Historic Sturtevant Camp

Amazing place! We loved every minute!

Vitaly K.

5 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2020

A hidden gem

The hike in was difficult but well worth it! The site was awesome and the Honeymoon cabin was adorable. The perfect weekend getaway to really and truly get away from it all. Teah was an amazing host who not only made great treats but taught us so much about the history of the site and the wild animals in the area asa a well.

Vicki W.

5 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2020

Great Escape From the World

My boyfriend and I had an amazing time, and our volunteer Teah was so cool! She taught us about the land and history of the camp. Being out in nature, yet so close to our home (Los Angeles) was crazy! We were able to de-clutter our minds for the weekend and escape the city. Loved our trip so much! We saw so many deer, birds, butterflies, and even a bear!

Chelsea B.

4 reviews

Recommends

· June 2020

Group trip ·

Our Volunteer Hosts (Just Dave & Jane) were awesome. They were very conscious of persecutions of COVID and got up there the night early and cleaned and sanitized the cabin before we got there as we were one of the first folks up there in months. Beyond that they let you be, but do spend some time talking to them, you'll learn a few things and get to hear about all the adventures they've had. You'll be inspired to get out and do more. Be mindful of how much food and things you bring so you are not wasteful. We brought more food than we needed (thankfully not too much more) so we had to throw some away. Also, we carried back our cooler bags with us on the hike down but if we hadn't it would be a another week before the mules would get them for us to pick up. Something to be mindful about.

Chirag P.

5 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2020

Group trip ·

Sturtevant Camp was such an amazing find. The retreat cabin was perfect for our group and the hosts Jane and Dave made it such a great experience. I will definitely be going back.

Jace D.

5 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· March 2020

Homesick for Sturtevant Camp

Group trip ·

We loved our weekend at Sturtevant Camp! The hike was no picnic, but it was worth every aching muscle. Sarah, our camp host, made sure we had everything we needed and on top of that, she was extremely warm and kind. She even invited the kids to help her check the water pumps and shared yummy treats she had prepared for herself. The camp itself was everything we hoped for. It’s not sparkly clean and it’s a little rustic, but some of the buildings are over 100 years old, so we expected nothing more. The kitchen was outfitted with everything we needed. We opted to have our food packed in, by the Adams Pack Station donkeys, which really enhanced our experience. We were able to enjoy delicious meals, that made the weekend feel decedent and special. The game room even had musical instruments, including a piano! When you consider the fact that there are no roads to the camp, that’s pretty impressive. The bunk houses were equipped with clean sheets and plenty of blankets. We felt like kids again, giggling in our bunk beds until we fell asleep. The only negative experience we had all weekend, was with the inconsiderate hikers that passed through the camp. Sarah handled the situation as best she could, but I think it would be helpful if the camp made signs, advising hikers (especially the early morning hikers) to be considerate of the people staying in the camp. They helped themselves to our coffee and rang the large dinner bell loudly, starting at 7am. It needs to be said Sturtevant Camp should not be held responsible for the behavior of those hikers. But maybe some extra signage would be helpful. We’ll be back, for sure!

Bonnie F.

2 reviews

Recommends

· March 2020

Group trip ·

Sarah was amazing! She helped get us settled in and showed us around the camp! She was very knowledgeable and made us feel very safe! Thank you

Patrick V.

6 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· March 2020

This place is a gem! An escape from LA that doesn't require much time in the car but will make you feel really far away. The hike up is just the right amount of challenging to make you feel relieved to arrive, but not to be stressful. Highly recommend. Sarah is a great host!

Emily R.

6 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· January 2020

Forest Cabins near LA

It place is great for a long hike with a stay at spot. The place is basic, the volunteer was really friendly and helpful. We loved that we are helping a heritage place stay alive and be able to enjoy it.

Natalia P.

