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Cuyama Badlands

99%

· Cuyama, Santa Barbara, California

164 acres hosted by Songdog Ranch J.

2 lodging sites · 14 RV/tent sites · 2 tent sites

Great for groups

Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for larger groups.

Amazing views

Hipcampers say this spot has amazing views.

Family-friendly

Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.

Best in California: Finalist

Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2024.

If you've ever wondered what it might be like to camp on the moon, this is it. Completely removed from civilization and surrounded by a barren nature that is alive with the subtle presence of the universe. Seasonally, Spring wildflowers burst across the landscape. Cave paintings of Chumash Indians at Painted Rock remind us of those who lived before us. **Read on for more details.** Our Carrizo Camp is surrounded by the Carrizo Plains National Monument. This is truly a get away from it all camping. That's it. You, the coyotes and your own private moon. Our Songdog Camps are sparsely scattered atop a 200 foot mesa that looks west over a valley offering stunning desert sunsets and amazing stargazing. These UPPER SITES are NOT OHV friendly, but any of our canyon bottom sites are a great base for your riding adventures up in Ballinger Canyon OHV. We'll be happy to recommend a site for you. Our Ranch House and Glamp sites are available on occasion. This is our home but we love to share our life in the outback. We believe it will give you a better appreciation of life's simpler side. Our offerings include fresh air and sunshine, amazing night sky, endless views, and plenty of space and privacy to enjoy your moments in nature. You'll find our amenities and activities puposefully sparse here. Upon booking, there are about 5 miles of dirt road on the property that you are welcome to explore on foot or by bicycle. Rustic is the theme here. There is no shower, no wifi, and no electricity available, but you will enjoy your own private spigot and the cellular service is acceptable. Within a short drive, you'll find plenty of hiking/biking and adventuring, and if you enjoy exploring by car, definitely take a loop drive through Carizzo Plains National Monument, or Mount Pinos and Lockwood Valley. Enjoy a beautiful dinner at the Cuyama Buckhorn and take in the view of the Caliente mountain range. For any sites located south of Ballinger Wash, your vehicle length is limited to 22' and no more than 4' overhang from the rear axle, so you don't get stuck in the crossing and block access for others. Towing services are 1-3 hours away. The AllTrails app will give a pretty good birds eye view of hiking in the area. Our friendly cancellation policies vary between 24 hours for simple campsites and 72 hours for our Glamp sites and Group sites. We do offer a buyout opportunity for the mesa, however the cancellation policy for that much stricter at 50% refund up until 1 week before check-in time. Be sure to check the Google for distance to Cuyama Valley, and your dates for availability and site descriptions. Upon booking, you can look forward to an information packed email to help you make the very best of your trip! We look forward to seeing you! *This land was sparsely populated by the Chumash Indian and is evident by the numerous cave painting that remain here near the Caliente mountain. In the era of the California Missions, this land was a part of the Spanish land grants. Currently the property is privately owned and is adjacent to large sections of publicly held lands.

Activities

Biking

Hiking

Horseback riding

Off-roading (OHV)

Natural features

Cave

Desert

Forest

Canyon

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99%

4207 ratings · 1939 reviews

Somalee D.recommends

December 7, 2024

Draw Camp in the Far West

Essence of camping under starry sky

The mesa is beautiful. The nights were cold and full of stars. Coyotes were howling. We got ourselves a crackling fire. What is there not to love. We got a bit of rain too! An exceptionally memorable camping experience. Our hosts Jen and Jim helped us out when we got a flat exploring the neighboring national monument.

Erica L.recommends

December 6, 2024

Soda Lake of Carrizo Plains

Amazing!

We were looking for a remote place to camp and this was it. We'd occasionally see people drive through on off road vehicles exploring the back roads or hunting for quail, but otherwise it felt like we had miles upon miles of beauty to ourselves and our dog felt such freedom being able to be off leash the entire time and had so much fun hunting (or at least trying to) for quail and rabbits . The sunrises, sunsets and stars we're beyond impressive. The owner of the song dog ranch was so friendly and really helped us figure out how to navigate our way to the camping spot and we had no problems finding it. Because of how remote it is, you really need to be comfortable boondocking and come prepared as there's no stores or facilities nearby (closest is in town at New Cuyama) and the site is very exposed to wind, sun, etc. The pit toilet wasn't in great condition so I'd recommend not relying on that as your bathroom. We loved everything about this site and can't wait to make it part of our regular rotation of camping spots. Thanks Song Dog Ranch for sharing your incredible places with us, looking forward to seeing you all again soon!

Valentina C.recommends

December 2, 2024

Site 2 - Songdog East Campsites.

Amazing couple of days at Songdog Ranch! Highly recommended campsite!!!

Morgan C.recommends

December 1, 2024

Site 3 - Songdog East Campsites.

Site 3 tent camping

Loved tent camping here! Very private and campsites are pretty far apart. Was a little hard to find in the dark so get there when it’s still light but that is our mistake. Had the cutest shop with everything you need for reasonable prices (food, drinks, candy) and even stuff you could borrow for the night like lanterns, roasting sticks, and games! The site was pretty big with a nice fire pit, picnic table, trash bin, and had great even/flat surfaces for my tent.

Rachel G.recommends

November 27, 2024

Base Camp site

Had an amazing experience at Songdog Ranch! Went with some friends to enjoy some time off with each other, and couldn’t have asked for a more relaxing trip. The perfect place to getaway and appreciate all nature has to offer. We stayed at the base camp location and got to witness some breathtaking views, while still being close enough to walk over to the main house and check out their self service shop. The folks that live on this land keep it well maintained and are some of the kindest i’ve met in a while. I’d recommend this spot to anyone who’s looking for a real outdoor camping experience.

Elsie L.recommends

November 25, 2024

Grand View

Great time with a great view!

We had a great time at Sondog, it was our second time! The hosts were very thoughtful. We booked a few weeks in advance had rain scheduled for our trip, and Jen was ready to work with us by either refunding us or moving us to a lower campsite due to the rain. We really appreciated her willingness to work with us, easing our anxiety! She also gave us some great suggestions for local hikes.

Location

Cuyama, Santa Barbara, California, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Chumash, Salinan, and Kuyam First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking