Setting up camp at Chilao Recreation Area

BASICS

Camping at Chilao Recreation Area is restricted to Little Pines and Manzanita campgrounds. Both are first come, first served. Campers self-register at a cost of $12 per site. Amenities include tap water, vault toilets, but no showers or sinks. RVs up to 40 feet OK; no hookups. (A third, Coulter Campground, is a group site; reserve at www.recreation.gov, $100 per night.) Charlton Flat, a day-use area with picnic tables and fire rings, includes the trail head to Vetter Mountain. Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Adventure Pass required for each vehicle ($5).

For overnight camping, Manzanita Campground offers shade at Sites 2, 3, 4, 5, 34 and 35 but little privacy, and there’s road noise; sites 9, 10 and 11 have privacy, views and shade; 23 offers a nice view in a boulder setting. At Little Pines Campground, 6, 7 and 8 are shaded; 9, 12 and 15 offer some privacy; 16 has privacy, a view, nice breezes; 19 through 22 have shade and some privacy; 38 is pretty private, with shade and a view.

DRIVE TIME

From the 210 Freeway in La Cañada Flintridge, the turnoff for Charlton Flat is 23 miles north on the Angeles Crest Highway; the turnoff for Chilao Recreation Area is 10 miles farther.

INFO

Angeles National Forest, (818) 899-1900, www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles.