Camping at Leo Carillo

Leo Carrillo State Park has 1.5 miles of two sandy beach areas, tide pools, and numerous coves and sea caves. This year-round paradise offers privacy and ocean access for anglers, divers, surfers, wildlife watchers, beachcombers, and campers. Giant sycamores shade the main campgrounds. The park also features back-country hiking. The 135-site camping area at Leo Carrillo is inland from the beach in a canyon and boasts some of the best hiking trails through the Santa Monica Mountains.

Even though the campsites are not on the beach, the campground is well within walking distance to it. The beach is mostly sandy but strewn with rocks as well. Each campsite site has a picnic table and a fire ring, and cold showers are always available. If you want a hot (warm) shower you need to buy tokens from the kiosks in front of the bathrooms. The beach area is about a 5-10 minute walk from the campground and is truly amazing. You can choose to lounge on the sandy beach or hike up a little bit to cliffs to catch a birds eye view of the waves crashing down below.

Hikers have a choice of gentle or more energetic walks. Yellow Hill Fire Trail, suitable for all ages, offers panoramic views of the beach, and on a clear day, you can see Anacapa, Santa Catalina, and Santa Cruz Islands.