(I will be adding campgrounds to this blog post periodically)

Passo Picacho Campground

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park / Cleveland National Forest


Why I Love It

This is hands down one of my favorite campgrounds in San Diego. Not only is it perfect for beginner campers and family trips, but it’s also an amazing launch pad for your solo camping journey.

I know because I cut my teeth solo camping here often, and sometimes slightly scared outta my mind before I graduated to dispersed camping in the middle of nowhere.

Some of my favorite memories (and videos) were made right here:

  • My fist camping jams 🌲

  • The time my trusty $30 Walmart tent handled a surprise snowstorm like a champ

  • My early... solo extracurricular explorations 👀


Why It’s Great for Families, Beginners & Solo First-Timers

Families:
Since it’s a California State Park, Paso Picacho CG (campground) is well-maintained year-round / boff during peak and off-season (yes, you can camp here in the off-season... we’ll get into that later).

When you pull up to the campground, it doesn’t feel sketchy or neglected / even if the welcome kiosk is empty. It’s clean, safe, and feels like the kind of place where rangers would actually show up if you needed them. And if not rangers, there’s a camp host on-site during peak season / plus maintenance crews are always driving around.

Yes, the restrooms are clean for the most part, and the toilets do flush. Just keep in mind that there are “rush hours” at campgrounds with decent bathrooms... the busiest times are usually early in the morning / right before and after breakfast (for obvious reasons) / and again after dinner as everyone winds down for the night.


🛠 Amenities Galore

  • 🪵 Firewood: Bundles available at the entrance or from the camp host during peak season

  • 💧 Water Spigots: Scattered throughout the campground. Probably non-potable / great for dishes or water fights

  • 🗑️ Trash & Recycling: Just a short walk from any campsite

  • 🍽️  Each campsite has a table with bench seating and a 🔥 Fire ring (please follow any fire restrictions)
  • 🚿 Coin Operated hot showers (the water pressure at some of the showers isnt the greatest but hey, its a shower with hot water)

🥾 Hiking & Nearby Fun

Three main hikes are just steps from the campground:

  • Azalea Glen Little Loop

  • Stonewall Peak Trail

  • Cuyamaca Peak Trail

(TBH I’ve only done Stonewall Peak, and it’s a solid climb. Gets the heart going. There’s a section near the top that might not be great if you’re scared of heights.)

Julian is just a short drive away, a historic mountain town known for apple pie and PCT hiker culture. Great for grabbing dinner or ice cream on a day trip. If y’all want more recs about Julian, let me know!


🧠The Psychology of the Solo Camper:

Okay, so let’s say you’ve got a few camping trips under your belt / maybe with your family or your homies / and you’re comfortable with your gear. Now you wanna dip your toes into the solo camping or backpacking world.

This is the campground to get used to that feeling of complete vulnerability... drifting off to sleep hoping that a thin layer of polyester or nylon will protect you from whatever noise is creeping toward your tent.

Book a site during peak season and go solo, as a party of one. Sure, there will be campers nearby, but this setup helps ease you into the solitude. See where your thoughts wander. Notice how you fill your time when you’ve got no one to interact with. Block out the other campers, stay off your phone, SIT IN THE SOLO and most importantly, stay up late.

That last part is key. Stay up late with the comfort of knowing other campers are sleeping nearby. If anything wild actually happens (it probably won’t), you’re one yell away from getting help. This is where your senses kick in. You’ll see and hear things you didn’t notice in daylight. And as the campground quiets down, your mind will really start to float.

Sit in that solo. Have a beverage. Dim your lights. Just be with it.
This is how you work out your solo camping mental muscle. It’s the warm-up for your future dispersed solo trips. I’ll write a full post on this later, but I hope you get the point of starting small and building confidence.


Off-Season = Solo Season (and the Reservation Hack)

Here’s the pro move if you’re trying to solo camp without crowds: go during the off-season.

The campground isn’t closed from Dec 1–March 30 / it just switches to first come, first served. No reservations. The booking site won’t even let you reserve during those dates.

You just drive up, and if a spot is open, it’s yours.

You still have to pay the $40 at the "digital ranger" which is a kiosk at the entrance of the campground that ONLY takes Debit/credit cards now. I know for us old school campers this is quite the bait and switch. Even in off season you still may be able to pay at the kiosk with a person in the morning.

Sure, the weather might not be as dreamy, but let be real, it’s Southern California. Plus, way fewer bugs. And yes, all the amenities I mentioned are still available. You just might have the entire place to yourself.

So if you’ve practiced sitting in the solo and want to push further, this is the place to do it. Same familiar campground / just quieter. For some of y’all, that might feel peaceful and restorative. For others, maybe a little spooky. Either way, it’s a great step toward self-reliance/with the backup comfort of a ranger showing up in the morning to clean the bathrooms.

Until next time, yall, remember to keep your camp SAFE, CLEAN and INFORMED.

🔥 Quick Pros & Cons Recap

(for the new camper in mind)

PROS

  • Flush bathrooms (yup, real toilets!)

  • Hot, coin-operated showers

  • Firewood for sale on-site

  • Camp host present during summer months

CONS

  • Weekend reservations are tough during peak season (April 1–Nov 30)

  • Can get crowded

  • No general store / so come stocked

  • $40/night fee

  • Cell phone service is spotty

🧭 Important Facts — Paso Picacho Campground

Here’s everything you need to know before you roll up to Paso Picacho:

⛺ Campsite Price

  • $40 per night for a standard campsite

  • Includes 1 vehicle

  • $10 per additional vehicle, per night

👥 Campsite Capacity

  • Up to 8 people per site

  • Each site has a picnic table and fire ring

  • Water spigots are nearby (assume non-potable unless labeled)

🕰 Check-In / Check-Out

  • Check-in: 2:00 PM

  • Check-out: 12:00 PM

🚐 RV & Trailer Limits

  • Sites can accommodate RVs or trailers up to 30 feet in length

  • No hookups available (dry camping)

  • Dump Station available for registered guests $10. Non-registered $25

🚿 Amenities

  • Flush toilets and coin-operated hot showers

  • Trash and recycling bins close to every site

  • Firewood bundles sold at entrance or by the camp host during peak season

🐶 Pets

  • Allowed in campsites and picnic areas

  • Must be on a leash

  • Not allowed on trails

🔌 Generator Hours

  • Allowed during designated hours (typically 10 AM to 8 PM)

🏕 Group Campsites

  • Available by reservation only

  • Can accommodate 9 to 60 campers and up to 20 vehicles

  • Group site fees are around $250 per night

🪵 Cabins (If You're Not Tent Camping)

  • Basic cabins: around $75 per night

  • Premium cabins with electricity: around $100 per night

  • Availability may be limited / reserve early

📶 Cell Service

  • Spotty at best—expect to unplug