Take in the beauty of Los Padres National Forest from a campsite in Frazier Park's mountain pass community.
Just off Interstate 5, about an hour south of Bakersfield and just outside of Lebec, Frazier Park is a good base for exploring spots such as Fort Tejon State Historic Park, Mt Pinos, Alamo Mountain, and elsewhere Los Padres National Forest. There are a ton of hiking trails and recreation areas in the vicinity, including the nearby McGill Campground, which offers a mix of reservable and first-come, first-served RV and tent camping along with picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. Note that many area campgrounds close for winter, but you’ll find Hipcamps available year-round.
Stretching out for nearly 2 million acres of land in central and Southern California (nearly half of which is wilderness), Los Padres National Forest offers a lot of space for camping, hiking, climbing, and swimming in warmer months along with snow sports come winter. Los Padres also offers some fantastic wildlife-viewing opportunities, providing habitats for species ranging from California condors to bighorn sheep.
If you're in the mood for a change of scenery, you need only head into the Mojave Desert, where you'll find natural features unlike anywhere else on earth. The most popular destinations include Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, and the Mojave National Preserve.
Northeast of Frazier Park, the Sequoia National Forest is full of ways to experience nature, with lots of campgrounds and backcountry camping options. The forest is also home to over three dozen groves of massive sequoia trees.
Frazier Park is at its most popular in the summer months, when temperatures soar into the 90s and families descend on the area to take advantage of school holidays, so come in September if you want pleasant weather without the crowds. Unlike much of Los Padres National Forest, Frazier Park doesn't get too much snow, though winters can be rainy and chilly, with lows below freezing and highs in the mid-50s from December through February.