Camping at Wheeler Gorge Campground in Ojai, CA
Our Freespirit Recreation Aspen V2 rooftop tent setup. Photo by David Wong.
After a few days marinating in the coastal breeze and sun of South Bay L.A., we packed up and drove north toward Ojai, CA. Our friends had booked a site at Wheeler Gorge Campground months ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, which we were happy to make the drive over from Colorado for. We rolled in first, dusty and early, before anyone else from the group showed up.
Naturally, while checking in I asked the camp host if there were any bears? Old habit from camping across California and Colorado. The answer was no, but he countered with rattlesnakes in the area. Great.
Our Site at Wheeler Gorge
Tree-lined campground providing shade at our site. Photo by David Wong.
The site itself? Shaded, spacious, tucked away with a healthy dose of privacy and a mess of rocks and boulders scattered around. A steep trail dropped down to the creek. A short scramble, but worth it.
Parking was its own puzzle. The paved parking area was on a hill and the rooftop tent ladder dangled awkwardly with one foot in the air like a drunk flamingo. I tried the usual tricks: wedge dirt and rocks to stabalize, shift and shake to test balance, eyeball structural integrity. Eventually, I found a flat rock that got the job done. I’d say half our camping trips end up on dirt, but on pavement the options are limited. Can’t dig. Can’t finesse. New problem to figure out.
When the rest of the crew showed up, the scene filled in quick—tents going up, dogs exploring, the whole camp rhythm for the weekend revealing itself. Our friends had plenty of flat space to spread out, and dinner came together fast: beer brats, Unlitro red wine, Deschutes-made Kirkland beer (a hit), and a bottle of Michter’s whiskey that was poured and slowly sipped while waiting for the fire to die out.
A Midnight Mishap
The first night ended with a toe-stubbing incident that felt straight out of a sitcom. I walked back to the car in the dark, with a headlamp, and still caught the sharp edge of a broken pavement lip with the full force of my foot. Said some things out loud. Realized another camper was walking by, so I followed up with an awkward “hello”.
Didn’t think much of it until the next morning, when I peeled off my sock and saw a cracked nail and blood underneath. Could’ve been worse, could have been better. Wore shoes at night for the rest of the weekend.
Camping with Friends, Dogs, and the Creek
Our group’s three dogs. Photo by David Wong.
The next morning brought more friends and another dog. Sort-of first-timers with brand-new gear: a large tent, a Yeti 45L cooler still rocking stickers, and curious questions on our camping gear. We used the Anker SOLIX C1000 to inflate their borowed queen air mattress. Honestly, they nailed the setup. Not bad for a testing the waters.
We spent most of the afternoon down at the creek. It was shallow, sun-drenched, and full of life: tadpoles, dragonflies, a few garden snake sightings, and way too many bugs to name. Eventually, a dozen kids showed up and turned the peaceful water into a splash zone, so we packed up and retreated to camp.
Between our group we had three dogs, a rotation of snacks, and enough gear on-hand to share amongst the group for any situation.
No Water on Site
Wheeler Gorge doesn’t have potable water, which is something to know before you book. We brought our water setup, and it quickly became the table centerpiece of camp used for drinking, cooking, rinsing.
Leaving a Day Early and the Long Drive Home
We decided to cut out a day early to give ourselves time to decompress before the return to real life and get ahead of our two day drive. After a Saturday morning pack-up, we hit the road. We planned on taking the usual route through Utah with a hotel stop somewhere in between.
Seven Magic Mountains in Nevada. Photo by David Wong.
Near Vegas, we finally pulled off at the Seven Magic Mountains—those towering rainbow rock stacks you always swear you’ll visit “next time.” It was well over 100°F, and the parking lot was full of tourists, a mix of sunburned out-of-towners and folks still riding the fumes of their July 4th buzz. We didn’t stay long.
A few hours later, we made an unplanned stop at Devil’s Canyon View Area, a tiny rest stop about two hours west of Grand Junction, Colorado. Just a few parking spots, a bathroom, and a staggering desert canyon view that reminded us we were still in the thick of the drive. The kind of place you don’t plan for and would never go out of your way for, but end up grateful for anyway.
From there, we pushed on toward Colorado, bracing ourselves for the bottleneck. I-70 between Vail and Denver delivered exactly what we expected. Standstill traffic, drivers with short fuses, and the slow realization that you’re still hours from home. But eventually, we rolled in, unpacked, and collapsed.
Gear Highlights
Final Thoughts
I didn’t take many photos this trip. No dashcam drive-through of the campground’s 80 sites. No camera brought down to the creek. Between the heat, dirt and dust in the air, splashing from kids and dogs, and juggling our group’s three dogs, I chose to take it all in instead of trying to document it all.
This whole blog thing is still new to me. Still working out how to strike a balance between living the moment and writing it down. Thanks for bearing with me.
Wheeler Gorge Campground is an easy-access, tree-lined getaway with a creek running through it and just enough space to breathe. Bring good company, good food, and a good pair of shoes, and you’re set.