Upper Oso Campground — Hotel in Goleta

Good: The mountain landscape, flush toilets (not too grimy), drinking water, hiking trails

BAD: Experience with camp host Bob! He pointed us twice in the wrong direction to set up our tent- the first time he came around AFTER we set up and said that area's reserved (ok we should have known, it had a grill and it's own parking spot). The second time, I asked him where was NOT reserved, and he pointed downhill to a patch of grass without amenities, so we walked down there and set up, he passed by and it seemed fine.

The next morning, I went to ask him if we could use a grill to boil water and he said we were lucky not to have gotten a fee overnight- WHAT? He told us the area we camped in was for day use only, and if the ranger had seen, we'd have gotten a ticket... So he chose not to tell us that until the next day? So I asked him where did he want us to go, and he SHRUGGED. I explained that we had gotten two day passes, and he said oh okay, that's fine then...

Except that 15 minutes later he came by and yelled "You people are illegally camping, I won't tell you again!"- so I have no idea what his problem was, and why he couldn't be clear with us as to where to go/what he wanted from us. He was so abrupt and talking with him was so frustrating we left immediately rather than struggle to get any kind of help!

Ensure you have a reservation so you don't have to...

It is much more isolated than other campgrounds in the area and not along the side of the road. They also have an ATV road at the back of the campsite and a trail. Not sure if you are supposed to walk on the ATV trail but it has really pretty views of the mountains. The toilets were fine, for a campground they were pretty good! It got COLD at night, my car said it was 37 degrees! the stars were INCREDIBLE and I highly recommend going on a night...

Great camping. Great hiking trails. Very courteous staff and host. Enjoyable scenery all around. Only reason for 4 stars is the bathrooms were a bit gross. 1 of them being locked, meaning almost always having to wait. If you go here, make sure to note there are no showers. We brought a Ozark trail two room shower tent with a portable shower and portable toilet so wasn't as inconvenient for us. Also, lots of ants all over. But hey,...