Taft

Pets

Electricity Hookup

Toilets

Campfires

Potable water

Picnic table

Ballinger Campground

Campground in Los Padres National Forest (17mi)

Valle Vista Campground

Close to Frazier Park, Valle Vista Campground offers spacious and wide open campsites under a pine- and oak-shaded grove

Campground in Los Padres National Forest (18mi)

Marian Campground

Set up on the ridge of Brush Mountain, Marian Campground offers a small campground with big views

Campground in Los Padres National Forest (21mi)

Caballo Campground

If you love flowering cactuses, dusty roads, and epic mountain views, Caballo Campground is at your service

Toad Springs Campground

An extremely vast terrain with all types of climates, it’s hard to know just what to expect from Los Padres National Forest

In addition to depressing sights/sites such as this, the hillsides, which are off-limits to off-road vehicles, are covered with dirt bike and other tracks. Looks like a lot of weekend hell-raising gets done here, so camp at your own risk!

Nettle Springs Campground

Campground in Los Padres National Forest (24mi)

My wife and I went to Nettle Springs CG on 5/2/15 and were disappointed to find that it looks like a war zone. The campsites are littered with trash, the facilities have been destroyed, and there are shotgun shells everywhere.

Condition of the bathroom at Nettle Springs CG as of 5/2/15. Los Padres NF website says that the CG is open, but there are no alerts or warnings about its unusable, unsafe condition. Called Mt. Pinos Ranger District, they said it is being decommissioned.

Lots of shotgun shells, bullet casings and broken skeet-shooting targets are scattered all over Nettle Springs CG. This photo was taken on 5/2/15.

Campo Alto Campground

Come chill out in a grove of Jeffrey pine at Campo Alto Campground

Aliso Park Campground

Aliso Park Campground offers a good camping option for the equestrian loving adventurers

Chula Vista is a rad little spot, especially if you're really into huge trees and star gazing. There's almost never anybody there so you're bound to get plenty of room to yourself! 

Chula Vista Campground

Camp out, chill out, and stargaze at the Chula Vista Campground, located in a welcoming grove of Jeffrey pine

Campground in Los Padres National Forest (27mi)

Chula Vista is a super popular spot for star gazers and astronomers. The night sky is incredible from here!

hike up to the summit at sunset (40 min tops)

Dome Springs Campground

Outside of Frazier Park, the Dome Springs Campground offers camping for the rugged folks out there, with access to the Chumash Wilderness

Campground in Los Padres National Forest (28mi)

McGill Campground and Group Campground

Humming with tranquility, McGill Campground is nestled within the mountainous evergreens of the Los Padres National forest

Bates Canyon Campground

Campground in Los Padres National Forest (30mi)

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Cuyama Badlands

If you've ever wondered what it might be like to camp on the moon, this is it. Completely removed from civilization and surrounded by a barren nature that is alive with the subtle presence of the universe. Seasonally, Spring wildflowers burst across the landscape. Cave paintings of Chumash Indians at Painted Rock remind us of those who lived before us.   **Read on for more details.**   

This is our home but we love to share our life in the outback. We believe it will give you a better appreciation of life's simpler side.  That being said, and to maintain the balance here at home, we'd appreciate if you keep your dogs in your car until you get to your site. 

Our offerings include fresh air and sunshine, amazing night sky, endless views, and plenty of space and privacy to enjoy your moments in nature. You'll find our amenities and activities puposefully sparse here.  Upon booking, there are about 5 miles of dirt road on the property that you are welcome to explore on foot or by bicycle.  

Rustic is the theme here.  There is no shower, no wifi, and no electricity available, but you will enjoy your own private spigot and the cellular service is acceptable.   

For any sites located south of Ballinger Wash, your vehicle length is limited to 22' and no more than 4' overhang from the rear axle, so you don't get stuck in the crossing and block access for others.  Towing services are 1-3 hours away.  

Our Songdog Camps are sparsely scattered atop a 200 foot mesa that looks west over a valley offering stunning desert sunsets and amazing stargazing.  These UPPER SITES are NOT OHV friendly, but any of our canyon bottom sites are a great base for your riding adventures up in Ballinger Canyon OHV.  We'll be happy to recommend a site for you.  **Forest Service law enforcement is actively ticketing unplated OHV on Ballinger Canyon Road.  Be sure to know and abide by the laws.**

Our friendly cancellation policies vary between 24 hours for simple campsites and 72 hours for our Glamp sites and Group sites.  Be sure to check the Google for distance to Cuyama Valley, and your dates for availability and site descriptions. Upon booking, you can look forward to an information packed email to help you make the very best of your trip!  

