San Bernardino National Forest — Middle Lytle Creek Ridge Dispersed Camp

Mid-ridge on the Lytle Creek drainage, this dispersed zone puts you above the canyon noise with views stretching east toward the Cajon and west into the upper San Gabriel watershed. The terrain opens up enough for a couple of rigs to spread out on the dirt pull-offs that branch off the ridge track. This isn’t a groomed campsite — it’s just the forest service land doing its job of existing. Bring everything you need; there’s nothing out here but chaparral, scrub oak, and the occasional bighorn sheep track.

The road up to this zone is a combination of dirt and rocky switchbacks — a stock high-clearance 4WD handles it fine in dry conditions, but wet chaparral soil turns to grease fast. Don’t attempt it after significant rain unless you want to spend the night sideways in a drainage. Adventure Pass or Interagency Pass required on the windshield. Fire restrictions apply from the SBNF — Stage II is common from June through October. Plan accordingly.

Ridge camp above Lytle Creek with Mojave views.