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A dark green Toyota pickup with a roof tent parked in tall dry grass as mist closes in.

Forest Service group campground

Mcgill Campground and Group Campground

Forest Service group campground in Los Padres National Forest, Kern County, California. 7,249 feet. 23.9 miles from Maricopa.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Forest Service Los Padres National Forest
Elevation
7,249 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
67 64 standard non-electric, 2 group standard non-electric, 1 standard electric
Longest rig
35 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Kern County

Overview

Escape from the city to the remote and beautiful McGill Campground. The campground, bursting with views of mountains and valleys, is an ideal base for several biking and hiking trails.

A dense stand of Jeffrey pine and ponderosa pine shade the campground and each campsite is nicely spaced.

Recreation

Explore the area along the accessible Exploration Trail, Mount Pinos Trail and McGill Campground Trail. McGill is for hiking and biking and meanders along 3.7 miles of scenery.

Facilities

McGill has two group campsites, each having a central barbeque and gathering area. Group Camp 1 has parking for 13 vehicles, Group Camp 2 has parking for 10 vehicles. There are 73 individual campsites. Each individual campsite offers a picnic table and campfire ring.

Natural Features

McGill Campground sits in a mixed tall pine forest in the Pinos Mountains, at an altitude of 7,300 feet, just over an hour's drive from the campground. It is quiet and serene landscape with terrific views of the valleys below.

Nearby Attractions

Head out on the Jacinto Reyes National Scenic Byway, which travels past breathtaking cliffs, rock formations and lush riparian areas.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • biking
  • camping
  • hiking

The land around Mcgill Campground and Group Campground

The ringed pin is this group campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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