6 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· January 2020

great camp experience for small group of people. everything is well maintained. it is a nice getaway which also close to the city. it's bit cold for December, we cover 5 blanket but still can't fall into sleep. but the dilemma is it's kinda hot when we climb up to the camp. be careful for the tick in the woods (not the camp), cause we found it on our dog.

Aeril X.

2 reviews

Recommends

· November 2019

Group trip ·

This was such a fun experience. We were a group of 7 and all very much enjoyed staying in the Guest Cabin. Highlight was cooking in the large communal kitchen :) Thank you Deb and Teah!

Juliette E.

6 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· October 2019

ok for couple. Best in a group!

There was an unforeseen hiccup shortly after booking my Cabon Retreat. Deb contacted me immediately and proposed to move my group to Honeymoon Cottage. Unfortunately, this only houses 2 people so part of my group had to be uninvited to my bf's bday trip :( . Once there, the Camp host mentioned we could move to a larger cabin when she was unable to turn on the heater in our cabin! So, my group could have been accommodated afterall, but it was too late. The hike in was harder than expected with a weighted pack, so be sure to research the trail. Mount Zion Loop trail goes directly through the camp, so there were hikers in and out all day, but still felt safe and was quiet enough. My only complaint is that it would be nice if someone could clean the cabins. our cabin had what looked like mouse droppings on the floor and cobwebs everywhere. We're not fuzzy people, but it would be nice if it wasn't there... The camp host was AWESOME! She was working her butt off the entire time, super friendly, informative and helpful. She really deserves the praise. Note that the zipline and the archery set up are both gone! Sidenote: the Hipcamp support team is awesome!! <3

Nay J.

6 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· August 2019

A total treat and total retreat.

It’s rustic. Cabins are very basic but it is awesome. Close to LA. Beautiful hike. Beautiful setting. Incredible range of activities at the camp. Great for kids. Great for a getaway. Easy camping with fresh drinkable water, hot showers, full service kitchen. I would highly recommend.

Joan S.

6 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· August 2019

We loved our stay at Sturtevant! The hike in was about 4 miles and moderately hard. Took us about 2 hours. The camp is adorable. We loved our host Ken and enjoyed exploring the camp grounds. We can’t wait to come back!

Kailyn F.

8 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· August 2019

Group trip ·

Such a cool spot! 6 of my friends hiked and stayed here with me for one night for my birthday. We live in LA and loved feeling so far from the city, although it was only a 30 minute drive from downtown to the start of the hike. We got there around 9am on a Saturday and it was difficult to find parking. The hike was a bit more challenging than we expected, but totally worth it. The camp was really cool and the hosts were so nice and accommodating. Most of the sports equipment was broken/flat, so we mainly just hung out and played board games and made a fire. There is a fully working kitchen (all tools, oils, spices, pans, like 10 different cast irons in all sizes), although we cooked most of our meals over the fire. All in all it was a really fun and different getaway and we all loved it!

Kenzie F.

3 reviews

Recommends

· July 2019

Group trip ·

We had a great weekend at Sturtevant Camp! Our hosts Brooke and Jeff were great and made sure our weekend was perfect. The camp itself is charming and comfortable, with great creature comforts like plumbed bathrooms and a full kitchen. Using the donkeys at Adam's Pack Station to pack our food up made the 4-mile hike up easy. Can't wait to go back!

Matthew A.

6 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2019

Group trip ·

Beautiful and relaxing cabins! Thanks to Deb and team for making it a lovely stay.

Amy S.

2 reviews

Recommends

· July 2019

Wonderful birthday trip!

Group trip ·

We had an incredible stay for my birthday! Stayed at the Critter Cabin with 3 friends and had a lovely night with archery, ziplines, a full kitchen, and ping pong. Felt like we were back in summer camp. Our host was super friendly, helped us get settled in and find everything. The trek to the camp was a little difficult, but we had over-packed food supplies lol. Will definitely be recommending to friends and hopefully be back again soon. :)

Jeremy F.

