monte Cristo Campground

7.6mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 22 sites · Tents, RVs · in Angeles National Forest

Bear Canyon Trail Camp

Bear Canyon Trail Camp

7.7mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 3 sites · in Angeles National Forest

Gould Mesa Trail Camp

Gould Mesa Trail Camp

8.4mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 5 sites · in Angeles National Forest

Millard Trail Camp

Millard Trail Camp

9.6mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 6 sites · in Angeles National Forest

Resting on Mnt. Lowe

Mt. Lowe Trail Camp

10mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 5 sites · in Angeles National Forest

Looking down stream as we stand in the dry river bed. We're actually standing on the Valley Forge trail here, it cuts through the dry stream.

Valley Forge Trail Camp

11mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 6 sites · in Angeles National Forest

Mount Pacifico Campground

Mount Pacifico Campground

12mi from Tom Lucas Trail Camp · 8 sites · in Angeles National Forest

Top parks near Tom Lucas Trail Camp

Refugio State Beach

Doheny State Beach

Castaic Lake State Recreation Area

San Elijo State Beach

Limekiln State Park

Modesto Reservoir Regional Park

Castle Rock State Park

Del Valle Regional Park

Best camping near me

Best tent camping near me

Best RV camping near me

Best glamping near me

First come, first servedTent