Rose Valley Campground South Los Padres National Forest

• Camp Type: Car Campground - No Reservations, first-come, first-serve walk-in campground
• Topo Map Link: Lion Canyon
• Elevation: 3,404 feet
• Wilderness Area: Non Wilderness Area
• County: Ventura County
• Ranger District: Ojai Ranger District
• Longitude: -119.1823087
• Latitude: 34.53202399
• Water Sources: Seasonal water in creeks around the camp, IS THERE FAUCET WATER IN THE CAMP?
• Length of Stay: 14 Days
• Reservations: Car Campground - No Reservations, Walk In

Recent Water Reports:

Date	Surveyor	Water Report
03-07-2021	Anonymous Surveyor	Trickle
07-03-2020	NPHighview	Flowing
12-27-2019	Anonymous Surveyor	Flowing
12-08-2018	Craig R. Carey	Flowing
04-30-2018	Anonymous Surveyor	Trickle
10-11-2016	Mark	Flowing

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Description:

Rose Valley Camp has about a dozen camp sites located around an oval shaped roundabout on the north side of Rose Valley in the Ojai backcountry.  The camp is very popular with locals and will be full most weekends.  There is a short hike from the campground that leads up to the spectacular, yet rarely flowing, Rose Valley Falls.  Hikers and mountain bikers can also use the Rose Valley Fire Road and Lion Canyon Connector to access more remote sections of the Los Padres.  An Adventure Pass is required to camp at Rose Valley.  There are two toilets located at the camp.  Rose Valley is about 30 minutes out from the town of Ojai.

Starting in 2016 the Forest Service has been closing Middle Lion during the winter months between December and March.  Check with the Ojai Ranger District for details.

Survey Photos:

• 
  Craig R. Carey - 12-08-2018
  Site 9.
• 
  Craig R. Carey - 12-08-2018
  Creekside. Lots of yerba mansa here; nice to see.

Submitted Camp Reports

Rose Valley Campground Survey - 03-07-2021 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Rose Valley Campground
Date:	03-07-2021
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	The waters coming down the falls was abundantly trickling and the swimming holes/ pools were filled up!  The campground was clean, vault bathroom was stocked with toilet paper. The little prickly things were all over the campsite and was getting stuck between our dogs paws, fur and tail to the point where she was painfully knawing at them to remove them. We cleaned her up and decided to keep her off the ground and in the tent or on a table the rest of time, it’s honestly relentless. Obviously if you don’t have a dog this is a non issue but something to consider before bringing your furry friends.
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	Trickling But A lot :)
Weather Conditions:	Warm during the day, very cold at night around 34 F. Frosty in the early morning.

Rose Valley Campground Survey - 07-03-2020 - by NPHighview

Link:	Rose Valley Campground
Date:	07-03-2020
Surveyor Name:	NPHighview
Camp Description:	Campground was in disgusting shape.  Trash was piled high around overflowing trash cans at Rose Valley Campground.  Parks Management Company “ranger” was trying to enforce site reservation and payment system, but was being defied by an unruly group Squatting in a reserved site.  Another group was camping on the north side of Lower Lake, in an unauthorized site.  Yet another group was in the process of unloading OHV quad-runners (illegal), and still another group was camped at another unauthorized site down the road toward Piedra Blanca trailhead.  The only consolation was that Poodle Dog Bush was everywhere, and I can only hope the marauders got an abundant dose. We’ve visited Rose Valley monthly for hiking and birdwatching for ~15 years; this was the absolute worst.
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Clear, flowing across the road both north and south of Rose Valley Road. Lower Lake is full; Upper Lake is about 50% of maximum depth.
Weather Conditions:

Rose Valley Campground Survey - 12-27-2019 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Rose Valley Campground
Date:	12-27-2019
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:	Site opened as of late December as well as trail(s) to falls
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:	post storm flow, nice layer of snow, cold

Rose Valley Campground Survey - 12-08-2018 - by Craig R. Carey

Link:	Rose Valley Campground
Date:	12-08-2018
Surveyor Name:	Craig R. Carey
Camp Description:	Spent a cold weekend here while the Scouts from Troop 111 rebuilt the restroom down at the Rose-Lion Connector TH. The Thomas fire burned right to the edge, so there are some cottonwood trees that will eventually need to be removed. Interior trees spared from the fire thankfully. Camp was very clean.Â
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:	Nice flow in creek
Weather Conditions:	Cold.
Images:	Site 9. Creekside. Lots of yerba mansa here; nice to see.

Rose Valley Campground Survey - 04-30-2018 - by Anonymous Surveyor

Link:	Rose Valley Campground
Date:	04-30-2018
Surveyor Name:	Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Trickle
Water Source Details:	Campsite closed. Burned.
Weather Conditions:	Foggy, cold, rain.

Rose Valley Campground Survey - 10-11-2016 - by Mark

Link:	Rose Valley Campground
Date:	10-11-2016
Surveyor Name:	Mark
Camp Description:
Water Source:	Flowing
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

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