Leo Carrillo and Malibu Creek Campgrounds Now Open For Camping – New Photos!
Leo Carrillo & Malibu Creek campgrounds are now open for camping, roughly 7 months after the Woolsey Fire burned through much of both parks and around the campgrounds. Fortunately, firefighters were able to keep the flames away from the campgrounds at both State Parks.
Woolsey Fire
The Woolsey Fire started on November 8, 2018 and burned almost 97,000 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. The fire destroyed over 1,600 structures as it raced through chaparral-covered steep canyons. The fire consumed much of the vegetation in Las Virgenes Valley, Malibu Canyon and much of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area all the way to the ocean.
Leo Carrillo and Malibu Creek State Park Campgrounds After The Fire
We recently visited both campgrounds soon after they reopened this June and took new photos of all of the campsites.
Malibu Creek State Park campground was relatively unscathed, but the fire did come close to the perimeter.
The campsites are all the same, but you can see the change in the vegetation around some of the campsites in the following photos. There’s a little more greenery in the ‘before’ photos because we took those in late spring (2013). We took the new Malibu Creek State Park campsite photos (after the fire) in June of this year.
Malibu Creek State Park Site 27 Before and After Fire
Before & After Fire – Malibu Creek State Park Campsite #51
Malibu Creek State Park Campsite 54 Before & After Fire
Leo Carrillo State Park campground was also unharmed (including the camp store), but vegetation burned on the hills around the campground. Campground roads and parking spurs were also recently paved as shown in the photos below.
Leo Carrillo State Park Campsite #116 – After Fire
The Woolsey Fire did not harm the signature sycamore and oak trees at Leo Carrillo State Park campground.
Leo Carrillo State Park Campsite #91
Leo Carrillo State Park Campsite #21
Enjoy the newly reopened campgrounds!
Best Regards,
Camp Ranger
6 Replies to “Leo Carrillo and Malibu Creek Campgrounds Now Open For Camping – New Photos!”
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Hi, I’m arriving tomorrow and was trying to check on the current fire level in regards to campfires, but I can’t reach anybody at the campground or park. Do you know the current fire level?
Hi Natascha,
You can have a campfire in the campfire ring at your campsite.
Hello! I have a campground reserved starting tomorrow and wanted to check on the current fire levels in regards to campfires. I’ve tried calling the campground but I can’t get through. Do you happen to know Camp Ranger?
Hi Kristine,
We tried checking to confirm, but no luck. With that said – due to the extreme fire conditions in Southern California, and particularly this week (Santa Ana winds), I would be almost certain that campfires would not be allowed.
I heard that Leo Carrillo is having a horrible ant problem. They said the problem is so bad that they are getting in the RV’s. What can we do to alleviate the problem if we have one when we are camping?
Hi Laurene,
The best (non-toxic) way of keeping ants out of your tent, trailer or RV is to sprinkle the diatomaceous earth around anything that touches the ground – tires, jacks, cables, power cords, hoses, etc. You can also sprinkle it around the areas the ants like to visit in your trailer or RV – like cabinets. Diatomaceous earth is available online. Also try to avoid having any tree or bush branches touch your tent, trailer or RV. Hope this helps!