Offering essential details on facilities, reservations, fees, and more, as well as accurate, easy-to-read maps, Best Tent Camping: Southern California presents 50 of the region’s best campgrounds for car campers.

Southern California Campground Locator Map Map Legend Preface Best Campgrounds Introduction The Coast Catalina Island: Two Harbors CampgroundEl Capitán State Beach CampgroundFremont Peak State Park CampgroundsKirk Creek and Plaskett Creek CampgroundsLa Jolla Valley Hike-In CampgroundLeo Carrillo State Park CampgroundMalibu Creek State Park CampgroundMontaña de Oro State Park: Islay Creek CampgroundPinnacles CampgroundPoint Mugu State Park: Sycamore Canyon CampgroundPoint Mugu State Park: Thornhill Broome CampgroundReyes Creek CampgroundTopanga State Park: Musch Trail Camp The Desert Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: Arroyo Salado Primitive CampgroundAnza-Borrego Desert State Park: Blair Valley Primitive CampgroundJoshua Tree National Park: White Tank CampgroundMid Hills CampgroundRed Rock Canyon State Park: Ricardo CampgroundSaddleback Butte State Park CampgroundVallecito County Park Campground The Northern Sierras Atwell Mill CampgroundBuckeye CampgroundCold Springs CampgroundDorst Creek CampgroundEast Fork CampgroundFairview CampgroundFour Jeffrey and Sabrina CampgroundsHorse Meadow CampgroundKern Plateau Dispersed Camping AreaLower Peppermint CampgroundMinaret Falls CampgroundMoraine CampgroundPrincess CampgroundQuaking Aspen CampgroundRancheria CampgroundRedwood Meadow CampgroundSaddlebag Lake CampgroundTillie Creek CampgroundTrapper Springs CampgroundTrumbull Lake Campground Twin Lakes CampgroundVermillion CampgroundWhite Wolf Campground The Southern Sierras Dark Canyon CampgroundFlat CampgroundHeart Bar CampgroundLaguna CampgroundMarion Mountain CampgroundPalomar Mountain State Park: Doane Valley CampgroundWilliam Heise County Park Campground Appendix A: Camping Equipment Checklist Appendix B: Suggested Reading and Reference Appendix C: Sources of Information Index About the Author

