Chilao Campground - Little Pines Loop

USDA Forest Service campground, 44 sites

Overview

Little Pines Loop is one of two camping loops within Chilao Campground, located just northeast of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Mountains. It is accessed via the Angeles Crest Highway, a scenic byway that winds through oak woodlands, chaparral, high desert terrain, and pine forests. Situated in the high country of the Angeles National Forest within the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, Little Pines Loop offers cooler mountain temperatures, panoramic views of surrounding peaks and ridges, and diverse forest habitats. Camping is available for a nightly fee per site.

Recreation

Little Pines Loop provides convenient access to hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Nearby trails include the Silver Moccasin National Recreation Trail, which connects to sections of the Pacific Crest Trail. The Angeles Crest Highway offers scenic overlooks and access to additional trailheads. Birdwatching, wildlife viewing, and stargazing are popular activities due to the campground’s elevation and minimal light pollution.

Facilities

Little Pines Loop has 43 campsites, each equipped with a picnic table and fire ring/grill. Amenities include potable water via multiple spigots, three vault toilets, bear-proof dumpsters, and large parking spurs. RVs up to 40 feet in length are allowed.

Natural Features

Little Pines Loop sits at an elevation of approximately 5,300 feet within the rugged San Gabriel Mountains, part of the Transverse Ranges. The landscape is characterized by a mix of coulter pines, manzanita shrubs, scrub oak, and chaparral covering steep mountain slopes. This high-elevation environment supports diverse wildlife, including birds, deer, coyotes, bighorn sheep, black bears, and bobcats.

The campground is located less than one mile from the San Gabriel Wilderness, a designated wilderness area encompassing over 36,000 acres within the Angeles National Forest. The wilderness preserves its natural character across extremely rugged terrain, with elevations ranging from approximately 1,600 to over 8,200 feet. Vegetation transitions from dense chaparral at lower elevations to pine- and fir-covered slopes at higher elevations, offering significant biodiversity, seasonal temperature variation, wildflowers, and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Nearby Attractions

The Chilao Visitor Center is located approximately 1.5 miles east of the campground and features interpretive exhibits, short trails, seasonal programs, and a birdwatching deck.