We look forward to seeing you!

Campsite 3 & 4

Every campsite has its own picnic table, fire pit with grill, a large trash can, and a kitchenette table, a rustic outdoor loo, and gorgeous 360º view. They are semi-secluded and spacious. There are many hiking trails near by, a vast riverbed to explore, and a quail guzzler to check out! The absolute best part is the night sky views of the Milky Way.

Setting up our meal at the campsite (picnic table is available at the campsite)

The cute flowers carpeting the whole property

Campsite 2

Campsite 1

Water Hookup

Cuyama Oaks Ranch

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!

This bed so well designed it was soooo comfortable too!

The yurt at sunset all lit up by solar power, it was a dream!

Wifi

Wake up early to catch the sunrise--lots of blankets are available to you.

Blue Sky Center

1948- On January 1, 1948 a wildcatter named George Hadley, who had been oil prospecting in the valley for 10 years, made the first oil strike in the Cuyama Valley. Richfield Oil Company soon moved in and extracted nearly 300 million barrels of oil in just a few short years. To accommodate an exploding workforce in the early 1950s, the company built the town of New Cuyama, its infrastructure, public buildings, the Cuyama airstrip (L88) and all the industrial structures that are now home to Blue Sky. Richfield Oil Company, later merging with Atlantic Oil Company forming the Atlantic Richfield Oil Company (ARCO), created high-paying jobs, a safe and prosperous community, and developed schools, churches, and recreational areas for the employee-residents.1973- With dwindling production in the area and new discoveries in Alaska, Atlantic-Richfield Oil Company put the town of New Cuyama and its associated infrastructure up for sale. Word of an entire town for sale made its way to entrepreneur, Russell O’Quinn of the Foundation for Airborne Relief (FAR) and Mildred Dotson, a wealthy widow from Tulsa, Oklahoma. The two worked together to acquire the townsite and adjacent land. O’Quinn, an aviator, inventor, and test pilot, aspired to use the New Cuyama airstrip and facilities as a base for humanitarian relief and a non-profit trade school.  Though not fully realized, FAR’s primary vision included utilizing converted military aircraft to  airlift food and medical supplies to developing countries and global  disaster areas. Dotson had loftier goals. Her plans included an 18-hole fly-in golf course, expansion of the Buckhorn Restaurant and Motel, and a 40- to 50-acre lake for amphibious landing and water sports. 1986- Another visionary, Harry Kislevitz, inventor of the popular design tool Colorforms® and founder of Future City/Villages International, sought to develop the site as a “City of Friendship,” an all-electric village of 5,000 earthen homes. The dwellings were to be designed by Nader Khalili, an Iranian-born architect who specialized in earthen structures, worked with NASA on prototypes for lunar homes and received an award from the United Nations for his work towards the development of low cost, sustainable structures for human shelter in impoverished and disaster prone environments. One 628-sq-ft Khalili prototype remains on the property today ("the Cantina"). Khalili went on to form the California Institute for Earth Art and Architecture, Cal-Earth, in Hesperia, CA.1993- Recognizing the transformative potential of clean, solar power and the attractiveness of a rural destination, entrepreneur Mike Nolan worked to develop the Solar Skypark and Big Sky Guest Ranch with Santa Barbara Architect, Barry Berkus. The Sky Park included plans for sixty-five fly-in residences on one-acre lots powered completely from clean, solar energy. The Big Sky Guest Ranch was intended to function as a clubhouse for Skypark residents complete with an equestrian center, a small subsistence farm, pool and plenty of enriching recreational activities. 2012- At the end of 2011, the Zannon Family Foundation made a long-term investment in acquiring the New Cuyama Airport property with the vision of rehabilitating the site to be a low-cost resource for programs and organizations working to advance sustainable living practices and technologies. Plans began soon after towards developing a framework and organization to develop the space and coordinate with prospective programs and institutions. In 2014 Blue Sky&nbsp;Sustainable Living&nbsp;Center ("Blue Sky&nbsp;Center") received 501(c)(3) not-for-profit status, endeavoring to reclaim this property for the public good.&nbsp;Today, Blue Sky&nbsp;Center provides unduplicated services and technical assistance to support small businesses and entrepreneurs as well as&nbsp;the local food system, with core work focused on&nbsp;community research and advocacy led by Cuyamans. Learn more on our website and consider supporting our community work with your donation or by hosting your next special event here!

Stairs lead you in--curtains are also available to give you more privacy.

The shelter at night--stars are pretty amazing.

