Chilao Campground

I set my chair up in either camping spot number 16,17 or 19. A young man and a women in a white jeep took my camping spot. The man got out of his car, he threw my Helinox chair into the bushes, and then he tried to run me over with his jeep despite me yelling repeatedly to stop. He didnt stop until my husband came to stop it. Terrible experience. When i reported to the two park rangers, one of the old white blonde park rangers interrogated ME. It felt racial. Wow. Never going back again.

We woke up Tuesday morning and talked about the eclipse and the next thing you know we chucked gear in the car and were on our way. We found a perfect spot to view the eclipse, and a blazing sunset. There was no shade to speak of in this spot, so I wouldn't have been happy to stay longer, but there were plenty of spots around. (May) A popup would help too, but this was an impromptu trip. Water spigots near us were not operating. The vault toilets were fine and stocked with TP and there were dumpsters. There was also a recycling receptacle near the entrance. Spots were varied - some sloped driveways, some flat. We had a tent and found a flat enough spot. There was another site pretty close - not too bad but their campfire seemed very close and bright. No real services in the immediate area (gas, food). It was fairly quiet, but it was a weeknight.

I enjoyed a week at Manzenita Campground which has several vault toilets, trash cans and non-potable water. The views are great from the western ridge of Manzanita. There is no cell service starting 27 miles away when you turn onto highway 2.
There is also another loop right next door called Little Pines Campground & combined they make up Chilao Campground...I think. Combined they have 41 campsites. There is also a group camp site between which is locked up and only available for reservation.
The views are great and there are a couple of nice hiking trails within walking distance of the campground and many more within driving distance coming in from the west (town). Going south there was a substantial fire and all those trails are currently closed.
Beware this area is not big rig friendly. Highway 2 has no straight-aways. It’s all curves and all uphill. It’s also restricted to 3 axels & less the 4.5 tons. Some how I missed the sign coming up And made it with 4 axels and 5 tons. Totally doable and I don’t see why it’s restricted. Gone up way worse which probably should have been restricted and wasn’t.
Anyway, try it at you own risk.
The only thing I didn’t appreciate about the campsites is about half of them are two pads in one. You literally park next to each other and share a site which has 2 picnic tables and two fire pits. Great if you have a group. Not so much if you are by yourself.
Weekdays had about 5 sites occupied. Weekend it was completely full by Saturday morning. Go late Thursday or Friday if you want to grab a site. Super quiet from Sunday afternoon til Thursday morning and surprisingly relatively quiet on the weekend.

Would definitely go here again!

Chilao has two loops: Little Pines and Manzanita. I arrived after dark on Saturday and circled through Little Pines without finding an open site. I pulled into the first spot I found at Manzanita, which is ~500 ft up the entrance road from Little Pines. Being my first time to the Angeles National Forest, I wasn't sure what to expect when I awoke. What a view! I was pleasantly surprised at how clean and scenic the campgrounds were being so close to LA.

I actually liked the Manzanita Loop better, and especially liked site 26. The western side of Manzanita traces the ridgeline, and there is a fantastic view down-valley and across the mountain ranges.

Most of the water spigots were turned off while I was there (mid-March), but one was available across camp. The pit toilets were clean and well cared for, and there is a hiking/mountain biking trail about 1/4 mile further down the entrance road (Silver Moccasin Trail).