Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park

I think we did a review last year, but I thought I would update it since we came back again. There is no water at the Ortega loop nor at the dump station. We went to the Nature Center which was awesome - some really great interactive exhibits including a really cool microscope. My kids (7 and 9) really enjoyed learning about the local animals and land.

Site 11 was really nice - shady in the morning and in the late afternoon. A very clean porta-potty was near by - it seemed to be cleaned/maintained every 3 days. There is less road noise from Ortega Hwy at this site, and it was usually pretty quiet. The weekends were full but basically, no one else there on Sunday and Monday.

The Ortega loop is gravel and not paved.

We have family in the area and wanted to be able to stay for two weeks, but not pay the Southern California RV park astronomical prices. The price for Ortega Flats Campground was $26 for the motorhome and $5 for our towed vehicle. There are 13 sites with electric and water hook-ups. Some sites have 50 amp service, while others have 30 amp service. We were in site 10 with our 34 foot class A motorhome and did great with 30 amp service. Cell service (which is how we obtain our internet) was a priority as my husband and I work remotely and needed the connection. Service was excellent in the Ortega Flats area of the wilderness park.

Downside was that there was no sewer hookup, but there is a dump station right in the park so we just had to "tear down" camp once at the 7 day mark, drive to the dump station, and then set back up. Not a big deal for us at all, and if we had a portable dump tank, then it would be even easier!

There is a bit of road noise from Highway 74, but that is to be expected as this road connects South Orange County with Lake Elsinore, Murrieta and Temecula. Even though there are many fires in CA right now, we were surprised to find that we were allowed to have campfires at our campsite!

This will definitely be our "home base" when we come back to visit family!

Stayed here for an overnight because we couldn’t get a spot on the coast. What a great discovery! This was relatively easy to get to from the 5 (7.5 miles off the freeway) and feels FAR away from the craziness of LA. I couldn’t believe how quiet this campground was for a holiday weekend (Presidents’ Day). The sites are very spacious, level and had fresh gravel. Friendly, peaceful, safe, quiet, convenient. Big thumbs up. Bonus, we were able to back in our 27 ft airstream easily in the dark and leave it hitched because the pad we chose was so roomy. Perfect for an easy departure in the morning for an overnight.

We turned up an hour early and they were happy to let us in.
Our site was in the Ortega Flats powered camp closest to the Ortega Hwy. Yes there is some road noise but nothing that kept us awake at night. Each site had its own water supply, camp table, bbq and fire pit. Plenty of trees around for shade. Up at the other camp sites there were toilet and shower blocks which we used once. They were pretty basic but decent enough.
The site is about 20min from closest beach and 45min from Disneyland.
Excellent price compared to other sites around!

We have stayed twice now and would do it again. The park is clean and the restrooms and showers are maintained. The feel is that of a county or state park, so do not look for glamor, but the basics are covered well. We felt safe and secure. Staff are friendly and competent. You can do some hikes right out of your site. Cell service is good, so you can get some work done if needed.

Gas, ice, and groceries are 15 minutes back into "town".

I booked a spot here so my family and I could try out our new tent trailer. We booked spot 10 in the Live Oak Campground. There are no electricity hook ups, but there are plenty of water spigots. Some are even inside the individual sites. We were lucky in that our small trailer and truck fit in the designated parking.

I was also pleasantly surprised to find there was a nature center that was staffed by extremely friendly volunteers. The center talks about all of the animals that can be found in the area. There are several patios and lookout locations. Also, there was a presentation on Saturday night where there were several high end telescopes set up with what I assumed were park employees. They showed us various planets and starts. It was very cool, and my kids definitely enjoyed it.

As far as the site itself goes, it was perfectly fine, if not a bit dusty. The parking area was stone, but the spot for the tables and tents was powdery dirt. There were lots of trees that provided shade throughout most of the day. If you have children, be prepared to scrub them down before they climb into their sleeping bags.

My only real complaint was the layout of the sites. In the area I was in, all of the sites backed up to one another. It wasn’t very crowded, so it wasn’t an issue. However, if you are a fan of privacy, I would suggest picking another site. I can see people spreading out a littler farther than normal into other peoples’ areas. The other thing to be aware of, is there are mostly port-o-johns for restrooms. There are bathrooms as the nature center, but it’s a long walk, and I don’t know if they are open 24 hours.

I have Verizon service, and at site 10, the service was in an out. If you get closer to the 74, you will have much better reception.

All in all, I would definitely go back, and stay longer. Although, I think I would pick one of the spots that can accommodate a trailer.

If I time the traffic right, this campground is an hour's drive from my home. It's a quick escape to a quieter, more natural space. I've stayed here twice, Monday-Thursday, in Live Oak family campground. Each time, only a couple of other sites were occupied. Weekend use is probably heavier.

Live Oak has 42 sites. Gravel roads, gravel sites. Most sites are at least partially shaded by mature oak and sycamore trees. Sites are far enough apart for elbow-room, but there is little visual privacy. Each site has a table, grill, fire pit. Most sites are level or nearly so. No hookups. About every third site, there is a water faucet, a drinking fountain, and a trash can. Live Oak has one main restroom building, which has flush toilets; showers are turned off because of drought. Portable toilets are available at several locations throughout the campground.

Park staff and their work are very visible here. Staff members were pleasant. Everything was clean. Trash cans were emptied. A patrol truck drove through the entire park several times a day. The entrance kiosk is staffed.

Ortega Flats, the other family camp area, is very near noisy Highway 74 and has electric hookups. The park also has several day use areas, several group camp areas, and an equestrian camp area. There is a dump station.

This park has rules which may keep at lot of visitors away: no alcohol and no domestic animals except horses are allowed for either day use or camping. No exceptions. I appreciated the resulting quieter and cleaner camp, but some may wish to go elsewhere.

The park has trails for hiking, equestrian use, and mountain biking. As everywhere in this area, warning signs indicate the possible presence of cougars, rattlesnakes, poison oak, etc. What can I say? If you require a "safer" atmosphere, Disneyland is not far away.

Access and location: Well marked, with a left-turn pocket, on very busy Ortega Highway a few miles east of I-5. Roads inside the park, both paved and gravel, are in good condition.

Site quality (Live Oak Campground): Most are level. Most are at least partially shaded by mature oak and sycamore trees. Gravel surface. Some sites have space for tents. Only a few have room for very large rigs. Clean. Good spacing, but little visual privacy. Some sites have plant hazards: cactus and poison oak.

Noise: Live Oak camp is a couple of miles into the park. No noise from other campers, because when I was there there were almost zero other campers. Some noise from park maintenance equipment and day use traffic. Artillery thumping at nearby USMC Camp Pendleton was audible enough to be annoying on both Thursdays during my two visits. Ortega Flats camp is right next to the highway and probably quite noisy.

Cell coverage: My Tracfone had 4 bars.

Pros: I was surprised at how nice this place was. Very clean and great overall experience.

Cons: All I could think about was the reputation this place has with mountain lion incidents. (Google it.)

Not far from San Juan Capistrano if all the beach sites are full when you pass through the area.

Note: Your paid receipt is good for entrance to any state beach the following day if you manage not to be dinner for a cougar, ha!