1. Explore
    /
  2. United States
    /
  3. California
    /
  4. Santa Ysabel
  1. Explore
    /
  2. United States
    /
  3. California
    /
  4. Santa Ysabel

Fort Cross Adventures

Hosted by Doreen · Santa Ysabel, California
6 guests max
99%
·
119 reviews
Avatar
First Hipcamper Club
Earn this patch by being the first to spend a night outside at a new Hipcamp.
Staff verified
Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.
Creature comforts
Enjoy the comforts of home—including flush toilets, showers, and a kitchen.
PRIOR TO SUBMITTING A BOOKING REQUEST, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE READ ALL OF THE RULES AND INFORMATION FOUND AT: www fortcross com / camping You will also need to fill out the Camper Questionnaire/Agreement prior to your booking request being approved. Join us at Fort Cross, near the idyllic mountain town of Julian, CA! Famous for it's apples and pies.... also great hiking! And a popular destination for tourism! During your stay, you'll have so much fun! Our Farm Tour Adventure includes archery, hatchet throwing, slingshot range, petting zoo, and interactive reptile experience! And there's plenty to see and do on our 12-acre farm that kids and adults will love. There are also seasonal festival events that offer even more activities! Pitch a tent or camp in your trailer/RV! You will have access to water, restrooms, and a shower! A covered picnic table area with a deep sink for washing dishes is included. Please be sure to fill out the camper questionnaire/agreement prior to submitting your booking request.Everyone needs to fill out the Camper Questionnaire at fortcross comprior to booking being approved. I know it sucks, but it's important. We are very strict about this being a place. Thank you for your understanding! Pitch a tent or bring your camper! Located on 12 acres near the idyllic and historic town of Julian, famous for pies and old time nostalgia. Fort Cross is a working farm and offers many great activities such as Archery, Tomahawk Throwing, Slingshot Gallery, and so much more! Many high rated trails and hikes are located in the surrounding area. Our location is great for star gazing, as Julian is part of the Dark Sky Network. It's a popular destination during meteor showers. -Base price for each site includes a tent site for up to 4 bodies, regardless of age. -Fort Cross hosts several seasonal festival events, as well as regular activities the rest of the year. Each camper years old will need to purchase tickets/passes for whatever activities are planned for the time of your stay in order for your booking to be approved. Current weekend activities include archery, tomahawk throwing, and slingshots. Also farm animals and reptiles. Pricing for packages are $20 per person. If staying on a weeknight, the same activity package will be available to you during your stay. -Extra $20 per camping vehicle (trailer/rv/pop up) for the first night; camping vehicle fee reduced to $15 per night if booking for multiple nights. No hook-ups available. -1 vehicle per campsite; $10 for each additional vehicle per night, per campsite. Not all campsites accommodate vehicle parking next to tent; just loading and unloading in those areas. ***If camping during special events (ie: festival weekends including Lilac Festival, Autumn Jubilee, Holiday Hayride), all vehicles (other than camping trailers and RVs) MUST be moved to the parking lot before opening at 10 am each day**** -Please arrive before sunset. We are a rustic location and our area supports the Dark Sky Network to keep stargazing awesome. That means that we do not have many lighted areas. So to avoid setting up in total darkness, we ask that you arrive at least an hour before sundown. *Check-ins after 7:00 pm are not accepted. -Fire ban in effect, sorry! , but you are welcome to bring a propane camp stove for cooking meals. -Out of respect for other campers, we ask that there be a "quiet" time between 10:00 pm and 7:00 am. - We are located on farming land! There are a lot of farm friends on the property and on neighboring properties. You may hear animals such as a cow, donkey, goats, and others during your stay here. -This one is a bit of a bummer, but due to the fact that we are a family friendly establishment, and have had issues with itin the past,we do not typically allow alcohol on the premises. However, we understand the desire to unwind and have some fun. Soif you plan to drink any alcohol, we will allow it only if you do so with discretion WITHIN YOUR OWN CAMPSITE. Please behave appropriately and do not wander the property with an open container. -Potty mouth is extremely discouraged. Please be respectful of the family vibe we try to maintain. -Smoking of any kind is prohibited on the property. This includes vape pens. -Sorry for all of the rules. We really do look forward to having you with us and hope we can provide a wonderful stay for you!

