Cerro Alto Campground
Los Padres National Forest
Cerro Alto Campground is a well-known hiking and mountain biking paradise. It is located a short distance from the sandy beaches of Morro Bay, where visitors enjoy surfing, fishing, kayaking, sailing, scuba diving and more. While the campground offers a serene, relaxed environment, both Morro Bay and the nearby town of Atascadero offer numerous dining opportunities, shopping, museums and other activities. Wine Tasting in the Tempelton, Paso Robles Area is also a very popular experience.
The campground offers single-family sites for tent or RV camping. Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring and grill. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided, but no hookups are available. Trash collection bins are scattered throughout the campground.
Need to Know
Natural Features
The campground is situated in a mixed oak, pine and sycamore forest at an elevation of about 1,000 feet. It lies in a verdant canyon pass along a semiannual mountain creek. The roads are paved, but narrow, winding and single lane with turnouts to each site.
Nearby Attractions
Paso Robles, which is quickly becoming known as a premier spot for Central Coast wines, is located 20 miles from the campground. Wine tasting tours are offered daily, or visitors can select individualized tours of numerous wineries located in the area.
The campground makes a great base camp for motorcyclists or day-trippers to visit the quaint, neighboring towns of San Luis Obispo, Cayucos, Harmony and Cambria, all of which are within 35 miles of the campground.
Tours of historic Hearst Castle are also available. Visitors can spend time relaxing at the many available day spas located at nearby Avila or Grover beaches. Off-road vehicle trails are available on famous Pismo Beach.
Recreation
Visitors enjoy ample hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding opportunities, along with a 360-degree view of the Central California coast and inland valleys. The 4-mile Cerro Alto Trail, which leads to the peak, begins within the campground.
Morro Bay beaches are less than 10 miles from the campground, offering wide sandy stretches and swimming, surfing, fishing, kayaking, sailing, scuba diving and more. An 18-hole championship golf course is located in the oceanside town.
Contact Information
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Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 805-434-1996
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Atascadero, travel southwest on Highway 41 for about 8 miles. Campground entrance is on the left; turn and continue south for about 1 mile to the campground. From Morro Bay, travel east on Highway 41 for about 8 miles. Campground entrance is on the right; turn and continue south for about a mile to the campground.
Available Campsites
- Site 005, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Walk To
- Site 017, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 002, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 011, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 022, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 016, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 019, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 015, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 004, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Walk To
- Site 006, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Walk To
- Site 003, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 007, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Walk To
- Site 014, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 020, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 013, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 009, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 021, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 012, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 010, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 008, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 001, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 018, Loop CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND, Type Standard Nonelectric
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