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Tucked away in the high desert, surrounded by scenic views of the badlands in the Los Padres National Forest, Ballinger Campground and day use area offers the perfect getaway for those looking to access off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails. Explore 11 four-wheel drive roads, 12 all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trails, and 14 motorcycle trails, which include loose dirt, hard pack, sand, steep hills, and a few jumps and berms.
The Ballinger Campground and day use areas are best appreciated by OHV enthusiasts. ATVs/Quad Runners/Dual Sports/Single track, will find access to 68 miles of marked and rated trails that range from novice-friendly hard packed trails, twisty sand washes, open play areas to steep and rugged black diamond, all accessed from your scenic high desert camping spot.
Open daily and year-round, the campground includes 13 campsites each with a picnic table and fire ring. Two vault toilets are located near the campsites. You should plan to be completely self-sustainable for the duration of your trip. There is no potable water onsite. To the left of the fee/information boards is a "staging area" to offload gear. There is no dump station.
The campsites have no barriers or boulders, so all sizes of toy haulers, trailers and campers do well here.
Junipers, lupine and tall scrub and brush surround Ballinger Canyon, just inland of California's Central Coast and regionally bound by the Sierra Madre and Caliente Mountain Ranges.
Hiking trails, biking and fishing are easily accessed within 30 minutes from Ballinger Campground. Day trips to the higher elevation mountains for snow play in the winter.
From Los Angeles: Take I-5 north to 126 west to Santa Paula Hwy 150 exit. Go north on Hwy 150 for 20 miles to the intersection of highway 33. Go north over the mountain, 55 miles to Ballinger Cyn rd. Turn right and proceed 2 miles to the entrance.
Nice! Clean campgrounds and clean bathrooms. No odor, well stocked and maintained. Not sure how often they come. They are also LED lit at night. You do have to pay now. Ventura Sheriff stopped by. Very pleasant and friendly. So follow the rules and clean up after yourselves. 🤩
It's a great place to ride with your friends and kids. Although my dad and I were riding around the track up to a trail all of a sudden we both start hearing a lady both whisper in our ears as we pass each bush. Then my dad was going up this hill climb and his bike immediately shuts off. He came back done did not start, until I pushed him until we got onto another trail. Which it started. Although I had to run and grab my bike and then that won't start. So I pushed it all the way too the trail 24 which it's starts. As I tried to get back to camp I heard a lady say GO and I just punched it. I love ballinger but it's creepy as fucck
This is such a great place to go riding. Lots of trails and they are kept up nicely. The restrooms are nice to have too. I rode my quad on all of the trails and my son and friends rode dirt bikes. Covered plenty of ground and it wasn't too crowded.
