Use Marker Groups Wolf 2002
Piru 2003
Day 2006
Zaca 2007
Gap 2008
La Brea 2009
Thorn Meadows Campground South Los Padres National Forest
- Camp Type: Car Campground - No Reservations, first-come, first-serve walk-in campground
- Topo Map Link: Lockwood Valley
- Elevation: 5000 feet
- Wilderness Area: Non Wilderness Area
- County: Ventura County
- Ranger District: Mt. Pinos Ranger District
- Longitude: -119.1142223
- Latitude: 34.6265043
- Water Sources: Seasonal water in small creek next to camp
- Length of Stay: 14 Days
- Reservations: Car Campground - No Reservations, Walk In
Recent Water Reports:
| Date | Surveyor | Water Report |
| 10-15-2022 | Menso de Jong | Dry |
| 09-25-2021 | Anonymous Surveyor | Dry |
| 11-27-2020 | Molly Troup | Dry |
| 08-15-2020 | Antonio Calderon | Dry |
| 07-03-2020 | Joshua ward | Dry |
| 05-23-2020 | Anonymous Surveyor | Stagnant |
| 10-15-2019 | Trevor C | Dry |
| 05-20-2018 | Craig R. Carey | Flowing |
| 05-13-2018 | Nate | Flowing |
| 05-12-2018 | Laura | Flowing |
| 11-22-2017 | Los Padres Forest Association | Trickle |
| 09-16-2017 | Jesse A | Dry |
| 05-27-2017 | Anonymous Surveyor | Trickle |
| 09-26-2015 | Los Padres Forest Association | Dry |
Description:
Thorn Meadows is an old Forest Service guard station. The station remains but is in pretty bad shape and riddled with bullet holes and bear scratches. Visit it while you can because it most likely won't be there too long. The camp is accessible via Grade Valley Rd and is an easy drive for all high clearance vehicles and most well driven passenger cars. The camp is set amongst pine trees and sandstone outcrops. It is also the trailhead for Thorn Point lookout tower and close to the Cedar Creek Trailhead. Even with the ease of access, you should find the camp empty if you go visit.
W. H. Thorn was an early day surveyor with the U. S. Geological Survey that mapped the central Ventura County area in 1905. Both the meadow, camp and point were named for him. During a drought cattlemen brought their cattle up to find feed and water. The Snedden Land and Cattle Company ran cattle in this area along Piru Creek.
Thorn Camp was established in 1961. At the camp there are 3 camp sites with tables and stove, one is across the creek. There is a public horse corral. The camp and meadow are located at the start of the steep horse Trail 21W07 which leads from the end of the right fork of Grade Valley Road. The trails goes up the north tee of the mountain to reach the abandoned Thorn Lookout.
When the lookout was manned during the fire season a pack train of Forest Service mules made the trip carrying supplies, mail and water to the lookout person. The tower is in good shape but no longer manned during the fire season.
Recent Uploads:
Photo By: Antonio Calderon - Website Link
Survey Photos:
Los Padres Forest Association - 11-22-2017
Craig R. Carey - 05-20-2018
Joshua ward - 07-03-2020
Road washed out.