Each shelter was custom built and has different bedding options.

North Fork Ranch (Horses Welcome)

Where Forest meets the Farm.  The North Fork Ranch began as a 100 year old homestead Apple Orchard and Turkey Ranch. The ranch surrounded by the Los padres forest is now a diversified farming ranch including cider apples, hops, cattle, babydoll sheep, chickens, dogs and a vineyard. We are at 5500 ft so we get the luxury of seasons and wildlife. The ranch includes a bunkhouse and dry land camping areas. There are hiking trails, seasonal hunting, ohv and motorcycle trails. Bring the horses and explore the mountains

Steel ring fire pit, large picnic table, hammock spot under the large piñon pines. 

Gem of the Bend (Horses welcome)

The Chumash called the peak of Mount Piños the center of the universe, or center of the world depending on the translation. This campground is at the southeast base of this mountain. The San Andreas fault is just about 8 miles away, and many other faults meet nearby. The mountains here are full of geological signs of the Forces that ripped away Santa Barbara from the North American plate as it was flipped upside down. This is the entrance to the Enchanted Forest.

Learn more about this land:

Lockwood Valley is so close to Los Angeles and other urban areas, but feels 1000 miles away. Our neighborhood is a gem within Lockwood Valley. The community has less than 20 residences so it is very rural, but neighborly. There are horses nearby, you will hear some roosters in the distance, and if you are lucky, you may hear the African lions or wolves from the next canyon over where there is a (fully contained) wildlife sanctuary called Steve Martins Working Wildlife (not the funny guy). 

Great secluded spot for a fully contained RV. Easy entrance from a good dirt road. The actual property of the site is 1/8 of an acre and is surrounded by forest and fields. A picnic table is nestled in a grove of trees next to a steel fire pit ring. Bring your hammock to relax under big shady piñon pines. The site is about 200 yards from the entrance to the Los Padres National Forest with great hiking, mountain biking, birdwatching, hunting, etc. There is currently no privacy barrier between the campsite and the dirt road, but the traffic is extremely minimal. 

There are two 12’x24’ horse corrals on the property. This area is ideal for horseback trail riding and the campsite location makes for the perfect base camp. 

This is a superb stargazing spot, far from the city lights. Many amateur astronomers come to this area for the dark skies. At a mile high, nights can be very cold, and in the winter it is possible to get up to a couple feet of snow. Weather conditions such as heavy rain or snow can make the roads and campsite impassable at times so cancellations are possible in this case (this happens a lot less than we would like, of course, because we need the precipitation!).

View from Greenleaf Peak. Campsite is in lower right corner. 

Sunset Bench at the top of Greenleaf Peak. 

Sewage Hookup

Lone Juniper Ranch

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.

10 Star Ranch

A semi-rural area with the California aqueduct in the backyard. The city of Taft is about 8 miles west of this little oasis in the desert of Kern County. We are just 20 miles, or 24 minutes from the busy I-5 Freeway. Come unwind and enjoy the quiet nature or host a party. The sky is the limit! 

Bathroom facilities available with 1 shower.  

35°07'21"N 119°22'31"W

Activities close to 10 Star Ranch:

.001 Miles. California Aqueduct fishing out your back door. 

29 Miles. Wind Wolves Preserve, 16019 CA-166, Bakersfield, CA 93311

https://wildlandsconservancy.org/preserves/windwolves

4 Miles. Moto X Racetracks. Honolulu Rd, Taft, CA 93268

https://www.taftracing.com/

6 Miles. West Kern Oil Museum. 1168 Wood Street,Taft, California 93268

https://www.westkernoilmuseum.org/

16 Miles. Buena Vista Golf Course. Mifflin Ln, Taft, CA 93268

https://www.golfbv.com/

21 Miles. Buena Vista Lake. 13601 Ironbark Rd, Bakersfield, CA 93311

https://www.kerncounty.com/government/parks

22 Miles. Kern County Gun Club. 12450 Shotgun Rd, Bakersfield, CA 93311

http://www.kerncountygunclub.com/

18 Miles. Skydive San Joaquin Valley Inc. 12112 Copus Rd, Bakersfield, CA 93313

http://skydivesanjoaquinvalley.com/

Cuyama Valley View

Learn more about this land:

View of the Cuyama Valley and Coastal Mountains. Rising terrain in the foothills of the Los Padres National Forest with native Juniper, grassland, dry creek beds and canyons. Great for hiking, mountain biking, star gazing and bird watching!

