Camp Josepho - Pacific Palisades, California

Marc Sieder

Accidentally stumbled across this place while hiking the Murphy ranch trail and then following a little dry creek bed.
Turning the corner I all of a sudden noticed a desolate campground with overgrown Picknick area and a shooting range.
Thinking it’s still part of Murphy ranch I persisted and was eventually met at the gates of camp Josepho with a barking, unchained German shepherd running towards me. Knowing dogs I stayed calm and saw in the distance a woman coming out of the cabin simply yelling “go back where you came from, this is private property “
The dog made a u-turn back to the cabin it ran out of and a guy came out also yelling if I hadn’t seen the private property signs. Declined that (having followed no road but a creek bed) I asked if this is a camp anytime during the year to which he just said “no, this is private property”.

Being the curious person I am I googled the place and it seems to be fully operational? I found it extremely rude and quite frankly dangerous how I was met and spoken too.
Had I not stayed calm when the dog aggressively approached me it could have turned out very different (for me or the dog since my hand was on my knife the entire time).

Scott Cusack

Yes, the road is challenging but if you take it slow it's not as bad as people make it out to be. The lodge is fantastic. My boys and I have lots of great memories here. It's amazing how far away it feels while being nestled in the Palisades.

Michael Ong

Great place for scouts to go camping. It is shockingly close to the city, which makes it feel like a small oasis of nature in Los Angeles. The road to get in and out is very windy with multiple hairpin turns and a very rough unpaved section - you really need to follow the 10 mph signs or you might have trouble.

Gerry Saenz

The road to get down to the camp is quite rough and narrow. I usually take my SUV to avoid getting my car damaged on the uneven spot on the road. The camp has everything needed for Scouts to have fun.

Harry Nelson Jr (Weasel)

The first time I went to this camp was in 1988 for an order of the arrow ordeal this camp is out in the middle of no where. In the mid 1990s I was a camp master and a boy scout NRA Instructor , scoutmaster and order of the arrow chapter advisor. This camp has a great lodge to sleep in

J F Real Estate

I visited this place every summer around 1997 for Scout camp what a great place so many memories. I cannot wait to return to visit again.

Outdoor Millennial

Used to come here during my childhood while in the Boy Scouts in the late 90s and early 2000s when Ranger Joe was in charge. So many memories were made here, and it’s a pleasure to visit reminiscing about a simpler time in life.

Bryan Kash

Nice camping ground. Make sure your car has 4WD and is an SUV otherwise you might get stuck.