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Cave camping in Lake Casitas

Cast a line or set up your tent at this sprawling Ojai-area reservoir.

97% (702 reviews)
97% (702 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Lake Casitas

5 top cave campgrounds in Lake Casitas

94%
(347)

Arber-Moore's Ranch

6 sites ¡ RVs, Tents22 acres ¡ Oak View, CA
Beautiful natural campsites in the Valley of the Moon (Ojai Valley). Our sites are within an eighth of a mile of walking, running, biking, and riding trails from Ojai to the beaches of Ventura. On many days you can experience Ojai’s famous pink moments. You can hike the trails above Ojai, boat, eat, or picnic at Lake Casitas. Travel to nearby Ventura to shop, fish the pier, or take a deep sea fishing charter or Island charter to Whale watch or fish around the Channel Islands. Please note the aerial view of the camping area recently placed by Hipcamp is NOT AT ALL REPRESENTATIVE of the current camping sites and shows a photo that is many years old when the site was merely land. That photo is without any of the existing amenities or improvements. The actual sites are all Larger than Federal Park and Statepark guidelines, with averages of 20'x30' for campsites and 20'x40' for a long RVCampsite. We have planted many young trees and continue to plant trees and native shrubs around and near the sites. We have picnic tables, table coverings, fire pits, and camping rugs/footprints. There is also an outdoor shower, a shower tent with hot water, and an upgraded porta-potty with a sink. Note: During times when high heat is predicted, we strongly recommend that our Hipcampers bring pop-up shade tents or canopies for their sites. The Hipcamp is adjacent to our working ranch, and any photos of old sheds, trucks, a wood lot, or other equipment are NOT on the Hipcamp, but you will drive past that property to get to the separate Hipcamp area. Wineries, Farmer's Markets, Craft Breweries, dispensaries, and more are within 10 to 15 minutes of our site. Our location allows moments when you may see Hawks, Owls, Geese, Swallows, Robins, Bluebirds, and more. We offer both tent and RV camping. The Majority of our Guests love it here: "Vivian and Dave were exceptional hosts! Easy to contact and find our way to their property. Also gave us a plethora of places to go and things to do in the Ojai area. The area was open and spacious, and many trees and upgrades were in the works to make future stays more user-friendly. Big pluses were the shower and toilet facilities—much appreciated !!"
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from 
$69
 / night
96%
(13)

Sanctuary Cielo

1 site ¡ Tent5 acres ¡ Santa Barbara, CA
Find your inner calm. Quiet and beautiful 5 acre, mountain forest retreat with walking paths, seating areas, yoga platforms, swings, caves, boulders and a hammock. Our sanctuary is more like a bed and breakfast, with touches of being in a warm home environment....an outdoor living room and kitchen. Easily accessible to cliffside hiking, caves or / rock climbing and the beach. Close to the Lizard's Mouth recreational area that has acres of exquisite cliffside boulders overlooking the ocean. Close to the Playground Recreational hiking area. And close to the Chumash Painted Caves. Multiple places to sleep, including on outdoor bed, a tent, ( we have one if you don't) a treehouse, or open air platforms. Room for a camping van. An indoor bedroom with fridge is available, with outdoor access, in inclement weather. We have a variety of games to choose from for the whole family. Kid friendly. We have 2 friendly kitties. Full outdoor kitchen with grill, outdoor shower, fresh water, fire pit, electricity and wifi. Hot tub is available for a small charge. Spa upgrades such as massage are available.
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from 
$130
 / night
99%
(679)

Cuyama Oaks Ranch

8 sites ¡ Lodging, RVs, Tents82 acres ¡ CA
Hello! Our names are Ricky and Nathan. We own and operate an 80 acre ranch that is great for family's, kids, romantic getaways, and LGBTQIA+ safe. We cannot wait to host you and your group! We're excited to share our property with those who appreciate nature and what seclusion in the mountains has to offer. Located deep in the Cuyama Valley, close to wine country, and booming local vineyards (1.25 hrs past Ojai and 45 minutes past Santa Maria) our ranch promises the getaway experience you've been looking for. The Ranch is 80 acres with majestic mountain views and vast canyons for hiking and trail access. During the spring and summer months imagine sitting in your own personal cowboy pooltub looking up at the stars. Smell the sage and wildflowers in the air while you sip wine. Surrounded by the Los Padres Mountains and located deep within the hidden valley of enchantment, this ranch gives the visitor the high-desert glamping/camping experience of their dreams. For the hikers and explorers out there, the ranch offers trails and within 30 min in every direction there are local trails. . There is a designated area for tent camping and for RV's, Trailers, Vans, and tiny homes (no electric yet for RVs). We also offer glamping sites and all inclusive yurts. The ranch is completely private and secluded, off HWY 166. We welcome all animals, big and small. We are farm! We have pigs, goats, ducks, chickens, turkeys and more!
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from 
$75
 / night
100%
(30)

