★ Field-verified · Dave's ownUSFS · dispersedFree
Cleveland National Forest
Drive-up · U.S. Forest Service · San Diego County, CA · 33.12692, -116.80348
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Ask about this camp →Dave's been here. A spot from Dave's own travels on U.S. Forest Service land — free to camp. Conditions still change, so confirm access, stay limits and fire rules before you go.
A small clearing in a mountainous valley north of Ramona, California. This used to be a campground in Cleveland National Forest, and is displayed on Google Maps as such, but it is overgrown and there are no amenities. A stream runs through here which is refreshing, but there were a ton of bees when I was there. There was room for one or two overland vehicles. Many primitive roads wind around the mountains, making it worthy of overland exploration. Recommended due to lack of free camping options in the area. No cell service.
USGS topo — contours & terrain
Aerial — USGS / NAIP
Weather outlook
Loading the latest forecast…
Live NWS area forecast (~2.5 km grid, not elevation-corrected). Camp sits at 1,670 ft.
Fire & smokeNIFC · AirNow
Checking active fires & air quality…
Active wildfires from NIFC (within ~50 mi); air quality from AirNow. Always confirm current fire restrictions with the managing office before you go.
Everything you need — measured from camp
Straight-line miles · bearings approx · roads run longer
Nearest of each
- FFuel7 mi
- GGrocery7 mi
- HHardware7 mi
- +Urgent care7 mi
- @Mail7 mi
- AAir-up8 mi
- LLaundry10 mi
- WWater11 mi
- ShShower14 mi
- PPropane15 mi
- MMechanic15 mi
- RxPharmacy15 mi
- OOutfitter16 mi
- DDump17 mi
≤30 mi30–4545+water
The read: water's a short hop out, fuel & food sit about 7 mi out.
One dot per need — the nearest of each kind, straight-line from camp. Places from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Open in Google Maps ↗
The site
Access
Drive-up
Land
U.S. Forest Service · dispersed
Elevation
1,670 ft
County
San Diego County, CA
Coordinates
33.12692, -116.80348
Cost
Free
Nearby & resupply (OpenStreetMap)
- Water featureLake Sutherland (water) · nearby
- Nearest townMesa Grande Reservation · ~1.4 mi
- Drinking waternone within 10 mi
- FuelStage Stop Mercantile · ~6.6 mi
- Propane / LPGFallbrook Propane · ~22.0 mi
- Dump stationDump station · ~17.3 mi
- GroceriesStage Stop Mercantile · ~6.6 mi
- PharmacyWalmart Pharmacy · ~15.2 mi
- Hospital / clinicNeighborhood Healthcare · ~15.6 mi
- HardwareEconomizers Purchasing Service · ~6.9 mi
From the field — what Dave saw, in person
Cell service
No signal
Getting there
Any vehicle managed it
Fire ring
No
Toilet on site
No
Tent friendly
Yes
Verdict
Recommended
Nearby restrooms — pit toilets, restrooms & rest areas (government data)
- Vault / pit toiletInaja Memorial Picnic Area · ~8.3 mi E · USFS
- Vault / pit toiletSan Luis Rey Picnic Area · ~8.8 mi N · USFS
- RestroomHenshaw Scenic Vista · ~9.1 mi N · USFS
- RestroomKica Mik Overlook · ~12.5 mi N · USFS
Open this spot elsewhere
Other camps nearby
If this one is full, gated or washed out.
- Crestline Group Campground~13.3 mi
- Observatory Campground - USFS~15.6 mi
- Fry Creek Campground~15.8 mi
- Indian Flats Group Camp (Closed)~17.5 mi
How we know this
Source
Dave's own travels
Confidence
Researched — The record is detailed and internally consistent, and the coordinates land where the managing agency says this site is.
How it was placed
FIELD VERIFIED by Dave Lalande -- he has stood on this site. Coordinates are his own GPX track point, not a geocode. County and state confirmed against the FCC Census Block API (San Diego County, CA). Everything under 'From the field' is a direct observation; nothing here is inferred from a land record.
Field check
Verified on the ground. Dave has stood on this one. Conditions still change — confirm before you commit.
What we don’t know
A land record can put you within a few metres of a spot. It cannot tell you any of this — so check it yourself, and treat anything below as the open question it is.
- How many rigs actually fit
- Seasonal & winter access
- Current fire restrictions
- Whether any water here is drinkable
- Shade & wind exposure
- Noise and who else shows up
Before you go
Finding water out here →What “dispersed” means here →Hot-weather camping →Camping with a dog →All field notes →
Been here? Tell us what changed. This page is built from public records, so the fastest way it gets better is somebody who has actually pulled in. Road washed out, site gone, gate locked, or it is exactly as described — all of it useful. Send a report →