Reyes Creek Campground

Not a very good experience. Location was nice, but campground was deserted. Dumpsters were overflowing, pit toilets had not been maintained and were pretty disgusting. Two campsites were abandoned with tents left to rot on there frames, clothing scattered and hung in trees… Coyotes present… Obviously, it could be an ideal spot if maintained, but really gave us a creepy feeling. No cell coverage, so if anything were to happen, you’re on your own. Too bad, beautiful spot. Would not stay again.

Camping success! Luckily I saw no animals that would eat me, which was my main concern. There were Bluejays, Woodpeckers, Quail (which you can eat during hunting season), and other birds I could not identify. Also, thieving Squirrels, so hide your food. There is also a lot of different kinds of plants, trees, and flowers around if you know where to look.
In my opinion, we got the best spot. It’s the first site on the right when driving in, past the family site. I think there is a total of 30 sites. Ours was super shady from trees, large, and comes with an extended part next to the creek. We set up and drank right next to it. The creek was very low, and wasn’t stocked with fish for obvious reasons. Our table was missing a leg, but my friend found a stump and fixed it. The sites are also in a valley, so even though it was the Summer Solstice, It was shady by around 7pm due to the high mountains. Being the first day of Summer, the nights only got to the lower 50s, maybe high 40s. During the day it could get up to the low 90s.
Right next our site was the terrible bathroom. I couldn’t even use it, it’s dirty, and smells like dead bodies were mushed up and stuck there for storage. Even walking by, is terrible. Go buy a drink or food from the Bar, which was 3 minutes walking distance from us. They have running water in their bathrooms, if you don’t mind the spiders, but it’s patrons only. I’m not sure if the restaurant’s showers work any longer, but there is a door that says shower.
For just $ 35 you can get a California Adventure Pass for one year. For only $ 5, you can get an extra pass for a car, as long as you’re together. That was the only thing we paid, besides gas and groceries. Anyway, I’d go again for sure!

One of the best spots for traditional, tent hitching, campers. Sun, creek, shade, and a BAR! We have been coming for years have a routine down and have extended our family to include the locals! You are old school if you call it Camp Schiedack! Bring your own TP and air fresheners, there is space for RVs if you must.

Amazing campground. This is what I imagined a camp ground tolook like, sites along the creek and plenty of places to hike. Everyone dreams of it. The perfect camp, along the creek. Maybe a waterfall or two, a shady hammock spot & plenty of trees, a flat tent spot, maybe a view. A big, sturdy, rock fire ring.
I found this while searching for a description of the surrounding old town:
«***About Camp Scheideck
Since 1891, Camp Scheideck has been a remote retreat, where people from Los Angeles and Ventura County and beyond have gathered to enjoy the extraordinary beauty of Los Padres National Forest. An enclave of about 35 cabins and a wonderful old Lodge open on weekends and holidays, the camp is nestled in a green valley along the banks of Reyes Creek, a trout-​stocked, year-​round mountain stream, and looks up on Pine Mountain. It’s warm in the summer (perfect wading weather) and cool in the winter (perfect curl up by the wood burning stove weather), and sometimes even gets a dusting of snow! Manzanitas, pines, sycamores, and cottonwoods mix with a beautiful array of wild flowers and wildlife.
There is a group picnic area, and the owners of the Camp (and land lease holders), Ozzie and Rhonda Osborn, have added a delightful little Western „town“ in the common area; complete with gold mine, saloon, bank, jail, chapel, and even „Boot Hill,“ a little make believe cemetery.
Camp Scheideck abuts Reyes Creek campground, one of the prettiest camp grounds in Los Padres, and the trail head of the hiking/​equestrian Reyes Creek Trail, which wanders up into the mountains into the Sespe Wilderness. Along the way, the trail merges into the Piedra Blanca National Recreation Trail and stops at the top of Pine Mountain, which is one of the few condor nesting areas in Southern California.
Camp Scheideck was first a part of the Reyes family ranch, and then was sold to Martin Scheideck. His family owned the property for several generations, and were important pioneers in the settling of Lockwood Valley.
Click here for a website by Jim Smith, former Lockwood Valley resident, with stories and great pictures of Camp Scheideck in the 1930’s and ’40’s. Click here for a picture of the Lodge in the snow sometime in the 40’s.
Now a mix of weekenders and year-​round residents, Camp Scheideck offers a taste of what California was like half a century ago — and is only about 90 minutes from LA and about an hour from Ojai on a spectacular stretch of Highway 33. You can hike, fish, hunt, bike, ride horses, or just enjoy the sounds of nature, without the long drive to the Sierras or Big Bear.»

