Fry Creek Campground Cleveland National Forest California
Fry Creek Overview
Fry Creek campground has 20 campsites and near the Palomar Mountain Observatory in a Sierra Nevada-like setting among pines, oak and cedar trees. Because of the heavy pine canopy, the campground isn’t the best for stargazing, you can always head on up to the observatory.
Fry Creek campground has drinking water and vault toilets. Trailers are not permitted in this facility. Each campsite also has a table, fire ring and grate. Campsites 1-4, 6-8 and 16-20 are walk-to.
Fry Creek – Area Recreation
In addition to visiting the world famous Palomar Mountain Observatory, you can enjoy hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, picnicking, horseback riding and driving the scenic “Highway to the Stars”. Doane Pond is also a few miles away if you want to try some fishing!
Other Palomar Mountain State Park area campgrounds include Doane Valley (Palomar Mountain State Park) and Observatory. Doane Valley has 31 campsites and Observatory has 43. Hellhole Canyon County Preserve (near Valley Center, CA) also has group camping.
Make a Reservation for Fry Creek
Amenities
- BBQ Grills
- Campground Host
- Campsite Tables
- Comfort Station
- Drinking Water
- Equestrian trail
- Fire Pit
- Fire Rings
- Firewood Available
- Grills
- Pets OK
- Picnic Tables
- Restrooms (Vault Toilets)
Activities
- Backpacking
- Biking
- Bird Watching
- Creek
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Historic Sites
- Horseback riding
- Mountain Biking
- Nature Trails
- Observatory
- Photography
- Picnicking
- Stargazing
- Walking Trails
- Wildlife Viewing
Palomar Mountain, California 92060
760 788-0250
Lat / Long:
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Campsite Types
- ADA
- Primitive
- RV
- Tent
- Trailer
- Walk-To
# of Campsites:
20
Season:
April – November 30
Elevation:
4,900
Fry Creek Comments & Reviews
Visited Fry Creek Campground lately? We'd love to hear about your adventure. Did you find us useful? Did we forget something? Anything our community should know before heading out to Fry Creek?
We stayed at this campground in March 2014. Bathrooms were fairly clean – vault toilet and no sink so bring wet wipes or sanitizer! However there is a faucet that has running water next to the vault toilet. Camp sites were spaced far apart, some nice trails nearby. You can reserve online, and there were no firewood restrictions at the time I can (but be mindful of what you bring in anyway). Overall I do recommend this campground, unless you like flush toilets, showers, etc – then you will want to stay at the nearby Palomar Observatory campground, which has these amenities.
The Camp Ground is great but during hunting season– to many people go up there and ruin the hunt for hunters. They’re rude and talking their little hikes and it literally pisses you off to no end. Have some respect, we pay to use the land just like you, other than that the place is great!
So if non hunters pay also why should they stay away. By your logic we all have equal access to the land.
Can I drive right up to campsite 6? Or is is a walk up site?
Hi Jeannie,
Fry Creek campsite #6 is a walk-to/up campsite. There is a general parking area down by camp road. The walk is about 100 yards to the site. Other walk-to sites are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19 and 20.