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Cuyama Badlands

99%
·
· Cuyama, Santa Barbara, California
164 acres hosted by Songdog Ranch J.
2 lodging sites · 14 RV/tent sites · 2 RV sites · 2 tent sites
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Great for groups
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for larger groups.
Amazing views
Hipcampers say this spot has amazing views.
Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
Best legacy: Finalist
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2024.
If you've ever wondered what it might be like to camp on the moon, this is it. Completely removed from civilization and surrounded by a barren nature that is alive with the subtle presence of the universe. Seasonally, Spring wildflowers burst across the landscape. Cave paintings of Chumash Indians at Painted Rock remind us of those who lived before us. **Read on for more details.** Our Carrizo Camp is surrounded by the Carrizo Plains National Monument. This is truly a get away from it all camping. That's it. You, the coyotes and your own private moon. Our Songdog Camps are sparsely scattered atop a 200 foot mesa that looks west over a valley offering stunning desert sunsets and amazing stargazing. These UPPER SITES are NOT OHV friendly, but any of our canyon bottom sites are a great base for your riding adventures up in Ballinger Canyon OHV. We'll be happy to recommend a site for you. This is our home but we love to share our life in the outback. We believe it will give you a better appreciation of life's simpler side. Our offerings include fresh air and sunshine, amazing night sky, endless views, and plenty of space and privacy to enjoy your moments in nature. You'll find our amenities and activities puposefully sparse here. Upon booking, there are about 5 miles of dirt road on the property that you are welcome to explore on foot or by bicycle. Rustic is the theme here. There is no shower, no wifi, and no electricity available, but you will enjoy your own private spigot and the cellular service is acceptable. Within a short drive, you'll find plenty of hiking/biking and adventuring, and if you enjoy exploring by car, definitely take a loop drive through Carizzo Plains National Monument, or Mount Pinos and Lockwood Valley. Enjoy a beautiful dinner at the Cuyama Buckhorn and take in the view of the Caliente mountain range. For any sites located south of Ballinger Wash, your vehicle length is limited to 22' and no more than 4' overhang from the rear axle, so you don't get stuck in the crossing and block access for others. Towing services are 1-3 hours away. The AllTrails app will give a pretty good birds eye view of hiking in the area. Our friendly cancellation policies vary between 24 hours for simple campsites and 72 hours for our Glamp sites and Group sites. We do offer a buyout opportunity for the mesa, however the cancellation policy for that much stricter at 50% refund up until 1 week before check-in time. Be sure to check the Google for distance to Cuyama Valley, and your dates for availability and site descriptions. Upon booking, you can look forward to an information packed email to help you make the very best of your trip! We look forward to seeing you! *This land was sparsely populated by the Chumash Indian and is evident by the numerous cave painting that remain here near the Caliente mountain. In the era of the California Missions, this land was a part of the Spanish land grants. Currently the property is privately owned and is adjacent to large sections of publicly held lands.
Activities
Biking
Hiking
Horseback riding
Off-roading (OHV)
Natural features
Cave
Desert
Forest
Canyon
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99%
4227 ratings · 1953 reviews
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Mark P.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· January 2025
6 m Class B · Group trip ·
Awesome place, spacious with amazing views. Jen was very gracious.
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Emma B.
5 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· January 2025
Love this magical place! Second time here with the kids and it’s the perfect escape. Thank you!
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Sara L.
3 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· January 2025
From the moment I booked, I received great communication with clear directions to the property as well as local information. I arrived in the dark, a little later than I had hoped. The hosts were very welcoming, friendly, and helpful. I bought firewood directly from them and they did a wonderful job directing me to my site, which was well appointed, beautiful, and peaceful. The sunrise was absolutely gorgeous. I wish I could have stayed longer than one night!
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Mario M.
8 reviews
Recommends
· January 2025
5 m pop-up camper · With kids ·
Lovely campsite! Very clean and well maintained sites. Hosts were very welcoming and friendly. Beautiful landscape, sunset views and star gazing. We got lucky and had the entire place to ourselves on a Monday to Wednesday stay. There was excellent cell signal with T-Mobile (if that matters to you). Firewood is also available to purchase if needed - we needed so that was nice! Would absolutely stay here again!
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Amanda J.
3 reviews
Recommends
· January 2025
6 m campervan · With pets ·
Wow, what a fantastic place to stay. The hosts were very kind, our site was clean, and the VIEW! The sunset was incredible and the sky was filled with stars at night. Our dogs loved being able to explore too. I wish we could’ve stayed longer.
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Rachel C.
4 reviews
Recommends
· January 2025
We can’t get enough of this place!
Tent · With pets ·
We can’t get enough of this place! The sites are spacious and spacious from each other. Over the 3 days we stayed we only saw 1 car way in the distance-And that was at night so we only saw car lights. The pups always have a blast here. The postcard left for us to send out to someone special is a very thoughtful touch. Everything about this place is thought out. The firepit is great, has a grate to cook on and a wood poker! The firewood the host sells is great quality, they also have kindling available and have a camp shop available to purchase goods you may have forgotten to pack. Thank you Jim, Jen and family for another great stay on your property. See you all again, soon!
Location
Cuyama, Santa Barbara, California, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Chumash, Salinan, and Kuyam First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Songdog Ranch J.

Joined in August 2015
Response rate: 100%
Hipcamp is created with ❤️ and hope for our future.