How to Get a Deer Canyon Permit

About Deer Canyon

Deer Canyon Campground is one of three primitive hike-in campgrounds in the Moro Canyon backcountry at Crystal Cove State Park. ReserveCalifornia lists 5 sites here, coded as hike-in primitive campsites #001 through #005, with a maximum stay of seven nights. The approach is the defining feature. California State Parks describes it plainly: after checking in at the Moro Canyon kiosk, campers must hike inland approximately three miles, mostly uphill, and the trail is strenuous at times and in the opposite direction of the beach. All supplies must be packed in, including water, and packed out. What you get at the site is a picnic table and a pit toilet. What you do not get is drinking water, trash cans, or the option of a fire - fires are restricted to backpack stoves, and wood and charcoal fires are not permitted anywhere in the park. Cellular service is limited. Sites are only accessible by foot or bicycle, and vehicles must be left in the parking lot. No pets are allowed. The surrounding Moro Canyon backcountry holds 2,400 undeveloped acres of fire roads and single-track for hiking, biking and equestrian use, with maps available at the Ranger Station. Trails are open 6 a.m. to sunset and pets are not allowed in the backcountry. Reservations go through ReserveCalifornia, which California State Parks takes six months in advance beginning at 8:00 a.m. Pacific, online, by mail, or on 1-800-444-7275. This is a state park, so it is not on Recreation.gov.

Five sites is the whole campground. Deer Canyon is the deepest of the three primitive campgrounds in the Moro Canyon backcountry and by far the hardest to get, which is exactly what makes it worth a cancellation watch: on any given night, five parties have the furthest corner of a 2,400-acre backcountry to themselves.