Horse Flats Campground

FS USDA Forest Service · Primitive

View on Recreation.gov

Seasonal operation. This campground is not open year-round. Likely open now (September).

Conditions

Road Access Not recorded
Season Seasonal Closure
Campfires Campfires Allowed
Elevation 5,700 ft
Boondock Access Not recorded

The managing agency hasn't published road access for this campground. The description and directions below often mention it — and it's worth calling the agency before a long drive.

Features

Style Primitive Vault Toilet Reservable

Campground Stats

Total Sites27
Overnight Sites27

Description

Overview

Horse Flats Campground is a small, high-country campground with 26 individual sites located off the Santa Clara Divide Road (3N17) in the Angeles National Forest and within the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. Set at approximately 5,700 feet elevation, the campground provides a peaceful mountain setting surrounded by pine forest and granite outcroppings.

Recreation

The area offers a range of outdoor activities such as rock climbing & bouldering, hiking, nature viewing, photography, and scenic driving.

Facilities

Horse flats campground provides basic developed amenities, including: 

·         26 single first-come/first-serve campsites

·         Picnic tables and fire rings

·         Vault toilets

Water is not available, so visitors should bring a sufficient supply for cooking, cleaning, and extinguishing campfires. Cell service is unavailable.

Natural Features

Horse Flats sits in the high country of the San Gabriel Mountains, characterized by Jeffrey pine, Coulter pine, and oak woodland, along with large granite boulders and rock formations that define the landscape. The higher elevation creates a cooler climate compared to lower foothill areas, with fresh mountain air and seasonal wildflowers.

Nearby Attractions

  • Angeles Crest Scenic Highway – Mountain viewpoints, trailheads, and picnic areas along the highway

  • High-country trail networks – Access to hiking routes connecting to nearby wilderness areas

  • Chilao Recreation Area & Visitor Center – Interpretive exhibits and additional camping options a short drive away

  • Local climbing areas – Granite formations throughout the Horse Flats area

Directions

From the Los Angeles / Pasadena area: 

  • Take Interstate 210 (Foothill Freeway) until you reach the exit for the Angeles Crest Highway (CA-2).

  • Exit onto Angeles Crest Highway (CA-2) and drive northeast into the mountains.

  • Continue for approximately 25–30 miles (distance varies by starting point) until reaching Santa Clara Divide Road (3N17).

  • Turn onto Santa Clara Divide Road (3N17) and follow for approximately 3 miles until reaching campground entrance

Details

Phone661-269-2808
ReservableYes