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Bates Canyon Campground South Los Padres National Forest

  • Camp Type: Car Campground - No Reservations, first-come, first-serve walk-in campground
  • Topo Map Link: Bates Canyon
  • Elevation: 2700 feet
  • Wilderness Area: Non Wilderness Area
  • County: Santa Barbara County
  • Ranger District: Santa Lucia Ranger District
  • Longitude: -119.9080098
  • Latitude: 34.95480609
  • Length of Stay: 14 Days
  • Reservations: Car Campground - No Reservations, Walk In

Recent Water Reports:

Date Surveyor Water Report
06-18-2023Adam DonaldFlowing
04-17-2023Nate e PooFlowing
02-27-2022Nancy AguilarDry
04-19-2021Anonymous SurveyorDry
07-03-2017Anonymous SurveyorDry
08-25-2016Jack Owen, JrDry
08-11-2016Jack Owen, JrDry

Description:

Bates Canyon is car campground located close to Santa Maria off the Highway 166, The campground has 6 tent sites that are nestled in a grove of large oaks and sycamores.

Directions: From Santa Maria: Hwy 166 50 miles east, Cottonwood Cyn. Rd. 7.5 miles southwest.

Survey Photos:


  • Anonymous Surveyor - 07-03-2017
    Snake tracks

  • Anonymous Surveyor - 07-03-2017

  • Anonymous Surveyor - 07-03-2017

  • Adam Donald - 06-18-2023

Submitted Camp Reports

Bates Canyon Campground Survey - 06-18-2023 - by Adam Donald
Link: Bates Canyon Campground
Date: 06-18-2023
Surveyor Name:Adam Donald
Camp Description:Campsite is in mostly good condition, but the door to one of the two outhouses has been broken in half and taken off.  I only stopped here a few minutes because there were clouds of biting flies.  Road is in good condition up to Sierra Madre Rd at the ridge.
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:Creek is flowing well below the camp
Weather Conditions:Sunny 80s
Images:

Bates Canyon Campground Survey - 04-17-2023 - by Nate e Poo
Link: Bates Canyon Campground
Date: 04-17-2023
Surveyor Name:Nate e Poo
Camp Description:
Water Source:Flowing
Water Source Details:Lots of green. Some flowers. Creeks flowing.
Weather Conditions:
Bates Canyon Campground Survey - 02-27-2022 - by Nancy Aguilar
Link: Bates Canyon Campground
Date: 02-27-2022
Surveyor Name:Nancy Aguilar
Camp Description:I road up Bates Canyon and it was so beautiful. The trail winds up to Sierra Madre Ridge. Most of the trail up is in a canopy of trees. There were still patches of snow on the north facings. The campground area was so pretty. 2 bathrooms. I did not use them but the area was very clean.
Water Source:Dry
Water Source Details:no water in the creek
Weather Conditions:60's
Bates Canyon Campground Survey - 04-19-2021 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Bates Canyon Campground
Date: 04-19-2021
Surveyor Name:Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:Camp sites clean. Road to Sierra Madre Ridge was open at the bottom but did not drive to the top to see if both ends open. 

Not a terribly interesting campground unless you just want to get away from people.  
Water Source:Dry
Water Source Details:Water taps are all capped off
Weather Conditions:High 70’s and sunny during day, high 40’s at night
Bates Canyon Campground Survey - 07-03-2017 - by Anonymous Surveyor
Link: Bates Canyon Campground
Date: 07-03-2017
Surveyor Name:Anonymous Surveyor
Camp Description:Few snake 
Water Source:Dry
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:Dry, Sunny. 100F/65F
Images:

Snake tracks



Bates Canyon Campground Survey - 08-25-2016 - by Jack Owen, Jr
Link: Bates Canyon Campground
Date: 08-25-2016
Surveyor Name:Jack Owen, Jr
Camp Description:Bates Canyon Road is repaired and now open from the campground up to Sierra Madre Road.
Water Source:Dry
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:
Bates Canyon Campground Survey - 08-11-2016 - by Jack Owen, Jr
Link: Bates Canyon Campground
Date: 08-11-2016
Surveyor Name:Jack Owen, Jr
Camp Description:The campground is open and available.  Bates Canyon Road from camp up to Sierra Madre Road is impassable and CLOSED.  It has washed out in numerous places.  You can walk the road, but no vehicle access is possible.

Forest Service personnel have told me they don't know when it will be fixed as it needs a major amount of work.  some portions of the road are completely washed away (GONE!) and it is going to be a major project.
Water Source:Dry
Water Source Details:
Weather Conditions:

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Last Updated: Tuesday, February 24, 2015

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L.P.N.F. Contacts »

  • Forest Headquarters
    Phone: (805) 968-6640
  • Mt. Pinos District
    Phone: (661) 245-3731
  • Ojai Ranger District
    Phone: (805) 646-4348
  • Santa Barbara District
    Phone: (805) 967-3481
  • Santa Lucia District
    Phone: (805) 925-9538
  • Monterey District
    Phone: (831) 385-5434