Select a site

Filter by

RV/tent sites

1 site
  • Picture of the site
  • Picture of the site
  • Picture of the site
New

Doug Fir Tent Site

RV/tent site · Sleeps 6 · Vehicles under 45 ft
Everyone needs to fill out the Camper Questionnaire at fortcross comprior to booking being approved. I know it sucks, but it's important. We are very strict about this being a place. Thank you for your understanding! Pitch a tent or bring your camper! Located on 12 acres near the idyllic and historic town of Julian, famous for pies and old time nostalgia. Fort Cross is a working farm and offers many great activities such as Archery, Tomahawk Throwing, Slingshot Gallery, and so much more! Many high rated trails and hikes are located in the surrounding area. Our location is great for star gazing, as Julian is part of the Dark Sky Network. It's a popular destination during meteor showers. -Base price for each site includes a tent site for up to 4 bodies, regardless of age. -Fort Cross hosts several seasonal festival events, as well as regular activities the rest of the year. Each camper years old will need to purchase tickets/passes for whatever activities are planned for the time of your stay in order for your booking to be approved. Current weekend activities include archery, tomahawk throwing, and slingshots. Also farm animals and reptiles. Pricing for packages are $20 per person. If staying on a weeknight, the same activity package will be available to you during your stay. -Extra $20 per camping vehicle (trailer/rv/pop up) for the first night; camping vehicle fee reduced to $15 per night if booking for multiple nights. No hook-ups available. -1 vehicle per campsite; $10 for each additional vehicle per night, per campsite. Not all campsites accommodate vehicle parking next to tent; just loading and unloading in those areas. ***If camping during special events (ie: festival weekends including Lilac Festival, Autumn Jubilee, Holiday Hayride), all vehicles (other than camping trailers and RVs) MUST be moved to the parking lot before opening at 10 am each day**** -Please arrive before sunset. We are a rustic location and our area supports the Dark Sky Network to keep stargazing awesome. That means that we do not have many lighted areas. So to avoid setting up in total darkness, we ask that you arrive at least an hour before sundown. *Check-ins after 7:00 pm are not accepted. -Fire ban in effect, sorry! , but you are welcome to bring a propane camp stove for cooking meals. -Out of respect for other campers, we ask that there be a "quiet" time between 10:00 pm and 7:00 am. - We are located on farming land! There are a lot of farm friends on the property and on neighboring properties. You may hear animals such as a cow, donkey, goats, and others during your stay here. -This one is a bit of a bummer, but due to the fact that we are a family friendly establishment, and have had issues with itin the past,we do not typically allow alcohol on the premises. However, we understand the desire to unwind and have some fun. Soif you plan to drink any alcohol, we will allow it only if you do so with discretion WITHIN YOUR OWN CAMPSITE. Please behave appropriately and do not wander the property with an open container. -Potty mouth is extremely discouraged. Please be respectful of the family vibe we try to maintain. -Smoking of any kind is prohibited on the property. This includes vape pens. -Sorry for all of the rules. We really do look forward to having you with us and hope we can provide a wonderful stay for you!
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
No electrical hookup
No water hookup

