Deer Canyon Campground

Deer Canyon Campground is one of three backcountry campgrounds within Crystal Cove State Park, distinct from the park's main coastal camping areas. It has about five primitive sites along the Red Tail Ridge Trail, roughly three miles uphill from the El Moro parking lot off Pacific Coast Highway, with a vault toilet and picnic tables but no piped water. Campers must hike in their own water and pack out all trash, and no pets or campfires are allowed. Sites can be reserved up to seven months in advance through California's state park reservation system, offering a rider willing to hike in a quiet, view-oriented overnight stop above Laguna Beach rather than a roadside campground.