How to Get a Danielson Ranch Permit
A group camp deep in the Point Mugu backcountry with drinking water, flush toilets and showers, 8.1 miles along the Backbone Trail from the ocean.
Check Danielson Ranch permit availability1-7 nights
Duration
8.1 miles
Distance
moderate
Difficulty
About Danielson Ranch
Danielson Ranch at Point Mugu State Park is a group campground only, taking 10 to 50 people. The NPS lists it with drinking water, flush toilets, showers, tent spaces, a fireplace and pets allowed in the campground — the best-serviced backcountry group site in the Santa Monica Mountains. It costs $150 per night plus a $100 non-refundable reservation and application fee. Booking goes through California State Parks directly rather than a self-service system; the NPS directs groups to contact State Parks by phone or email, and lists ReserveCalifornia's 800-444-7275 as the booking line for the multi-use area. Statewide group rules apply: group campsites accommodate groups as small as 10 or as large as 100 depending on the park, stays are limited to seven nights, and youth groups under 18 must be accompanied by at least one adult for every 15 youths. The approach is the commitment. It is 8.1 miles by the Backbone Trail from the Ray Miller Trailhead, and the NPS cautions that if you are not hiking straight through you will need to plan time for hiking back out from Danielson Ranch. The park currently carries a standing mountain lion advisory — lions have been spotted in the Point Mugu State Park area, and the park asks visitors to avoid hiking alone especially between dusk and dawn and to keep children within arm's reach.
Danielson Ranch is a serviced group camp deep in the Point Mugu backcountry and a natural midpoint of the Backbone Trail: 8.1 miles from Ray Miller at the western end, and another 8.1 miles on to Circle X, climbing from just above sea level toward Sandstone Peak at 3,111 feet.
The Experience
A ranch flat in Sycamore Canyon with the Boney Mountain pinnacles above, and a shower at the end of a backcountry day.
Danielson Ranch at Point Mugu State Park is a group campground only. The NPS lists the Danielson Group Multi-Use Area as taking 10 to 50 people with drinking water, flush toilets, showers, tent spaces, a fireplace, and pets allowed in the campground. There is a $100 non-refundable reservation and application fee plus $150 per night.
By the Backbone Trail it is 8.1 miles from the Ray Miller Trailhead, which sits at 25 feet and is the lowest point on the whole 67-mile route. The NPS attaches a caution: if you are not hiking straight through, you will need to plan time for hiking back out from Danielson Ranch. From La Jolla Hike-In it is 3.7 miles. Onward, the segment to Circle X is another 8.1 miles and a steady uphill ascent from sea level to 3,000 feet, topping out at Sandstone Peak.
The park is large — five miles of ocean shoreline, more than 70 miles of hiking trails, and the jagged pinnacles of the Boney Mountains State Wilderness Area, where bicycles and dogs are not allowed.
What to Expect
A group-only camp for 10 to 50 people
Drinking water, flush toilets and showers — unique in this backcountry
An 8.1-mile approach from Ray Miller, or about four miles up Sycamore Canyon
$150 per night plus a $100 non-refundable application fee
Pets allowed in the campground, but not on backcountry trails or in Boney Mountain wilderness
A standing mountain lion advisory for the park
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Permit Requirements
Group campground only, 10 to 50 people.
Stays are limited to seven nights.
Youth groups under 18 years of age must be accompanied by at least one adult for every 15 youths.
Dogs are not allowed on the backcountry trails or dirt roads. Dogs on a leash are allowed in the park's day use areas, campgrounds and beaches.
Bicycles and dogs are not allowed within the Boney Mountain State Wilderness Area.
Wood gathering or collecting is not allowed in the park.
Burning firewood, Duraflame and charcoal briquettes is allowed in the fire rings only when the fire level permits — check the sign near the entrance kiosk for the day's level.
Camping on the Backbone Trail is only allowed at designated campgrounds.
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •Group cooking kit sized to your party
- •Sun protection for an exposed 8.1-mile approach
- •Camp stove, since fire levels frequently ban wood
- •Firewood brought in, if the fire level permits it
- •A plan for how gear reaches a camp eight miles from a road
Recommended Gear
- •Long sleeves and long pants for ticks and poison oak
- •Extra water for the approach, even though the camp has drinking water
- •A check of the day's fire level at the entrance kiosk
- •Group shelter for spring rain
- •A shuttle plan if you are not hiking straight through
Hazards & Safety
Mountain lions have been spotted in the Point Mugu State Park area; avoid hiking alone between dusk and dawn, make noise while hiking, and keep children within arm's reach.
Rattlesnakes, ticks and poison oak throughout the Santa Monica Mountains.
Summer heat with little shade on the approach.
Fire-level restrictions can ban all burning.
The Backbone Trail segment onward from here is a steady uphill ascent from just above sea level to Sandstone Peak at 3,111 feet.
Best Time to Visit
Late winter to early spring, when temperatures are cooler, days are longer and the vegetation is green and blossoming. Summer means a hot, shadeless eight-mile approach and the tightest fire restrictions.
100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience
This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Danielson Ranch permit?
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Danielson Ranch permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Danielson Ranch?
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Late winter to early spring, when temperatures are cooler, days are longer and the vegetation is green and blossoming. Summer means a hot, shadeless eight-mile approach and the tightest fire restrictions.
How difficult is Danielson Ranch?
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Groups of 10 to 50 who want a genuine backcountry base with running water and showers, and Backbone Trail parties splitting the route at its natural midpoint.
What gear do I need for Danielson Ranch?
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Essential gear includes: Group cooking kit sized to your party, Sun protection for an exposed 8.1-mile approach, Camp stove, since fire levels frequently ban wood, Firewood brought in, if the fire level permits it, A plan for how gear reaches a camp eight miles from a road.
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