Reviews

99% Recommend171 ratings · 119 reviews
Recommends
· May 2026
Tent ·
Tire Swing Tent Site
the camping grounds in the local parks were full i had to look for other options and found this spot , i wanted to take advantage of the long weekend and get to know the area for astrophotography and scenic views. I was solo camping and the place felt secured and it had an open space for stargazing after 2 AM sky looked amazing. it had showers and working restrooms. I really liked it.
Avatar
Chris A.
1 review
Recommends
· November 2020
Group trip ·
Tire Swing Tent Site
Wonderful stay and our hosts were fantastic. Can't wait to go back!
M
Michelle T.
6 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Group trip ·
Tire Swing Tent Site
Loved it all! Huge fun for overnight tent camp with kids. Best petting zoo I’ve been to in San Diego. Doreen and Hubby (sorry I don’t recall his name atm) were great! Definitely recommend and will come back.
G
Guy D.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Group trip ·
Tire Swing Tent Site
Doreen was so welcoming and helpful. Everyone loved the activities and the campsites were much better than I expected. Enjoying the meteor shower in the open field was perfect.
Avatar
Heidi G.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Activities & Camping Def Recommend!
Tire Swing Tent Site
This was a really fun weekend that I highly recommend if you are either a couple to adults who enjoy doing activities outside the usual hanging at the campsite or you are a family with young kids who may need some extra entertainment while enjoying sleeping in the outdoors. With just my partner and I, we had a great time feeding the animals, feeling like kids with the paint ball sling shots, shooting some arrows, and feeling accomplished with the sound of tomahawks landing into the wall of stumps. Doreen, Jesse, and all the other members at Fort Cross who were with us were very welcoming and helpful. If you have young children, I definitely recommend a stay here or even just a day visit! However, having a campsite within walking distance to come home to after all the playing was really nice. Access to the porta potty and water spout was convenient. And the layout of the area was so easy to navigate and you were far enough away from other campsites. You will still hear each other, but it was not a problem and there were set quiet hours which everyone followed. Also you may get to meet there pup who came by to say hello (hi Prince!). This was our first time using HipCamp and booking with Doreen at Fort Cross Adventures definitely made a great first impression! I hope to book again in the future with hopefully all my nieces and nephews when we are all able to spend time together!
C
Casey R.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Very enjoyable!
Tire Swing Tent Site
This campground was very enjoyable! My husband, son and I all had a really great time at Fort Cross. The activities were so enjoyable, we especially loved meeting all of the animals and reptiles. I also really liked the campfire and songs hosted by the campground owners, Doreen and Jess. They are so nice and welcoming. You can tell they put time and effort into making their campground great! Our campsite, Grandma Bea, was very clean, well maintained and private. There were plants and trees everywhere, a tire swing (my son loved), and so many fun activities!
H
Hayley B.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Fun weekend adventure
Group trip ·
Tire Swing Tent Site
Fortcross was a great fun experience for me and my family. We enjoyed meeting the Fortcross team, they were all great. We loved our time with the animals and reptiles! It was great to interact with them and it felt authentic and Jesse showed he cared and wanted everyone to enjoy. The bow & arrow, sling shot and tomahawks were great. The right amount of instruction and freedom to practice were provided. It was a great experience and my kids loved it. Doreen was very accommodating and went out of her way to help us and make sure we were comfortable. She is responsive and easy to work with. I’d go back!
G
Greg W.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Incredible find!
Group trip ·
Tire Swing Tent Site
What an incredible experience! Words don’t capture the easy joyfulness of thus experience for our whole family! We’ll be back!!
Avatar
Sarah C.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Tire Swing Tent Site
It was ok staying here. Was hoping for more isolation, but nice for families.
M
Mateo R.
4 reviews
Recommends
· August 2020
Tire Swing Tent Site
My teen girls and I really enjoyed the property, the petting zoo/animal experience, and the activities. The hosts were all very friendly and welcoming. We look forward to another stay soon.
J
Jason T.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
An easy weekend away
Group trip ·
Tire Swing Tent Site
Our stay at Fort Cross was so lovely. We had a nice spacious campsite, with a big oak tree shading our tent. Doreen and Jesse has fun activities throughout the day for our youngest camper to enjoy, and we had sightings of turkeys, cows, and donkeys which were a fun addition to the weekend. The star viewing at night was phenomenal, and we can’t wait to visit Fort Cross again!
Avatar
Katie H.
9 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Group trip ·
Tire Swing Tent Site
Our family enjoyed the camping experience and all the activities!
E
