About this permit
Arroyo Seco is the nearer of Cuyamaca Rancho's two environmental camps: 1.5 miles from Green Valley by the park's own trail table, against 4.5 miles for Granite Springs. Both are open on first come, first serve, and both have chemical toilets, non-potable water, corrals and tent sites. Family campsites take up to eight people and one group site holds up to 16.
Registration happens before you walk: register at park headquarters, the Paso Picacho contact station, or the Green Valley campground. Primitive sites are in an unlighted, remote area, so the park asks you to check in early and set up camp well before dark.
Fire is not allowed anywhere except in the developed picnic areas and campgrounds, which rules it out here. Wood gathering is not allowed anywhere in the park. The park posts fire restrictions by phone: call before you go.
The developed campgrounds in this park run on ReserveCalifornia from April 1 to November 30 and go first come from December 1 to March 31. But the environmental camps are first come year round.
The route
Granite Springs and Arroyo Seco environmental camps are open on first come, first serve, and both have chemical toilets, non-potable water, corrals and tent sites. The park describes primitive horse trail camps at both, with family campsites for up to eight people and one group site holding up to 16.
The park's trail table puts Arroyo Seco 1.5 miles from Green Valley and 8 miles from Paso Picacho; by equestrian trail it is 8.5 miles from Los Vaqueros. The agency notes that portions of trails may occasionally be closed or restricted.
Register at park headquarters, the Paso Picacho contact station, or the Green Valley campground before you go. The park warns that primitive sites are in an unlighted, remote area, so check in early to set up camp well before dark, and that equestrians should pack in feed because grazing is not allowed.
Why it matters
Arroyo Seco is only 1.5 miles from Green Valley by the park's own trail table, and it needs no reservation at all: first come, first serve, registered on the way in.