Prospector Ranch

2 sites ¡ Lodging, RVs10 acres ¡ Thousand Oaks, CA
Chris and Meggan own Prospector Ranch which is an 1800's style ranch located right next door to the acre used for Hipcamping.  The ranch is made up of their home and is also a venue for filming, photo shoots and small events.  When not being used, camping guest are welcome to enjoy the area down around the authentic saloon, use the picnic area under large Oak trees and hike the property. They purchased the ranch 3 years ago and love being outside of the city in the mountains. Star gazing is a must when staying there! The camp site is NEXT DOOR to Prospector Ranch which is our 1800's style ranch tucked away in the Santa Monica mountains, close to beaches, vineyards, amazing hiking, biking to the beach and the city! The wide open empty lot looks out at the beautiful mountains. Enjoy stunning sun sets and Picnic under the grand Oak Trees at the ranch or maybe come by the saloon next door for a cold beverage if we are around. :-). We are happy to point you in the direction for what ever you want to do. There are so many things to do in Thousand Oaks!
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from 
$160
 / night
95%
(102)

Dreamy Wild Horse Ranch Cabin

15 sites ¡ Lodging, TentsLake Hughes, CA
Our family passion is endurance horse riding- for people which do not know what this means; it is a marathon race on a horse. For this kind of extreme sport, a already very fit and athletic horse needs to be prepared for riding in a rugged terrain at a faster pace to complete the race healthy and sound. Also the rider needs to be fit. I purchased this special location so i can condition my horses to perform at a best out there, in a tough and rugged race world of endurance. The left alone wilderness in the foothills and mountains housing some excellent training grounds, to get ready for some challenging races in the Western United States! This property location offers simply the much needed training challenges in all together, without ever to haul out, to train horses and riders for the confrontation of an terrain obstacle away from the ranch. In fact we have other riders coming in to train on the ranch!Our rides which we are offering are not dude ranch rides, or which would be to us boring cowboy rides, we trekking mostly in English style saddles, since riding is to us an athletic sport on an fit, muscle packed athlete.So the real equestrian enthusiast will not only find a grand ride in a fascinating Wild West nature, but also encounters a learning opportunity about equestrians.For our guests which are not into the world of equestrians, but still love the beautiful world of horses and want to meet a variety of breeds, we are offering happily a guided tour of the ranch, and inviting you to feed our drafts some carrots.Fascinating for many of our guests are our American Mustang horses. We even have some wild ones right here at the ranch. Additionally we love ATVing; our surrounding off road terrain trail spoil our guests with panoramic scenery, while driving with sometimes challenges. For this adventure we have some few trail heads which takes off right here from our ranch.Another important drawing card for us is the epic, world famous Pacific Crest Trail-which runs right in our backyard.  If you looking to unwind in a peaceful, remote, wilderness world, for some hours off the day, or the whole day and need to head back to a cozy and comfy staying accommodation for the night, this ranch is a great approach to begin this journey!For people which interested in geological science, we can offer a walk through the San Andreas Fault line, which runs right across the ranch.
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from 
$50
 / night

Dog-friendly getaways

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Cave camping in Lake Casitas guide

Overview

Just outside of Ojai in the hills of Ventura County, Lake Casitas is a massive reservoir that provides drinking water to residents of the region while offering excellent opportunities for boating, fishing, and shorefront camping. Run by the municipal water board, the Lake Casitas Recreation Area has 13 campgrounds with a mix of simple tent sites, electric sites, and full hook-up sites, plus two group camps, a bike rental shop, a bait shop, a cafe, and two boat ramps. While visitors aren't allowed to swim in the lake, there is a water park right by the lake with a lazy river and splash playgrounds for kids. 

Notable campgrounds

  • Best for RV campers: Fox Campground (Campground F) has sites with full hookups and 40-foot concrete parking pads.
  • Best for anglers: Angler Campground (Campground A) is situated right next to a boat ramp and bait-and-tackle store.
  • Best for families: Mallard Campground (Campground M) has a playground and is right by the model airstrip.

Tips for snagging a campsite

  1. You can reserve your campsite up to 90 days before your departure date either online through the Casitas Municipal Water District, over the phone, by email, or even in person.
  2. Summer weekends fill up early, so book as soon as you can to guarantee a spot.
  3. A two-night minimum applies on weekends, and a three- or four-night minimum applies during public holidays.
  4. If campsites are sold out for your preferred date, plenty of options sit in the immediate area, including Ventura County-run campgrounds, campsites in Los Padres National Forest, and privately owned Hipcamps.

When to go

Lake Casitas is a year-round destination, but the best months for camping are from April through October, when there's little chance of rain and temperatures are pleasant. Note that the campgrounds are often at capacity during the summer, so visit before Memorial Day Weekend or after Labor Day to avoid crowds. Anglers should note that the lake is stocked with Rainbow Trout at various points throughout the year. Night fishing is allowed on select evenings every month, weather permitting.

Know before you go

  • The lake is used as a source of drinking water. Therefore, swimming and other body-contact activities aren't allowed.
  • You can pick up groceries and other supplies in Ojai, a 10-minute drive from the park entrance.
  • You can buy shower tokens through a machine at the guest services building. Bring cash (bills only).
  • Due to droughts in the area, many of the trees in the lake are dry, which increases the likelihood of branches falling. Make sure to camp away from any potential limbs.
  • Bears have been spotted in the Lake Casitas Recreation Area, so it's vital that you secure your food and cookware in your car when not using it.

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