Topanga State Park: Musch Trail Camp Beauty 4 / Privacy 2 / Spaciousness 1 / Quiet 4 / Security 2 / Cleanliness 4 Just minutes from Los Angeles, go camping in the bohemian backwoods of Topanga Canyon. Key Information Location: Trails leading to Musch Trail Camp can be found at Trippet Ranch: 20828 Entrada Road, Topanga, CA 90290 Contact: 310-455-2465, parks.ca.gov Operated by: National Park Service Open: Year-round Sites: 8 Each site: Picnic table, fire ring Assignment: First come, first served Registration: Self-registration if park entrance station is closed Parking: $10 per vehicle per day at Trippet Ranch Facilities: Toilets, running water Fee: $7 Elevation: 1,310' Restrictions: Pets: ProhibitedFires: Strictly prohibitedAlcohol: No restrictions Centered in the foothills of the bohemian hipster enclave known as Topanga Canyon, Musch Trail Camp is one of the Santa Monica Mountains’ best-kept secrets. Of all the campsites detailed in this book, Musch Trail Camp is the closest, as the crow flies, to the big city of Los Angeles. Don’t let that turn you off, though; Musch Trail Camp gives you a wonderfully unfiltered dose of Topanga Canyon’s natural wonders and scenic beauty. There’s a reason people pay big bucks on Airbnb to rent yurts and humble dwellings to stay in this place. It has its own special brand of magic that anyone can appreciate, even if you don’t eat raw foods or do yoga. For years, Musch Trail Camp has stayed off the radar. In fact, few Topanga Canyon residents even know about it, despite it being right in their backyard. This can be attributed to the campground’s small size—there are only 8 sites—and, the fact that you’ll need to hike in a short distance to reach the sites. However, these two factors don’t explain everything. Perhaps it’s simply hard to believe there could be a campsite so close to civilization. In the public psyche, camping in the Santa Monica Mountains is almost exclusively limited to Malibu Creek State Park. Once your skepticism goes away and you start to believe this campground is a real place, pack your stuff and go camping accordingly. Once you park your vehicle at Trippet Ranch (see directions on page 48). It’s just a short walk from the parking lot via the Musch Trail. Once you’ve arrived at Musch Trail Camp you’ll find picnic tables, bathrooms, and running water. It’s one of the smallest officially sanctioned campgrounds in California, but also one of the sweetest. Miles and miles of great trails to hike, some of Topanga’s best, are easily accessed from Musch Trail Camp. Eagle Rock shouldn’t be missed. You can get there by taking the Musch Trail northward from the camping area. After a few switchbacks, this singletrack terminates at East Topanga Fire Road, where you’ll turn left and reach Eagle Rock after a short, moderate ascent. Fortunately, all of the major trails in this area are visible on Google Maps, so navigation is simple. Or you can simply hang out and take it all in. Musch Trail Camp is situated above much of Topanga’s residential properties, so from the right vantage point, you might not see any sign of civilization as you stare out above the oak trees. You can camp here year-round, but spring and early summer are probably best. In April and May, you’ll be greeted with mild temperatures and full-bloom flora everywhere you look. In late summer, the warm-dry Santa Ana winds start to blow, making for night temps in the low 80s. Winter has its own delights, but temperatures can drop below freezing at night, so be prepared with appropriate clothing and sleeping arrangements. The area has a few natural hazards to be aware of. Poison oak is common in shaded areas all over the Santa Monica Mountains. Get acquainted with the appearance of this nefarious vegetation, and avoid touching it at all costs. This plant is particularly dangerous when it loses its leaves in the fall and winter. In these seasons, avoid anything that looks like a brown twig sticking out of the ground. You should also be on the lookout for western diamondback rattlesnakes, particularly in summer and fall. These docile, beautiful, yet highly poisonous creatures aren’t aggressive when unprovoked, but they can deliver a very nasty defensive bite if accidentally trampled on. If the unthinkable happens, seek medical attention immediately. There’s also a very small population of mountain lions dispersed over the Santa Monica Mountains, but they’re almost not worth mentioning. These big cats are so elusive they almost don’t exist. Unless you’re a deer or rabbit, you have nothing to worry about. Groceries can be had at either of Topanga’s markets—Topanga Creek General Store (141 S. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, CA 90290) or Fernwood Market (446 S. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, CA 90290). For anything else you might need, whether it be hippie jewelry, vintage clothing, incense, yoga lessons, fine art, or fancy dinners, look no further than the Topanga town center, roughly located at 122 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, CA 90290. Those apt to enjoy such attractions could easily get lost here, forgetting all notions of camping. Topanga Canyon is a magical place, with a trippy, unique vibe that sets it apart from nearby, comparably stuffier, snobbier neighborhoods like Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Beverly Hills, and Brentwood. At Musch Trail Camp, you can experience all of Topanga’s charms for pennies on the dollar. Do yourself a favor and visit this place. It’s well worth it. Getting There From Los Angeles, drive east on I-10 until it ends and becomes CA 1 (Pacific Coast Highway). Driving west, stay on CA 1 for 5.8 miles until you reach CA 27 (Topanga Canyon Blvd.) and turn right. Drive into Topanga Canyon for 4.7 miles, then turn right on Entrada Road. After 0.7 mile continue hard left on Entrada Road at the three-way intersection. The entrance to Trippet Ranch will be on your left, 0.4 mile from the intersection. The address is 20828 Entrada Road, Topanga, CA 90290. GPS Coordinates: N34° 06' 11" W118° 35' 02"

With our local camping experts on your side, the very best tent camping in your state is only a quick read away. Hand-selected for their appeal to tent campers who love seclusion, beauty, quiet, and security, the 50 campsites described in each of the Best Tent Camping guides represent the best of the best. Along with a detailed profile and useful at-a-glance information, maps show campground layout, individual sites, and key facilities. Driving directions supplemented with GPS-based coordinates for each campground entrance make getting there a snap. Regional maps and a profile numbering system make books in the series easy to use and enjoy.