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

Forest Service campground

Sycamore Flat Campground

Forest Service campground in Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County, California. About 4,200 feet. 18.6 miles from Glendora.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Forest Service Angeles National Forest
Elevation
About 4,200 ft As the Forest Service states
Sites
11 11 standard non-electric
Longest rig
18 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Los Angeles County

Overview

Sycamore Flat Campground is a small, developed campground located in the Big Rock Creek Recreation Area of the Angeles National Forest. At approximately 4,200 feet in elevation, it offers a peaceful setting with mature sycamore and juniper trees and easy access to Big Rock Creek. The campground features 11 first-come, first-served campsites for tents and small RVs or trailers up to approximately 18 feet. It is open year-round, weather and road permitting.

Recreation

Visitors can enjoy hiking, wildlife viewing, photography, picnicking, and exploring Big Rock Creek. Nearby trails include the South Fork Trail, Manzanita Trail, and Punchbowl Trail. The surrounding roads also offer scenic drives through the northeastern section of the San Gabriel Mountains.

Facilities

Sycamore Flat Campground offers basic developed amenities, including 11 first-come, first-served campsites with picnic tables, fire rings, and a communal vault toilet. There is currently no piped water available so campers should bring enough for cooking, cleaning, drinking, and extinguishing campfires.

The campground accommodates tents and small RVs or trailers up to approximately 18 feet. Cell phone service is limited, and visitors should check current forest conditions and fire restrictions before arrival.

Natural Features

Located where the Mojave Desert meets the San Gabriel Mountains, Sycamore Flat offers a unique blend of mountain and desert landscapes. Mature California sycamores, juniper trees, and native shrubs provide shade in portions of the campground, Nearby Big Rock Creek creates seasonal riparian habitat for birds and other wildlife. Rocky canyon walls, rolling hills, and open mountain views define the surrounding scenery.

Nearby Attractions

Big Rock Creek – Popular for picnicking, photography, and seasonal recreation.

Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area – Unique geologic formations with hiking trails and interpretive exhibits.

South Fork Trail – A scenic trail following Big Rock Creek through the San Gabriel Mountains.

Jackson Lake – Seasonal fishing, picnicking, and nearby camping opportunities.

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

What people do here

  • birding
  • camping
  • photography
  • scenic drive
  • water access

The land around Sycamore Flat Campground

The ringed pin is this 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 August 30, 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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