Middle Lion
Campground
Sites open the weekend of Nov 20 on Recreation.gov
California · Camping · Near Carpinteria
Middle Lion
- Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
- best months
Is Middle Lion open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Los Padres National Forest.
Los Padres Fire Use and Firearm Restrictions
Agency alert covering Los Padres National Forest · Order 05-07-00-26-05 · USFS · Los Padres National Forest
Santa Barbara Front Country Fire Use Restrictions
Agency alert covering Los Padres National Forest · Order 05-07-5406-01 · USFS · Los Padres National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Los Padres National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
- At 3,160 ft
- Ojai Ranger DistrictLos Padres National Forest
Middle Lion is a Forest Service campground in the Ojai Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest in California. The land is managed by the Forest Service, and the site has vault toilets. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically May and October, when typical averages from a nearby weather station run around 70°F and 71°F for highs, with only a few wet days. That station sits about 1,350 feet lower than the campground, so temperatures here run cooler. The Gene Marshall-Piedra Blanca National Recreation Trail is less than a mile away, and the Rose Lion Trail is about 1.4 miles off. Rose Valley campground is about 1.5 miles away, and Sespe Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 2.6 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after - If it rains
History museum in Carpinteria, California
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in Carpinteria- Gene Marshall-Piedra Blanca National Recreation TrailHiking0.8 mi
- Rose Lion TrailHiking1.4 mi
- Rose ValleyCamping1.5 mi
Sespe CreekCanoeingPhoto: Blackmb, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)2.6 mi- Sespe Gorge (Black Wall)Rock climbing5.6 mi
Potrero JohnRock climbingPhoto: Dana L. Brown, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)5.9 mi- Wheeler GorgeSaltwater fishing6.6 mi
Holiday Group CampgroundCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain6.7 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Wheeler GorgeCamping · ~11 min drive
- Holiday Group CampgroundCamping · ~11 min drive
- West Fork Lion CampCamping · ~3 min drive
- East Fork Lion CampCamping · ~3 min drive
- Piedra Blanca CampCamping · ~4 min drive
- Twin Forks CampgroundCamping · ~5 min drive
- Bear CreekCamping · ~6 min drive
- Pine Mountain Lodge CampsiteCamping · ~8 min drive
- White Ledge CampgroundCamping · ~9 min drive
- Three Mile CampCamping · ~9 min drive
Also worth it near here
- Rose Valley FallsWaterfall · ~3 min drive
- Sespe CreekCanoeing · ~4 min drivePhoto: Blackmb, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Howard CreekHiking · ~7 min drivePhoto: Roger Sylvia, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Red ReefMountain biking · ~8 min drive
Hines PeakSummit · ~10 min drivePhoto: Chevy111, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Best time to visit Middle Lion
Best months: March–June and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
52° / 39°
7 wet
Feb
53° / 38°
8 wet
Mar
57° / 41°
7 wet
Apr
62° / 43°
5 wet
May
70° / 49°
3 wet
Jun
80° / 58°
1 wet
Jul
88° / 65°
1 wet
Aug
88° / 65°
1 wet
Sep
83° / 61°
1 wet
Oct
71° / 52°
2 wet
Nov
60° / 44°
4 wet
Dec
52° / 38°
6 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sandberg, CA, 28.5 mi away at 4,510 ft. The station sits about 1,400 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Facts about this campground
Middle Lion
Book on Recreation.gov