Erin K.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Amazing Weekend
Group trip ·
Tire Swing Tent Site
Fort Cross was amazing! We had such a great time with our family there this past weekend. It started off as just a birthday party and we decided to stay the night. All of Fort Cross's staff are awesome and the owners went above and beyond. From baby farm animals to reptiles to archery they had it all! My family and I cant wait to get back.
D
Dionna M.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Unique, Fun and Educational!
Group trip ·
Tire Swing Tent Site
I can’t say enough good things about Forcross Old Timey Adventures! This place and our hosts (Jessie and Doreen) over exceeded our expectations! We are a family of 4 with 2 kids, and we had a BLAST! We camped there with our tent for 2 nights, did all the activities available. We did the Tomahawk throw, slingshooting, petting zoo, archery, tire swings. Etc... so much fun, educational and very unique! There’s nothing like Fortcross, our kids never asked for the ipad for 3 days because this place kept them busy and interested. Our campsite was private enough, lots of shade, the showers and portapotty were very clean. It was so hot in the afternoon during our stay and Jessie turned on the sprinklers and an open grass area and we had a ton of fun cooling off there. The jug band folk music get together at night was so fun too, even with social distancing. They truly have something special here! Look no further and bring your family here for a great adventure. We will be back around Halloween time! Can’t wait! Thank you Doreen and Jessie for a wonderful stay! We see the love and hardwork you have put in this place. See you again!
Avatar
Joanna Q.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Very hospitable!!
Tire Swing Tent Site
Doreen and Jesse treated us like family! Our kids want to live there, they had the most fun. The ho down and campfire songs were my favorite. Great entertainment and great attitudes. Super fun time.
Avatar
Meriah D.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Group trip ·
Tire Swing Tent Site
We had a great time at Fort Cross! Doreen was a lovely host and made us feel welcome and comfortable right away. Our site was large and shady and although there were a lot of groups there it never felt crowded—our site felt private and we were able to social distance without a problem. Plus the facilities (portapotties, handwashing stations, and showers) were clean and easily accessible. The whole place had a summer camp vibe (in a good way!) and it was great for kids. Our 2 year old loved the tire swing, petting zoo, and wandering the maze. Overall we had great time and hope to return next year!
Avatar
Rachel T.
4 reviews
Recommends
· August 2020
Very easy, relaxing, and fun!
Tire Swing Tent Site
It was great! Doreen and her husband are super nice people! She gave us great recommendations for coffee and pie in town and her husband was great with the kids showing them all the animals. My gf and I did the activities, which were a lot of fun. We didn’t know what to expect, but we’re so glad we did it. We only did a weekend, but needed to do a whole week to both camp and explore the area. We will definitely be back for a longer trip and one with the kids. They’re going to love it! Definitely book if you have kids or want a chill easy camping experience. There are markets 5 min away driving if you forget or need anything.
J
Jason B.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Group trip ·
Tire Swing Tent Site
My family had a fantastic time. The campsite was nicely shaded with a table with benches. We had a great time stargazing and doing the onsite activities. My children's favorite activity was archery, and I loved the paintball slingshots. We also enjoyed the petting zoo and reptile interactions along with all the other activities. Doreen was a gracious host, and we highly recommend Fort Cross Adventures!
C
Courtney F.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Group trip ·
Tire Swing Tent Site
Dry camping at its finest. Sites are pretty spacious and private. Activities are great
K
Kristin S.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Group trip ·
Tire Swing Tent Site
We had a great time! Activities were very fun & everyone one was very nice and welcoming. Very family friendly, and great to star gaze. Took my telescope and saw 5 shooting starts and a few satellites.
M
Monica C.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Loved it, will be back.
Group trip ·
Tire Swing Tent Site
Doreen and the rest of the folks at Fort Cross Adventures were very friendly and fun, and our party loved staying here. There was a good mix of things to do and quiet time, so it never got boring, but nor did it feel too exciting. The activities were lots of fun. Bring earplugs to sleep if you're there on a weekend. The camp itself is very quiet and tranquil, but it's close enough to a thoroughfare that sometimes evening travelers will wake you up.
B
Brett E.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Tire Swing Tent Site
Totally fun safe adventures for my two boys. Warm, welcoming, accommodating and good ole fashioned fun. I’ll be back. Thanks!
Avatar
David C.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Tire Swing Tent Site
Staying here was great! I only stayed one night so I didn’t give myself the chance to check out all of the fun activities that are offered, but it looked like a lot of fun! I’m definitely bringing my nieces and nephews here for a fun weekend adventure!
