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Point Mugu La Jolla Valley Hike-In Campsites permit
Small tent-only hike-in campground in La Jolla Valley. Not bookable online — cal...
Danielson Ranch Group Campground Permit
Point Mugu State Park · California
One date at a time
Group campground accessible via Danielson Ranch trailhead.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Danielson Ranch were gone within 10 minutes.
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Danielson Ranch Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelModerate6/10
Danielson Ranch Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Danielson Ranch in Point Mugu State Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- The Danielson Ranch route covers 8.1 miles, rated moderate.
- Cancelled Danielson Ranch permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level6/10
LocationSanta Monica Mountains, CA
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
8.1 miles
Route Type
Point to Point
Duration
1-7 nights
Difficulty
ModerateHighlights
- •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
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.
Hazards & Considerations
- !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.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
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78°
56°
Sun
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66°
50°
Mon
⛅
75°
52°
Tue
☁️
77°
52°
Wed
☁️
80°
54°
Thu
☁️
82°
57°
Fri
☀️
85°
60°
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Create an account before permits drop
Find this permit on the managing agency's booking system and set up an account with your payment info ready.
2
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
3
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
4
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Learn More
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand3/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill1/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk3/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation2/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment3/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
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.
Recommended Experience
Group logistics over distance. Book through State Parks directly, budget the $100 application fee, and plan the walk back out if you are not through-hiking.
Not Recommended For
Parties under 10, anyone who cannot carry gear eight miles or arrange otherwise, and anyone wanting to bring a dog onto the trails or into Boney Mountain wilderness.
About This Permit
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.
The Experience
Why It Matters
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 Route
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.
The Feeling
A ranch flat in Sycamore Canyon with the Boney Mountain pinnacles above, and a shower at the end of a backcountry day.
Trailhead Information
Ray Miller Trailhead
25 ft elevationThe Backbone Trail's western terminus at 25 feet, 8.1 miles from Danielson Ranch.
Restrooms
No water
Parking
Day-use parking $12.00 all day, $9.00 for 3 hours, $6.00 for 2, $3.00 for 1. La Jolla Group Camp reservations check in and collect vehicle tags from Thornhill Broome Campground.
Getting There
The beach is 15 miles south of Oxnard on Highway One.
Nearest Services
Malibu or Oxnard.
Sycamore Canyon
The canyon access from the coast toward Danielson Ranch — about four miles in from the south end.
Restrooms
No water
Parking
Sycamore Canyon day-use parking runs 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Getting There
Off Pacific Coast Highway. There is a steep one-mile grade at the north end of the canyon.
Nearest Services
Malibu.
Rules & Regulations
- •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 Checklist
Required
- 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
- 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
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Danielson Ranch
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
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Key Landmarks
Ray Miller Trailhead
The lowest point on the 67-mile Backbone Trail, 8.1 miles from Danielson Ranch.
Danielson Ranch
The group campground, with drinking water, flush toilets and showers.
La Jolla Valley Hike-In
3.7 miles away, a three-space camp with no water and no fires.
Sandstone Peak
The highest point in the Santa Monicas, 8.1 miles on toward Circle X and a steady climb from sea level.
Boney Mountains State Wilderness
The jagged pinnacles at the park's inland edge. No bicycles and no dogs.
Danielson Ranch FAQ
How do I get a Danielson Ranch permit?
Danielson Ranch permits use a reservation system. PermitSnag sends lottery open, deadline, and results reminders; you can also enable cancellation alerts if spots open later.
When is the best time to visit Danielson Ranch?
Check with the managing agency for current season dates. Weekdays generally have better availability than weekends.
How competitive is the Danielson Ranch permit?
This permit has a demand score of 6/10, making it moderately competitive.
What if I can't get a Danielson Ranch permit?
Cancellations happen daily. Set up alerts with PermitSnag to get notified the moment a spot opens up. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions
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Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Evening light on the Boney Mountain pinnacles above the ranch flat.
Best Light
Late winter to early spring, when temperatures are cooler, days are longer and the vegetation is green and blossoming.
Beat the Crowds
Eight miles from the nearest trailhead does it. Sycamore Canyon carries day traffic near the coast and very little this far in.
Classic Shots
- 📍Boney Mountain's pinnacles from the canyon floor
- 📍Sycamores along the canyon at the ranch
- 📍The Backbone Trail climbing away toward Sandstone Peak
- 📍A large group camp under old sycamores
- 📍Spring green across the Santa Monica backcountry
Can't Get a Danielson Ranch Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
La Jolla Valley Hike-In Campsites
Same AreaThree tent spaces half a mile off the Backbone Trail, 3.7 miles from Danielson Ranch, with no water and no fires.
No permit needed
Tradeoffs
No reservation and no application fee — you auto-pay at the parking area. But three spaces, no water, and no group capacity at all.
Malibu Creek Campground
Similar ExperienceA drive-in campground with a walk-in group camp for 10 to 60 people, showers and a dump station.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
You can drive to it, which solves the gear problem entirely. But select sites there are now allocated by monthly lottery.
Manzanita Point Hike-In Group Camp
Similar ExperienceEleven hike-in group camps 2 to 3 miles from the Coe Ranch Entrance at Henry W. Coe, for groups of 9 or more.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A far shorter approach and up to two vehicles may drive gear in, conditions permitting. But there is no potable water at Manzanita Point.
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Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Danielson Ranch trip
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