Los Padres National Forest dispersed camping rules

Allowed with restrictions

Camping outside developed campgrounds is limited to 7 consecutive days and 21 days per calendar year. Some local bans and closures also apply.

Where it is not allowed

• No camping within 300 ft of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road (22S01) for 12 miles east of Hwy 1, through 2027-09-05.
• No overnight camping on San Carpoforo Beach, through 2027-04-07.
• The Monterey Ranger District emergency closure (Timber and Plaskett Fires) closes lands, roads and trails, including areas in the Ventana and Silver Peak Wilderness.
• Public entry to the Sespe Condor Sanctuary is prohibited.

7 consecutive days; max 21 days per calendar year

Applies to: Camping outside developed campgrounds, forest-wide (Order 05-07-00-26-02, 2026-03-25 to 2028-03-24)

Fires prohibited · Fire order 05-07-00-26-05

In effect June 4, 2026 to January 31, 2027

Fires, campfires and stove fires are banned forest-wide except at designated campfire use sites listed in Exhibit A. People with a valid CA Campfire Permit may still use gas, jellied-petroleum or pressurized-liquid-fuel lanterns and stoves.

Alerts and orders

Campfire permit

A free CA Campfire Permit is needed for campfires, charcoal fires or portable gas stoves outside designated recreation sites. It is available online from CAL FIRE or at Forest Service offices.

Fees

Some sites require an Adventure Pass ($5 day, $30 annual) or an America the Beautiful pass. No pass is needed anywhere on the Monterey Ranger District. Some campgrounds charge nightly fees.

• In developed campgrounds, the stay limit is 14 consecutive days and 28 days per calendar year.
• Santa Barbara Front Country: wood and charcoal fires are banned, 2026-02-27 to 2028-02-26 (Order 05-07-54-26-01).
• San Carpoforo Beach: no overnight camping and no fires of any kind, through 2027-04-07.
• Dogs must be leashed (6 ft max) on trails and in and around campgrounds.
• Campfires must be attended at all times and fully put out after use.

Motor vehicles are limited to the roads and trails shown on the Motor Vehicle Use Map.

• Monterey Ranger District Emergency Closure (Timber and Plaskett Fires)Current

  2026-08-29 until fires declared out

  Closes Monterey RD lands, roads and trails, except Pfeiffer Beach and Sycamore Canyon Road. Order 05-07-51-26-10.

• Sespe Condor Sanctuary ClosureCurrent

  2025-10-22 to 2027-10-22

  Public entry is prohibited. Order 05-07-55-25-19.

• Dry Canyon Area, Roads, Trails and Wilderness Closure (Mt. Pinos RD)Current

  2025-03-27 to 2027-03-26

  Closes the Dry Canyon area, Road 8N40, Trails 22W10, 22W11 and 22W13, and Dome Springs Campground.

• Sycamore Canyon Road (19S05) use restrictionCurrent

  2025-01-30 to 2027-01-29

  On the road to Pfeiffer Beach, people must stay inside a motor vehicle.

• SBRD Storm Damage Recovery Special ClosureExpired

  2025-09-18 to 2026-09-17

  Closed Upper Oso, P-Bar Flat and other sites, roads and trails in the Santa Barbara RD. The end date has passed.

• Firearm discharge is banned except at two authorized shooting ranges; licensed hunters in open season are exempt.
• Fireworks, including safe-and-sane fireworks, are prohibited.
• Campground reservations are made through recreation.gov.
• Cell reception can be poor or absent in many parts of the forest.

Gaps and conflicts in the official pages when they were checked.

• Rules for cross-country (off-road) vehicle travel are not stated; no MVUM document was supplied.
• Wilderness permit requirements are not stated.
• The West Cuesta fire restriction, Lake Fire and Gifford Fire closure orders (Santa Lucia RD) are mentioned but their texts and dates were not supplied.
• A Monterey RD storm damage closure is listed in D13 but no order was supplied.
• The Santa Barbara Front Country order number differs between pages: 05-07-5406-01 (D10) and 05-07-54-26-01 (D31 PDF).
• Santa Lucia RD hours conflict: 8:00am-4:30pm (D13) vs 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (D15/D20).
• The full forest-wide Adventure Pass fee-site list is not given.

Is dispersed camping allowed in Los Padres National Forest?

Allowed with restrictions. Camping outside developed campgrounds is limited to 7 consecutive days and 21 days per calendar year. Some local bans and closures also apply.

How long can you camp in Los Padres National Forest?

The stay limit is 7 consecutive days; max 21 days per calendar year.

Are campfires allowed in Los Padres National Forest?

Fires, campfires and stove fires are banned forest-wide except at designated campfire use sites listed in Exhibit A. People with a valid CA Campfire Permit may still use gas, jellied-petroleum or pressurized-liquid-fuel lanterns and stoves. This was the order in effect when the area was checked on September 24, 2026; confirm on the alerts page before you go.

Do you need a permit to camp in Los Padres National Forest?

A free CA Campfire Permit is needed for campfires, charcoal fires or portable gas stoves outside designated recreation sites. It is available online from CAL FIRE or at Forest Service offices. Some sites require an Adventure Pass ($5 day, $30 annual) or an America the Beautiful pass. No pass is needed anywhere on the Monterey Ranger District. Some campgrounds charge nightly fees.