Antonio Calderon - 08-15-2020
Submitted Camp Reports
Thorn Meadows Campground Survey - 10-15-2022 - by Menso de JongLink: Thorn Meadows Campground Date: 10-15-2022 Surveyor Name: Menso de Jong Camp Description: Car camped at Thorn Meadow the weekend of 10/15/22. Nice campsite, no toilet anymore. Road was easy enough, though someone managed to get a car stuck in the washed out culvert shortly before the end of the road, but they got it out eventually. Be careful driving in at night and stay on the left through the dip by the old cabin. Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Creek is dry Weather Conditions: - Thorn Meadows Campground Survey - 09-25-2021 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Thorn Meadows Campground Date: 09-25-2021 Surveyor Name: Anonymous Surveyor Camp Description: Toilet has been completely removed from campground Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Moist soil Weather Conditions: 80s during the day, 40s at night - Thorn Meadows Campground Survey - 11-27-2020 - by Molly Troup
Link: Thorn Meadows Campground Date: 11-27-2020 Surveyor Name: Molly Troup Camp Description: Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: One tiny stagnate water pool where the trail crosses the creek Weather Conditions: Sunny and warm durning the day, cold at night - Thorn Meadows Campground Survey - 08-15-2020 - by Antonio Calderon
Link: Thorn Meadows Campground Date: 08-15-2020 Surveyor Name: Antonio Calderon Camp Description: Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: Cloudy 90F Images: - Thorn Meadows Campground Survey - 07-03-2020 - by Joshua ward
Link: Thorn Meadows Campground Date: 07-03-2020 Surveyor Name: Joshua ward Camp Description: Road washed out. No longer car camping. Need a dozer to fill road and access campground. Can walk in couple hundred feet. Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: Nice Images:
Road washed out. - Thorn Meadows Campground Survey - 05-23-2020 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Thorn Meadows Campground Date: 05-23-2020 Surveyor Name: Anonymous Surveyor Camp Description: The camp is not accessible by car. The road washed out and is blocked by a huge log. Must walk into the 3 sites. The first creek crossing is pretty dry. some stagnant water present. The corral, ranger station, and bathroom is still present. A large washout by the cedar creek trailhead will prevent cars from accessing the campground. Only high clearance vehicles can pass the washout. Water Source: Stagnant Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Thorn Meadows Campground Survey - 10-15-2019 - by Trevor C
Link: Thorn Meadows Campground Date: 10-15-2019 Surveyor Name: Trevor C Camp Description: Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Thorn Meadows Campground Survey - 05-20-2018 - by Craig R. Carey
Link: Thorn Meadows Campground Date: 05-20-2018 Surveyor Name: Craig R. Carey Camp Description: Despite what the USFS site says, the spur road to Thorn Meadows is NOT closed. Water in all the crossings, so low-clearance vehicles are better off parking on Grade Valley Road. Camp in fine shape. Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: The creek is awesome at the moment Weather Conditions: Calm Images: - Thorn Meadows Campground Survey - 05-13-2018 - by Nate
Link: Thorn Meadows Campground Date: 05-13-2018 Surveyor Name: Nate Camp Description: Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: couple deep crossings on grade valley road, test with a stick! Weather Conditions: - Thorn Meadows Campground Survey - 05-12-2018 - by Laura
Link: Thorn Meadows Campground Date: 05-12-2018 Surveyor Name: Laura Camp Description: Water Source: Flowing Water Source Details: Weather Conditions: - Thorn Meadows Campground Survey - 11-22-2017 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Thorn Meadows Campground Date: 11-22-2017 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: Camp was clean and inviting.  Water Source: Trickle Water Source Details: Water was flowing but not too attractive. Weather Conditions: Images: - Thorn Meadows Campground Survey - 09-16-2017 - by Jesse A
Link: Thorn Meadows Campground Date: 09-16-2017 Surveyor Name: Jesse A Camp Description: Fire ring under Oak tree campsite needs to be put back in the ground. Only there a short overnight or I would have fixed it. People have really trashed the bathrooms, as if shooting them up wasn't enough, looks like someone tore a bunch of blocks out too. Picked up a lot of micro trash, it was everywhere. Humans....... Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Water at Piru Creek crossing. Could filter if you had too. Weather Conditions: - Thorn Meadows Campground Survey - 05-27-2017 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Thorn Meadows Campground Date: 05-27-2017 Surveyor Name: Anonymous Surveyor Camp Description: Water Source: Trickle Water Source Details: Deep water crossing at last bend in the road. Weather Conditions: - Thorn Meadows Campground Survey - 09-26-2015 - by Los Padres Forest Association
Link: Thorn Meadows Campground Date: 09-26-2015 Surveyor Name: Los Padres Forest Association Camp Description: No water at Thorn Meadows. Â Road to the camp was in great shape. Â Very scenic and pretty part of the forest. Water Source: Dry Water Source Details: Weather Conditions:
Leave A Camp Report
Survey / Report Form Last Updated: Friday, July 24, 2015
