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Middle Lion Campground South Los Padres National Forest

  • Camp Type: Car Campground - No Reservations, first-come, first-serve walk-in campground
  • Topo Map Link: Lion Canyon
  • Elevation: 3200 feet
  • Wilderness Area: Non Wilderness Area
  • County: Ventura County
  • Ranger District: Ojai Ranger District
  • Longitude: -119.1657067
  • Latitude: 34.54987107
  • Water Sources: Middle Lion is set along Lion Canyon Creek
  • Length of Stay: 14 Days
  • Reservations: Car Campground - No Reservations, Walk In

Recent Water Reports:

Date Surveyor Water Report
11-14-2021Adam OlivaresTrickle
01-16-2021Shaddus Maximus Flowing
01-15-2021Anonymous SurveyorFlowing
02-16-2020Christopher P. LordFlowing
11-21-2016Anonymous SurveyorFlowing
10-11-2016MarkTrickle
07-09-2016Mark J.Flowing
03-31-2016Shaddus Maximus/Los Padres Forest AssociationFlowing
10-05-2015Los Padres Forest AssociationFlowing
01-15-2015Los Padres Forest AssociationFlowing
11-05-2014Los Padres Forest AssociationFlowing
06-10-2014Los Padres Forest AssociationFlowing
05-17-2014Hike Los PadresFlowing

Photo By: Christopher P Lord - Website Link
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Survey This Camp

Description:

Middle Lion Campground is a car-camp located at the end of the Rose Valley Rd off of Hwy 33.  The camp has a handful of sites, each with a fire ring, table and nearby bathroom.  Middle Lion is set along Lion Canyon Creek, which has year round water.  It is also at the trailhead for the Lion Canyon Trail, which heads up-canyon towards Nordhoff Ridge.  Great views of the Piedra Blanca formation and the Sespe wilderness highlight this camp.  Great spot to camp.

Starting in 2016 the Forest Service has been closing Middle Lion during the winter months between December and March.  Check with the Ojai Ranger District for details.

Recent Uploads:

Survey Photos:


  • Los Padres Forest Association - 06-10-2014

  • Los Padres Forest Association - 06-10-2014

  • Los Padres Forest Association - 01-15-2015
    FS Crews doing work and camp after work

  • Christopher P. Lord - 02-16-2020

  • Christopher P. Lord - 02-16-2020

  • Christopher P. Lord - 02-16-2020

  • Christopher P. Lord - 02-16-2020

  • Christopher P. Lord - 02-16-2020

Submitted Camp Reports

Middle Lion Campground Survey - 11-14-2021 - by Adam Olivares
Link: Middle Lion Campground
Date: 11-14-2021
Surveyor Name:Adam Olivares
Camp Description:
Water Source:Trickle
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Middle Lion Campground Survey - 01-16-2021 - by Shaddus Maximus
Link: Middle Lion Campground
Date: 01-16-2021
Surveyor Name:Shaddus Maximus
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Middle Lion Campground Survey - 01-15-2021 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Middle Lion Campground
Date: 01-15-2021
Surveyor Name:Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:gate closed to the campground. flow was observed from Piedra Blanca side
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Middle Lion Campground Survey - 02-16-2020 - by Christopher P. Lord
Link: Middle Lion Campground
Date: 02-16-2020
Surveyor Name:Christopher P. Lord
Camp Description:Road is open and water is flowing at the Campground. 22W06 leading out the southern end of the Camp is in fine shape to the East and West Fork Camps. More details at the link below.
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Images:







Middle Lion Campground Survey - 11-21-2016 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Middle Lion Campground
Date: 11-21-2016
Surveyor Name:Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:The river was shallow around the campsites, but the further you walk up the trail the more water there was.
Weather Conditions:Clear and chilly. At night it got down to 29 degrees F.
Middle Lion Campground Survey - 10-11-2016 - by Mark
Link: Middle Lion Campground
Date: 10-11-2016
Surveyor Name:Mark
Camp Description:
Water Source:Trickle
Water Source Details:more than a trckle but i would not cal it flowing
Weather Conditions:
Middle Lion Campground Survey - 07-09-2016 - by Mark J.
Link: Middle Lion Campground
Date: 07-09-2016
Surveyor Name:Mark J.
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:Sunny. Mid 80s
Middle Lion Campground Survey - 03-31-2016 - by Shaddus Maximus/Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Middle Lion Campground
Date: 03-31-2016
Surveyor Name:Shaddus Maximus/Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Middle Lion Campground Survey - 10-05-2015 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Middle Lion Campground
Date: 10-05-2015
Surveyor Name:Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:Water flowing just above the campground.  Signs of graffiti around camp, BOO!
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Middle Lion Campground Survey - 01-15-2015 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Middle Lion Campground
Date: 01-15-2015
Surveyor Name:Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:Middle Lion was rocked by the December 2014 storms and many trees fell around camp. As a result the camp was closed for about 5 weeks. This week it was reopened by the Forest Service. All good and there should be a lot of firewood for a while.
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Images:

FS Crews doing work and camp after work
Middle Lion Campground Survey - 11-05-2014 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Middle Lion Campground
Date: 11-05-2014
Surveyor Name:Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Middle Lion Campground Survey - 06-10-2014 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Middle Lion Campground
Date: 06-10-2014
Surveyor Name:Los Padres Forest Association
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:More water than we expected. Flowing nicely.
Weather Conditions:
Images:


Middle Lion Campground Survey - 05-17-2014 - by Hike Los Padres
Link: Middle Lion Campground
Date: 05-17-2014
Surveyor Name:Hike Los Padres
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:Pretty good flow.
Weather Conditions:

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Last Updated: Tuesday, March 22, 2016

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L.P.N.F. Contacts »

  • Forest Headquarters
    Phone: (805) 968-6640
  • Mt. Pinos District
    Phone: (661) 245-3731
  • Ojai Ranger District
    Phone: (805) 646-4348
  • Santa Barbara District
    Phone: (805) 967-3481
  • Santa Lucia District
    Phone: (805) 925-9538
  • Monterey District
    Phone: (831) 385-5434