6 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2019

Awesome sauce

Our host were sick, Jeff and Brooke. We ziplined at night and it was dope. Our host had a campfire for us. The other campers staying there had really cute dogs..like cuteness overload. They had coffee for us in the morning which was fantastic. Overall our stay was super gucci. We will be coming back very soon, best believe it.

Steven C.

6 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· February 2019

Group trip ·

Amazing place! We are definitely going back! Deb, our camp host, and all the staff were nice and super helpful. The camp itself was beautiful and looked like it was right out of the parent trap! The hike was also not to long or hard. Highly recommend a visit!!

Molly M.

3 reviews

Recommends

· February 2019

Beautiful isolated cabin

Great. Long, beautiful hike in. Isolated rustic cabin.

Conor G.

5 reviews

Recommends

· January 2019

Magical retreat in the forest

It's hard to believe a place like this exists so close to LA. The hike in was gorgeous, especially since it had just rained the week before. The host was very knowledgeable about the history of the camp and the area and very hospitable in general. The cottage is small but was warm and cozy. Main cabin kitchen had everything we needed to cook a great dinner. We hiked back via Mount Zion and Winter Creek which was also beautiful. Great 24 hours in the forest!

Lillian W.

7 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· October 2018

This place is amazing! The campsite is very peaceful and has plenty of space. You're able to relax in the hammocks, the swing, on the benches, and seating areas. There are a couple hikes we noticed you can take from camp. The first is the botanical garden which leads to the helipad, the second to Mt. Zion, and the third to the top of Mt.Wilson where you can see the observatory. The water gets really warm for the showers so don't be worried about that. The kitchen has everything you need to prepare the food you bring up and instructions are posted up on cleaning up. We had our things packed up by the mules and carried them down. The trail up was a bit challenging for us, but the way down was a lot easier even with our backpacks. I would highly recommend you experience the camp as its truly a one of a kind experience.

Karina B.

7 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· October 2018

Our stay at the camp was amazing! Our host was Pamela and she was very knowledgeable about the mountains for hiking in the surrounding trails as well as just Outdoors life in general. The site was a lot of fun with activities for my two boys from archery to ziplining to just exploring in the woods. The cabin itself was very comfortable with running hot and cold water we also had our own private kitchenettes and we also had access to the larger commercial kitchen. We were able to make a great fire each nights and roast marshmallows which the kids always enjoy. It was a good break from our normal Backcountry camping with tent setup or Hammock Camping Etc in this case we were able to just enjoy the woods and then sleep in the bed where all of our wedding was provided. We also took advantage of the pack station which brought up our food and clothing by mule. I highly recommend this because instead of having to rehydrate some Mountain House meal we were able to cook up tri-tip and barbecue chicken and eat full meals without having to carry it all up. All of the cooking supplies and 10 Souls Blades of course everything like that was provided for us. It's not a lavish high-end type of place but rather a warm and cozy retreat in the mountains which is exactly what I hoped it would be. I highly recommend it to anybody who is able to hike up the four and a half miles to get there I wouldn't say the height is an easy one but it's definitely not hard more than intermediate hike and just to give you an idea I have a 10 year old and a 6 year old who offer and go on Hikes with us and the form I took us about 3 and 1/2 to 4 hours which included stopping for breaks and snacks and more brakes and more snacks.

Rosario O.

7 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2018

This camp is a hidden gem right near LA!! I will be back soon! Deb is the best host, the camp has a ton of amenities, and has a beautiful, historical character. I can’t believe my fortune in finding this place!

Rae H.

2 reviews

Recommends

· July 2018

I had an amazing time the hike was beautiful! The cabin was adorable. The only downside it is right next to the entrance to another train in the morning you can hear hikers talking and some even trying to peak into the cabin but it was not too bad. It was still a beautiful getaway without being to far.

Niza M.

7 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2018

This place is a gem... magical. Im coming back for sure.

Christine W.