**FREE STAY UP TO 10-​DAYS WITH CALI ADVENTURE PASS**
When it comes to warm-​weather camping, it doesn’t get much better than this, with one exception: I’ve seen better bathrooms in prison. I kid you not. I’ve literally seen better restroom facilities in state penitentiaries. Scary.
The restrooms here are truly legendary. Last time I was here, the Ranger told us to refrain from using the bathroom until she could get a haz-​mat suit and clean it. I SWEAR TO GOD, I have it on video!!! Apparently, there was a mix of feces and blood all over place. «Some cultures are different,» she said.
With that exception, Reyes Creek is a fantastic place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Located between Ojai and Maricopa/​Frasier Park, Reyes Creek is in a shallow mountain canyon. You’ll need your CA Adventure Pass to camp here, so go get one already. $ 30… Good for 12 months from purchase date. Score a second vehicle pass for $ 5. That means you and another can bring your cars to the site. And that means you can bring more needless shit, like cheeses, charcuterie, crackers, breads, wines, beers, sausages for grillin’, and all the stuff you couldn’t fit into one car. :)
* THE SITES. The sites are hit and miss. Some are great for groups and horrible for single campers, others are great for single campers only. Furthermore, some of the sites are almost connected, causing some potential for awkward friction when it gets crowded. All sites have fire rings, and some have picnic benches. They offer a varying degree of shade, depending on the site (and the time of year).
* THE CREEK. There are only four to six sites that are next to the creek, but even from the farthest site, the walk to the creek is only a couple minutes. And the creek is really why we come to Reyes Creek for camping.
— Splashing around in the creek
— Fishing (yes, there are wild trout in ‘dems waters)
— Hunting (great place for Quail, when the season comes ’round)
— Hiking
You can check all these off your list when you come to camp at Reyes Creek. GET YOUR PERMITS: Fishing licenses, small/​large game hunting licenses, and fire permits are all good ideas if you don’t want to end up in the slammer. The Fire Dept. will issue fire permits for free, if you tell ‘em where you’re going.
* PARTY BONUS. What REALLY sets this place on fire is the huuuuuge bonus of having a Bar & Grill just a 5-​minute walk form your tent. It gets pretty lively at night, on the weekends. Check out the reviews for «Reyes Creek Bar and Grill» for more on that. I’ll just say this: Full bar, open at 11am, breakfast (on Sat & Sun only), lunch, and dinner… NEED I SAY MORE???
* THE VERDICT. Overall, a truly remarkable little spot. Great for families, large groups, small groups, RVs & Campers, and more fun than spots without a creek. Seriously, the water not only helps you keep a bit cleaner (when out for an extended-​stay), but it adds an element of fun that you just don’t get elsewhere. Splashing around like an idiot, or simply sitting on a rock in the middle of the creek and reading a book makes a good camping trip even better.

We had made Reyes Creek our place to go to unwind and relax. The Creek is peaceful and plentiful with fish. Hiking is totally awesome and if you go far enough you will come upon a horse ranch where you are able to ride. The little town has good warm people in it. Very inviting. the bar and grill is nice but alittle over priced. The only problem we had is someone who tried to over take our spot because they were camping and we were just day use.

The difference between a summer, holiday weekend and a chilly, fall weekend was like night and day. We decided to give Reyes Creek another try at the end of November. While it was quite cold, it was also gorgeous. The leaves were many shades of red, orange, and yellow, and we saw patches of snow driving up. Little families of quail ran all over the park (mmmm, quail…). It was so peaceful. The only people camping were those with fancy RVs– and us. In a tent. I underestimated the cold and so yes, I damn near froze to death. But I still had a great time! Now that I am better equipped with a cold-​weather sleeping bag and thermals, we will definitely be going back!