Appletree Campground

Angeles National Forest — lakeside, hiking

Location: Wrightwood, CA, CA

Price: From $20 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)

Season: May through October

Nestled in a scenic canyon just off the Big Pines Highway, Apple Tree provides a scenic and relaxing destination for camping, hiking, picnicking and wildlife viewing. Within driving distance of Jackson Lake for easy access to fishing, canoeing, and swimming. Just northwest of the Los Angeles metro area.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water, Camp Host, Firewood for Sale

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/appletree-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Appletree offers affordable tent camping ($20/night) in a scenic canyon setting with direct access to hiking, wildlife viewing, and the Angeles Crest Scenic Byway. Jackson Lake is within driving distance for fishing, canoeing, and swimming.

Wildlife alert: Bighorn Sheep observed in the area—keep distance and do not feed. Also watch for San Bernardino Ringneck Snakes.

Insider tips for Appletree Campground: Book early—this is a federal campground with only 8 tent sites and high demand Campground sells firewood on-site, so you don't need to bring your own Only 8 sites total means it fills quickly; plan your visit well in advance during peak season

Skip Appletree Campground if: You need RV hookups—no hookups available. You're visiting November-April—seasonal closure. You prefer larger campgrounds with more amenities.

Best time to visit Appletree Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Nearby campgrounds: Peavine Campground (Wrightwood, CA), Mountain Oak (WRIGHTWOOD, CA), Table Mountain (Angeles) (WRIGHTWOOD, CA), Jackson Flats (Azusa, CA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Appletree Campground

Cell signal at Appletree Campground (Wrightwood, CA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

CamperWatch›CA›Appletree Campground
Appletree Campground — photo 1
Angeles National Forest — lakeside, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Appletree Campground

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Wrightwood, CA, CA★ 4 (0 reviews)From $20/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Nestled in a scenic canyon just off the Big Pines Highway, Apple Tree provides a scenic and relaxing destination for camping, hiking, picnicking and wildlife viewing. Within driving distance of Jackson Lake for easy access to fishing, canoeing, and swimming. Just northwest of the Los Angeles metro area.

Best for:HikersFamiliesSites:Tent
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
HookupsNo hookups.
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsCamp Host
Recreation
Picnic TablesFirewood for Sale
Family & Pets
Drinking Water

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups—no hookups available✕ You're visiting November-April—seasonal closure✕ You prefer larger campgrounds with more amenities

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with only 8 tent sites and high demand

Campground sells firewood on-site, so you don't need to bring your own

Only 8 sites total means it fills quickly; plan your visit well in advance during peak season

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally May through October only

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Bighorn Sheep observed in the area—keep distance and do not feed. Also watch for San Bernardino Ringneck Snakes.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
760.316.7828· Angeles National Forest

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Angeles National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Angeles National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Appletree Campground cost per night?+
Appletree Campground costs $20 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Appletree Campground open?+
Appletree Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Appletree Campground have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Appletree Campground?+
Appletree Campground is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Appletree Campground?+
Appletree Campground is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Appletree Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Appletree Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Appletree Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Appletree Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Mountain High Camping Info
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$20 /night★ 4 (0)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Appletree Campground cost per night?+
What season is Appletree Campground open?+
Does Appletree Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

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