Manzanita Campground — Hotel in Altadena

Camping was great here. I would give it 5 stars, but the sites have not had any work on them in some time and are a little run down. Also, be warned, vault toilets. But, besides those two things, the campground is great. We went during summer, and many of the sites lack sufficient shade during the day to be comfortable. It didn't get over the high 70s, however. We went mid week and it was almost empty. The two groups there when we arrived, left that evening, and we had the whole campground to ourselves for almost a full day. We moved to the shadier sites the next day and were happier. If you want the shady sites, you'll need to get there mid week or earlier. The sites are not huge, but well separated and well hidden in most cases. The fire pits were in different levels of maintenence. The moon was nearly full for the 3 nights we were there, which meant we didn't need to use flashlights at night once our eyes adjusted. The views of sunset and valleys were amazing. If you need to get out of the city, but don't want to drive 5 or 6 hours to get away, this is only an hour or less of a drive and offers a great experience. Another cool thing, we saw toads. These were fairly large arroyo toads. There is Zero cell reception at the site. You will have to drive 10 or 20 minutes toward palmdale to find any reception. Last thing, remember to check road conditions and closures. At the time of this review, the direct route from La Cañada is blocked at Red Box, and you have to detour all the way around the back side. It adds about 20 minutes, and there are 3 splits that need attention or you will get lost. Either familiarize yourself with the route before, or make sure your navigation and maps work offline, as there is zero reception once you...

Our visit in May offered comfortable weather, although nights can get chilly; packing a jacket or blanket is wise, but you won't be shivering in your tent. Days are filled with ample sunshine, perfect for outdoor adventures.

The grounds are impeccably maintained, and the restrooms can be better. However, it's also worth noting that there's no water source nearby, and unfortunately, no water spigot available near the restroom facilities. So bring your own dinking water and gray water.

The campsites themselves are generously spaced out, and reservations can be conveniently made through the government website. Interagency access holders even enjoy discounted rates. Remember to bring your own firewood as local trees aren't suitable for burning, minimizing the risk of uncontrollable fires due to sparks. Check the entrance for current fire restriction.

While the lack of water nearby might be a downside for some, there are plenty of opportunities for hiking in the surrounding areas, offering breathtaking views and exploration. The lot loop around, great for biking, not suggest to do it with kid, because of the hills.

Overall, this campsite is a fantastic choice for nature enthusiasts. Remember to respect the environment by keeping it clean and leaving no trace. Let's preserve the beauty of our natural surroundings for future...

Gorgeous, the little pines section had perfect views, a subtle breeze, nice enough restroom, private feeling tent sites, however we lasted one night due to yellow jackets which I don’t think enough comments have mentioned because I had seen reviews mention the flies, and yes the little black flies were a bit incessant but they weren’t biting so they were tolerable, the yellow jackets however, we couldn’t have food out…my dog and I had to take refuge in the tent, couldn’t stand still for a minute without being inspected. I had a nervous breakdown. Still want to go back but just gonna have to be extra prepared with a net canopy, bee detergent, and whatever else. I like the outdoors and try not to be high maintenance but these hornets were on another level. Had similar issue at buckhorn during our last trip I thought maybe this camp was different because no one mentioned it but I was wrong. Also note coyotes were confidently scavenging and yeeping around the tents all night, if their chatter unnerves you this isn’t the spot for you either it was a long night trying to...