Saddle Rock and South Gardens Environmental Campgrounds

Arguably one of the best campsites across all of California’s state park if you don’t mind the short hike. It’s really easy to miss the entrance so if you’re coming from north keep an eye out for “Mac Way canyon Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park” (entrance to waterfall trail head) and the entrance to campground would be two turns down the road. If you’re coming from south, you know you’ve missed the campsite if you see the state park sign. You have to park on the side of the road and take your camping gear to the campsite. There is no signal here, so download the offline maps if you don’t want to get lost. There are two porta pottys on site, and each campground has its own food locker, picnic table and fire ring. It’s an amazing experience going to bed hearing ocean waves, but you gotta act quick as these sites are booked months in advance.

Seems like a really cool spot. I have always wanted to book this campground but it's tough to snag. We were in the area when everything was closed due to storm damage so we took a peek at the campground knowing we wouldn't be interrupting any campers. Definitely will continue trying to book it! I saw that previous review about random people invading your campsite and can see why that could definitely be an issue. The signage does clearly state campers with reservations only but... who reads signs?

Weirdest camping experience I have ever had. If you are able to grab a reservation, just be prepared for people to just invade your campsite all day long. There is NOT the usual respect that is usually found when camping. There are also random people asking if they can camp with you. I think the public thinks they can get to the waterfall or something?!?! You cannot. It is completely fenced off. As another reviewer said, the beach is OFF LIMITS and you will be fined. There is a Ranger at the station during the day as well as decent toilets on the east (land) side of the highway. Be careful crossing the road as people drive quite quickly. There is a tunnel under the road you can use to get from the waterfall overlook over to the Ranger station, parking lot, bathroom, and trailheads. I am grateful I had the opportunity to camp here, but would never camp there again.

I believe my husband and I were the first people to ever use of this campground. In the early 1980s we were driving south from the Bay Area to OC. It was Labor Day weekend and we didn’t have a camping reservation. People were pulling off, camping along the roads it was so busy. (You could get away with that then.) We stopped at a park, it must have been Julia Pfeiffer Burns; they had no spots but the ranger said hang on, let me make a phone call. Then he came back and said follow me. We drove some distance to a gated road, he unlocked it and took us to a brand new campground. He gave us the lock combo so we could leave in the morning and we had the entire area to ourselves. Definitely the best place we've car camped and perhaps the best overall.

DO NOT ENTER IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A PERMIT TO CAMP. There is no view of the waterfalls here, I promise. This is a public campground that is reserved for campers only. There are only two spots, so please respect the privacy.