A
Aubrey C.
4 reviews
Recommends
· August 2020
Family Fun Around Every Corner!
Group trip ·
Tire Swing Tent Site
My family and I fell in love with Fort Cross. It is a very special place owned and run by people who truly are passionate about what they do and the land that they care for. Doreen and Jessie were incredible hosts as well as Farmer Ben and Sunny, making us feel like we were instantly part of the family. We camped out in a site, shaded by amazing oak trees, and woke up to the sounds of roosters, cows, and donkeys, which we absolutely loved. The activities for families includes archery, tomahawk throwing, paintball slingshotting, an amazing petting zoo and reptile encounters, panning for gold, a Lilac maze, tire swings, and much much more. Our daughters loved picking strawberries and raspberries too. We really didn’t want to leave and will be back again and again!
H
Heidi M.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Happy Campers :-)
Group trip ·
Tire Swing Tent Site
We camped here with our sons (8yo, 7yo) and it was so much fun! The campsite was private yet inclusive, clean and beautiful and felt very safe. It was time well spent for our family. Fort Cross is awesome for kids, it’s whimsical and adventure-y. Our kids both had a blast and my inner child was happy too. The fort, tire swings, archery and paintball sling shot were very fun and our youngest especially loved holding the reptiles! Everyone was very kind and friendly. This place is awesome, the kids are still talking about it with joy, they’re happy campers :-)
Avatar
Mariah M.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Wonderful camping for kids!
Group trip ·
Tire Swing Tent Site
Wonderful experience. Definitely recommend for families with kids! All the activities make for an awesome bonding opportunity. Doreen was extremely helpful answering all our questions before booking and making us feel at ease to bring our little ones. She and Jesse were very friendly and accommodating. We highly recommend their camping!
L
Lorena H.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Perfect for families!
Tire Swing Tent Site
This was my first camping trip for my 2 little kids (4 & 6) and I think it's the perfect place to start. There is so much to do, the hosts and employees are wonderful, the area is clean and welcoming. I would highly recommend and will definitely come back. The activities are worth the costs of admission and my kids won't stop talking about them. They have a wonderful memory for life and I'm thankful for finding Fort Cross.
Avatar
David P.
3 reviews
Recommends
· August 2020
FUN FOR KIDS & ADULT CHILDREN! LOL
Group trip ·
Tire Swing Tent Site
We had the best time! It was 2 adult women and a 6yr old. The entire property was so well taken care of and thoughtful in all of amenities as well as activities! We loved literally everything that we were able to participate in from the slingshots, archery, tomahawks, petting zoo, and reptiles encounters. It all exceeded our expectations! We also loved that while we were definitely shown the ropes at all of these activities, and given instructions there was a lot autonomy and trust, which was so fun. The 2 of us adults are very competitive and loved all the ways the staff gave us challenges at the different adventure stations. The three of us are huge animal lovers too! The baby loved every part of camping there, and all three of us were so sad to leave after two nights. 5 STARS, would def recommend to anyone and would go back in a heartbeat.
Avatar
Andy L.
6 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Group trip ·
Tire Swing Tent Site
Plenty of shades in the camping area, which was great especially for kids. No tarp shelter was required. There's music, animals and lots of wooden structures that make this site special.
D
Dai B.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2020
Fun for everyone
Tire Swing Tent Site
This place is great fun for kids and adults. There is something for everyone. We’ll definitely return. 10/10!!!
M
Monique O.
5 reviews

Location

Santa Ysabel, San Diego, California, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Avatar

Hosted by Doreen C.

Joined in November 2017

Things to do nearby

    Similar campgrounds nearby

      Popular searches in California

      RV sites
      Farm camping
      Dog-friendly camping
      Camping with showers
      Luxury camping
      Camping with wildlife watching
      Camping with hiking
      Camping with a private bathroom

      About us

      Gift cardsGeneral storeJournalCareersPressHipcamper FAQ

      Hosting

      Becoming a HostIs my land a fit?Professional campgroundsInsuranceStandardsHosting FAQ

      Everywhere You Want To Camp™

      Hipcamp is the #1 camping app to find and book campsites, from national parks to blueberry farms. Explore our collection of over 500,000 iconic public lands, well-equipped RV resorts, and private sites you won't find anywhere else. Browse our comprehensive maps, filter by your camping style, read millions of real reviews, and create free availability alerts. Hipcamp is the simplest way to find yourself outside under the stars. Camp Your Way®

      Get Hipcamp, the #1 camping app.

      Terms of ServicePrivacy PolicySitemapLLMS
      © 2026 Hipcamp, Inc. All rights reserved.
      Hipcamp is created with ❤️ and hope for our future.