8 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2018

Sturtevant Camp is tucked four miles into the San Gabriel Forest. The route to get there is a beautiful, moderate-level hike with a payoff of fresh coffee available to all hikers, courtesy of the camp host Deb. After dropping off our gear in the precious one-bedroom cabin we were to call our home for the night, we put our food away in the communal camp kitchen and made ourselves at home. If you're looking for childhood summer camp nostalgia, this is the place. The dining hall is covered in handmade decorations made by campers of the past, the fireplace room is full of games that were played late into the night, and there are plenty of outdoor activities too. We ziplined, napped in the hammock, sat on the swing, and played horseshoes. Later after sunset, Deb built a fire and chatted about the history of the camp, and how she came to own it along with Adam's Pack House at the start of the trail. When we awoke after a comfortable night in the cabin, we continued up the trail to Mt. WIlson Observatory. Not only is this a great place to learn about the study of astronomy, but they have a delightful spot to grab lunch called Cosmic Cafe. After indulging in a banana split we headed back down the mountain, taking the detour to Sturtevant Falls. This is highly recommended if you are visiting early spring. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and Pros: - full kitchen (fridge, sink, stovetop, utensils/plates) - plenty of activities - great camp host - coffee, tea, and oatmeal provided - unique experience Cons: - parking can get crowded at the base of the camp, get there early - the hike in can be challenging for those without backpacking experience. You can take advantage of Adam's Pack service to send donkeys up the hill with your things - beware of mosquitos, bring bug spray

Casey M.

2 reviews

Recommends

· April 2018

I booked this trip as a short getaway for my boyfriend, Andy and dog, Barrett. The first reason I decided on this place was that it was dog friendly IF your dog is trained and friendly with ALL dogs. he got along with all the pups so we let him roam a bit when we got into camp. This was little Barrett's first trip carrying his food and water for an overnight so the 4 mile hike in was just the right amount of distance with moderate challenge for him and us. We drove up on a Saturday because we both worked Friday. In hindsight, I would recommend getting there early on Friday and staying for two nights instead of just one. Saturday parking at the trailhead was insanely busy and we ended up getting lucky to only have to walk about a mile to the Adams Pack Station to check in before hitting the trail. The elevation loss and gain on the trail is much like a V, you lose elevation at first and then gain elevation about half way up. We took the trail up to Sturtevant falls first and then back tracked heading up the Gabriellino Trail to the left for the more gradual climb. When we arrived, we were greeted by the rustic ranger cabin and an American flag waving in wind. Our camp host, Marcella greeted us and showed us around. The Honeymoon cabin was exactly how I envisioned it to be. Rustic, simple, beautiful and cozy. We had full access to the main kitchen which was fully stocked with every kind of utensil and tool one would need to make a fine meal. There were several sizes cast iron skillets, pots, pans, large commercial gas stove and 2 ovens. We packed everything in but if I was to do it again with friends, I would opt to use the mule service to bring in some nice cuts of meat and other items that could be refrigerated. There was complementary coffee, tea and oatmeal too. In addition to having an amazing camp kitchen, there were also a number of fun thing to do while we were there. The game room had a bunch of board games, there was also a horse shoe pit, archery with bows, arrows and target available, a giant swing and last but not least, a small zipline! Barrett loved racing the zip! The only downside to the honeymoon cottage is that it is right next to the Mt Wilson and Zion trail. We could here a few people passing by as we were relaxing in the afternoon. The flies and mosquitoes were brutal in the afternoon but seemed to go away at dusk. I was lucky and was able to get away without any bites on our trip. There were only a few other people in our camp when we got there so it was nice and quiet at night. The camp bathrooms are standard camp bathrooms and I can't comment on the showers since we decided to be stinky and not take any for the overnight. The camp doesn't have power except for lighting by a generator at night so don't expect to be charging your phone at night. I had mine on airplane mode so I could take a few pictures and was fine. All in all, the trip and cottage was totally worth it. We got more than we expected and are thinking about planning some group trips up in the future.

Michelle M.

10 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· March 2018

Group trip ·