Bates Canyon Campground

Bates Canyon campground is a very remote and beautiful campground. There are 6 tables & 2 buildings for pit toilets. The real charm of Bates is the serene and dramatic setting as It's nestled in the steep mountains & situated next to a babbling creek that can be enjoyed from your picnic table. Topping the area out eere all the beautiful majestic old growth oak trees. Site #2 has the best kid climbing tree. While my brother and I stayed and enjoyed Bates Canyon campground for several days it rained and we saw how well thought out the area was devloped as all of the tent sites drained well. It's a very old forest service facility and could use some reinvestment on the tables and pit buildings but this charming camp ground easily gets a 4 star. Check out the animal tracks after a rain and ha

Just came here to check out this camp. It is a dump, even by car camping standards. Lots of trash, a lack of shade, no water, and the bathrooms are a mess. The camping spots are way too close together to have any peace if other people show up. Another downfall is that there are no hiking trails around the camp and the views are mediocre. A Los Padres pass or an America the Beautiful pass is needed to stay here or a fine can be issued.

Clean with a nice sound of the stream when there is water running

Up into the Canyon a bit from the 166, and nothing special here. About 6 or 7 spots/tables. It's a poor dirt road the last 2 miles to get here.

We drove in today just to look about; will definitely return to camp. The drought has not been kind, but we’re seeing effects of that everywhere we visit. The entire site was clean, the road in was not bad at all and we loved the serenity…