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Cleveland/Blue Jay
Overview
Located high above the valley floor in the Santa Ana Mountains, Cleveland/Blue Jay offers a serene, primitive escape for travelers seeking a natural retreat. Unlike developed commercial resorts, this area emphasizes a rugged outdoor experience within the Trabuco Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest. Surrounded by ancient oaks and chaparral, the park serves as a peaceful base for those who value quiet nights and starry skies over modern conveniences and city lights.
Location & Surroundings
The park is situated off the winding Ortega Highway, providing a dramatic transition from the urban sprawl of Lake Elsinore to a high-altitude woodland environment. Its unique position on the ridge offers a pleasant climate where cool coastal breezes often meet the warm inland air. Visitors are treated to scenic vistas of the surrounding canyons and distant peaks, making the drive up the mountain an integral part of the travel adventure.
Amenities & Park Features
As a forest service site, the facilities are basic but well-maintained for self-contained travelers. Guests will find the following features at the park:
- Standard fire rings and picnic tables provided at every individual site.
- Access to communal vault toilets located conveniently throughout the camping loops.
- Spacious sites nestled under a canopy of mature oak trees for natural shade.
There are no utility hookups or dump stations available on-site, so RVers should arrive prepared with full water tanks and adequate power for a primitive stay.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Nature enthusiasts will appreciate the direct access to several hiking trails, including routes leading into the pristine San Mateo Canyon Wilderness. For water-based recreation, the city of Lake Elsinore is a short drive down the mountain, offering opportunities for boating and fishing. Additionally, the nearby Ortega Falls provides a popular seasonal stop for those looking to explore local waterfalls and unique rock formations during the wetter months of the year.
Who This Park Is Best For
This destination is ideal for dry camping enthusiasts and van lifers who prefer the sound of birdsong over cable television. Due to the narrow, winding access roads and smaller site footprints, it is best suited for shorter RVs and truck campers rather than large motorhomes or big rigs. It is a perfect match for nature photographers and hikers who want to wake up at the trailhead and experience the wilder side of Southern California.
Amenities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- Hunting Nearby (within 20 miles)
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
verito Hernandez
1st time camping here.. its a 1st Come 1st serve try to get there be 10 AM so you can catch the spots as they leave after Breakfast. Its Beautiful and nice ..no internet connection which is very great . We will be back more often since we r only 20 mins away.. i got spot #50 its on the side corner nice n private #45 has 2 camping tent set ups #46 has the most beautiful huge tree right under it its nice to take picture. There nice hiking trails
Micol Hebron
This is a great campground in the Cleveland national forest, east of San Juan Capistrano. Camping fees are $20 per night. Sites have picnic tables, fire rings, and flattened areas for tents. There are over 40 sites, and each has ample space. Lots of great hiking trails nearby. Bathrooms with pit toilets are accessible. There are water spigots, but they were turned off when I was there. Bring water just in case! There are dumpsters for trash- please use them, instead of leaving trash at the beautiful campsites. Dog friendly.
Alex Heitz
Clean and comfortable campground that provided peace and a good night's sleep ... A good amount of the spots are closed right now (10/31/22) for renovation so be sure to make sure there's a space available before you submit your payment envelope at the gate!
sierra sharpless
It was awesome! had so much fun spending time with my family!😊😊
Lost Trails 4x4 Club
My favorite local camp spot! Quiet and mellow unless it's a holiday weekend go early as you can fills up fast
Ubaldo Castillo
We went on New Years but just for the day and left once it got dark. I've been here once before and enjoyed it. There is trash in the surrounding bushes. Mostly of toilet paper. My guess is people not wanting to walk to the not very far restrooms. The drive from the 5 fwy is nice and not too long. I'm planning an overnight stay very soon.
Alfredo Espiritu
Love this place. I would say it feels secluded other than being neighbors next to you. Spacious. Too
Jack Rondini
This has to be one of my favorite campgrounds. Unfortunately it’s a pay campground ($20). It’s becoming the norm, so clean up after yourself so the forest service doesn’t have more reasons to increase the fees. You do get generous campsites, some of which have some space between sites and bushes for privacy. There is also dispersed potable water spigots, vaulted toilets, and trash. Weirdly the trash is not animal resistant. Some sites are pretty big. My 40’ truck/trailer fit in several. Beware though, the final 1 mile road is steep, with tight curves, very narrow with only room for 1 vehicle, and only 2 turn outs. It’s paved, not easy, but doable. The area is pretty and green with trees and bushes. The trailhead for the San Juan trail is just outside the campgrounds with another trailhead in the way to sites 40-50. Great for a hike or for mountain biking. The trailhead within the campground actually has lots of parking. Section 40-50 is for tent camping and currently closed for not obvious reasons. There is also a group site nearby which you call to reserve. It was relatively quiet even on the weekend when all the sites filled up (nearly empty during the week). There were lots of flies but not the kind that bite. Also, the cell service was spotty for Verizon. There was a decent connection at the trailhead just outside the campground.
Heather Early
Very nice, clean, peaceful and relaxing. Campgrounds are great with bathrooms spread throughout and running water at each group of campsites. The Forest Rangers we're very kind and helpful and reviewed fire safety and cleaning up behind ourselves before we left.
Jonathan Dufault
There are entrances to the San Juan Trail behind a lot of the campsites. It was a lot of fun to run on, and beautiful! Some sites can be a bit close together, but there were very few people there when I went. There are two types of sites here, spurs and park/pitch a tent sites. I chose the spur because my car is my tent. To pay, you pull up to the main entrance, grab an envelope and then drive to your site. After filling out the relevant details and hanging the paper placard on your mirror, you walk the envelope with the fee in it to the deposit box at front.