Panoramic views and privacy are key features. There is convenient access and it is a fenced/gated property. Summer breeze prevails, winter can expect low to freezing temperatures and occasional snow in winter months.&nbsp; Behind the campsite to the east are some farm buildings/storage, owners home is visible to the south half a mile away, manager lives on the property. The campsite is accessible with vehicle and trailer or RV with pull through/turnaround access. RV camping is preferable due to weather and/or wildlife, please message first to determine if it is a good fit for your visit. Campsite has a concrete slab, campfire bowl, non-potable water access, no restroom.

If you prefer, there is always the option of&nbsp;camping somewhere else on the property, as there is a total of&nbsp;740 acres.

Super Boom in Carrizo Plain National Monument 

View is facing west. Park on east side next to cement slab. 10' x 10' white pop up canopy available for shade use. 

Secluded Carrizo Plains Campsite

Looking for a place to get away from the stresses of the city and enjoy some peace and tranquility? Look no further than the Heritage Campsite. For the past four years, this has been our go-to spot for camping and creating great memories with our family and pets.

Located just a few miles from the Carrizo Plain National Monument and Soda Lake, this 2.5-acre lot is one of California's best-kept secrets. With only a few hours' drive from Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo, it offers visitors a rare opportunity to be alone with nature and experience the beauty of the outdoors.

Learn more about this land:

The Heritage Campsite is RV, travel trailer, and van-friendly, and generators are allowed at your discretion. And with no other visitors on the property, you'll have the entire lot to yourself.

One of the most amazing things about this campsite is the clear and beautiful night sky. With no city lights to interfere, you'll be able to see the stars like never before. And if you're lucky, you may even hear the coyotes howling in the distance.

During the spring, the valley comes alive with lush, colorful flowers that blanket the mountains in blue, green, purple, and yellow. It's a sight that you'll never forget and a reminder of the beauty of nature.

So why wait? Book your stay at the Heritage Campsite today and experience the magic of this hidden gem. It's like going back in time to the pioneering days or the native American passage travels. It's the perfect place to relax, unwind, and create new memories that will last a lifetime.

Also, please note due to the high temperatures during summer and the increased risk of fire caused by dry, easily flammable grass, we kindly ask that  you restrict all open flames and fire-related activities during summer.

Heritage Picnic Table and Fire Pit RV pull Through and scenery

Rancho mixteco

Rancho Mixteco: A Hidden Gem for Glamping and RV Camping in Maricopa, California

Nestled in the serene landscape of Maricopa, California, Rancho Mixteco is a breathtaking retreat for glamping and RV camping enthusiasts. This unique destination offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, tranquility, and adventure, making it an ideal getaway for those seeking relaxation under the stars.

One of the most captivating features of Rancho Mixteco is its unobstructed view of the night sky. Away from the city lights, the stargazing experience here is truly magical, with constellations, shooting stars, and even the Milky Way visible on clear nights. As you unwind by the campfire, you’ll find yourself mesmerized by the vastness of the cosmos above.

The ranch is also home to friendly, free-roaming rabbits, adding to its charm and peaceful atmosphere. Whether you're sipping coffee in the morning or enjoying the sunset, you’ll see these gentle creatures hopping around, making the experience even more enchanting.

From Rancho Mixteco, you get a stunning panoramic view of Highway 166, a scenic route known for its rolling hills and vast open spaces. This highway connects travelers to some of the most beautiful natural sites in the region, making it an excellent starting point for exploring the area.

Nearby, the majestic Mount Pinos stands tall, offering a striking contrast to the golden landscapes of Maricopa. This mountain is a haven for hikers, nature lovers, and those seeking cooler temperatures and breathtaking vistas. In the winter, it even becomes a popular spot for snow play and outdoor recreation.

For those who enjoy water activities, the Kern River is within reach, providing opportunities for kayaking, fishing, and white-water rafting. The river’s rugged beauty and strong currents make it a favorite among adventurers looking for an adrenaline rush.

Adding to the excitement, the New Casino is set to open just 25 miles away, bringing entertainment, dining, and nightlife to the region. Whether you're feeling lucky or just want to enjoy the lively atmosphere, the casino will be a great addition to the local attractions.

Rancho Mixteco is more than just a camping site—it's a sanctuary where nature, adventure, and relaxation come together.

Lepierrot Land Camp

The subject property is a rural undeveloped land parcel situated along Badger Trail in the California Valley region northeast of the community of Santa Margarita, San Luis Obispo County, California. 

The land lies within the 93453 ZIP Code and is characteristic of the Carrizo Plains / California Valley rural landscape — expansive, open, and relatively isolated from urban development.

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