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Submission
Water is from a stream - come prepared with your own or have a way to filter/purify
5 Hike-in campsites- Picnic tables and campfire rings, vault toilets, trash receptacles, no piped water available. Seasonal stream water (treat before using). However, water flow may be low or non-existent due to reduced rainfall. Please bring enough water for cooking, cleaning, drinking, and extinguishing campfires.
Equestrian: Hitching Rail (52 linear feet).
Gould Mesa Trail Camp is a hike-in campground located 2 miles from Ventura Street on the Gabrielino Trail. Being only a few miles away La Canada-Flintridge, it offers a quick-respite for the weary hiker. Those choosing to start in Altadena near the Jet Propulsion Laboratories will walk through riparian groves along a tranquil steam surrounded by steep ridges. The trek to Gould Mesa Trail Camp is 5.1 miles round trip with 300 feet of elevation change.
Location: Accessible by the Gabrielino National Recreation Trail. From Interstate 210 WEST in La Canada, take Windsor Ave. Turn right on Windsor to Ventura St. and park. Take the Gabrielino Trail 2 miles to the campground. OR from Interstate 210 exit at the Angeles Crest Highway (Hwy. 2) and head north about 2 miles. Park on the right before you enter the forest and hike the dirt road 1 mile past the power substation to the campground.
You must have a CA campfire permit in order to build a fire.
First come first serve
It is a pack in camp. There is a clean bathroom. No showers. Picnic tables at each site. A babbling creek and only the sounds of nature. As a primitive camp I give it 5 stars.
Sometime in August or September 2023, brand new pit toilets were added at the campground. Haven't see any homeless here in a while.
Great backpacking site for beginners. The trail in is about 2.5 miles. The 1st mile is very urban and not super pretty. The last 1.5 miles follows the stream and is beautiful and shady. There are 3 stream crossings before you reach the campsite. All along the trail are bridges, picnic tables, stone walls and benches for resting. The campsite itself is pretty with a fire ring at every site. There are several places to hitch a horse. The campground has about 6 sites in total but not every site has a picnic table. Some sites have a log to sit on by the fire if you don’t want to pack a chair. There was no toilet paper in the vault toilets and the bear safe trash cans were overflowing. There was one “long term camper” but he didn’t get us any trouble. The main trail runs just beside the campground with a steady stream of trail runners, mountain bikers and hikers. The stream runs just on the other side of the trail and is wonderfully cool and refreshing. Pack water shoes or extra clothes if you have kiddos that like to explore.
If you visit, PLEASE throw trash away in designated spots, or pack it out! This campground is next to a very busy trail that is frequented by locals. The bathrooms were clean and there is currently running water in the stream below the camp. Cute little campground that’s not too far away, which is perfect for a quick weekend getaway from the city!
