Palomar Mountain State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 8 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $10 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(760) 742-3462
Official page last checked Oct 30, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
In San Diego County, about 17 miles northeast of Escondido, Palomar Mountain State Park covers about 1,870 acres.
Popular activities here are historic sites, fishing, geocaching, picnicking, and hiking. For overnight stays there are campsites (RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers).
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 8 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
8 AM to Sunset
Source: official park page, checked Oct 30, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Day Use | $10 |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Vehicle Day Use: $10.00
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Camping
- Recommended
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
Reservations are highly recommended for camping during peak season.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions
Not allowed in or on: trails.
Are dogs allowed? Yes: Dogs allowed in the campgrounds, on designated paved park roads, and Myers Fire Road. Trails are open to foot traffic only, and dogs and mountain bikes are not allowed on trails. • Dogs must be on a leash and attended at all times. Dogs are not allowed on trails.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
To keep your visit to Palomar Mountain State Park an enjoyable experience, please do not feed the wildlife and keep your campsite and picnic areas clean of trash and food. This will help protect you from diseases that can be transferred from wildlife to humans and will help make your outdoor experience a fun and safe time. For more information about the importance of keeping the wildlife's diet natural, click on the following link "Please Don't Feed Park Wildlife". The beautiful forest and mountain meadows of Palomar Mountain State Park are in northern San Diego County, high atop the west side of Palomar Mountain. Large pine, fir and cedar trees make the park one of the few areas in southern California with a Sierra Nevada-like atmosphere. The park features camping, picnicking, hiking, and fishing (trout) in Doane Pond. Coniferous forests cover much of the 1,862 acres, in contrast to the dry lowlands surrounding the mountain. The park is open from 8 AM to Sunset daily. Reservations are highly recommended for camping during peak season. Day use fees are $10.00 per vehicle, cash or check only. Trails are open to foot traffic only, and dogs and mountain bikes are not allowed on trails. Please note that there are no gas stations on Palomar Mountain. For more information, visit http://www.palomarsp.org/ Doane Valley Campground • Standard Campsite Fee: CS 1-31 = $40 per night • Senior Standard Campsite Fee (62 or Older): CS 1-31 = $38 per night • Disabled Discount Standard Campsite Fee: CS 1-31 = $20 per night with State Parks Disabled Discount Pass This list of regulations is intended to make your camping stay at Palomar Mountain State Park a more enjoyable experience. Anytime during your stay, if you need assistance, please contact park staff and they will help you out. Overnight facilities: Tent Camping, Group Campsites, RV Access Max trailer: 24 feet Max camper/motorhome: 24 feet
From the official park page, checked Oct 30, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
Historic sites and toursPicnickingFishingGeocachingHikingCamping
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Visitor center
- Nature center or museum
- Parking
- Group facilities
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Group camping
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview Palomar Mountain State Park features 1,862 acres of pristine forest, peaceful meadows, and pleasing panoramas of northern San Diego County. Visitors can camp, hike, fish, picnic, and relax in nature. Elevation within the park averages 5,000 feet above sea level, so visitors should be aware of how this altitude may affect them. From Highway 76, take County Road S6 (South Grade Road) or County Road S7 (East Grade Road) and follow the signs to the park. Phone (760) 742-3462 for more information. Camping Doane Valley Campground: Campsites #6, #7, and #31 are accessible and include parking, a firm level pad to pitch a tent, accessible site furnishings, and water spigot. Nearby combination restroom/shower building is accessible. Cedar Grove Group Campground: Group campsite #1 is generally accessible and includes a firm pad to pitch a tent, accessible site furnishings, water spigot, and parking. The combination restroom/shower building that serves the group camp is generally accessible. Showers may require assistance to reach controls from the folding bench. Exhibits/Programs The Boucher Hill Lookout Tower includes an accessible viewing platform with informational exhibits and spectacular views. Generally accessible parking is available. Nearby restroom is usable. Other Information The Silvercrest Day Use Area has a generally accessible restroom and parking space.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 34700 Doane Valley Rd
Palomar, CA 92059 - Nearest town
- Escondido — about 17 mi northeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 33.3322, -116.9065
- Phone
- (760) 742-3462
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
From Highway 76, either of two roads can be used to reach the park. The one from Rincon Springs (County Road S6) is scenic but rather steep and winding. County Road S7 from Lake Henshaw is longer, but its gentle grade makes it more suitable for heavily loaded vehicles and those pulling trailers. Please note that there are no gas stations on Palomar Mountain. If you're using GoogleMaps or MapQuest, the park's physical address is: 19952 State Park Rd. Palomar CA 92060. Link to Customized Map of Palomar Mountain State Park on Google Earth
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 30, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology