vision dream catcher icon  WELCOME

Alter Experiences LLC is a premier glamping and nature travel company based in San Diego, CA. We’re dedicated to providing unique outdoor adventures that create meaningful experiences in nature and encourage exploration of the great outdoors.

Join us for high-altitude glamping retreats in Mount Laguna, located within the Cleveland National Forest. This area is known for its remote and biologically diverse habitats, providing the perfect backdrop for your nature retreat.

Each of our handpicked locations is designed to offer a truly immersive experience in nature. We strive to create the most comfortable outdoor settings, integrating the enjoyment of traditional camping with modern comforts and state-of-the-art equipment.

OUR UNIQUE ACCOMMODATIONS

Each of our sites include a mix of Tensile tree tents and plush bell tents, combining comforts and state-of-the-art equipment.

- Tentsile Tree Tents: Our Tentsile tree tents are a unique highlight, offering a lightweight treehouse experience. These tents utilize three anchor points to create a living space suspended between trees, allowing you to enjoy the thrill of camping while being elevated above the ground.

- Plush Bell Tents: Our cozy bell tents redefine outdoor hospitality. Designed with your ultimate comfort in mind, they feature all the amenities you can expect at a hotel, including comfortable bedding and spacious interiors, ensuring a luxurious camping experience.

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN NATURE

At Alter Experiences, we offer more than just a stay; we provide an adventure that redefines outdoor living. Whether you seek a family retreat, a romantic getaway, or an adventure with friends, our accommodations serve as the perfect base for exploring the scenic beauty of the Cleveland National Forest.

Book your next getaway with us and indulge in a unique blend of comfort and adventure in a stunning natural setting. Experience the transformative power of nature and create lasting memories with Alter Experiences!

RELAX. EXPLORE. ENJOY. WE TAKE CARE OF THE REST.

LET'S PLAN YOUR OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

bell tent icon  GLAMPING SUITES

Fox Den & Blue Jay Nest in Laguna Campground are ideal for big groups & gatherings.

Lions Den & Deer Peak are at Burnt Rancheria Campground, by the PCT.

BOOK direct NOW and use discount code ILOVEGLAMPING for 10% off.


From

$320

per night / 6 guests

Blue Jay Nest

location icon Laguna Campground

Blue Jay Nest is our group site in the Cleveland National Forest, Laguna campground. This fun and cozy space features up to 4 bell tents, as well as our double bubble 2 story tree tent, giant trillium hammocks and more.

Blue Jay nest is nestled among giant pine and conifer trees for a private setting. It's located right next to flush toilets/showers and is the ideal setting for your large group or special event.

 

Max. Capacity

14

Extra Persons

$35 per night

Min. Nights

2

Cleaning Fee

$150


From

$320

per night / 6 guests

Fox Den

location icon Laguna Campground

Fox Den is our group site in the Cleveland National Forest, Laguna campground. It is located near flush bathrooms / showers and also offers easy access to the various trails, including the Laguna Meadow Trail.

This site comes with 3 luxury bell tents. The first bell tent comes with queen mattress, the second comes with 2 full beds, and the third comes with 2 single beds. It also features a combination of tree tents & hammocks; including our multi-level tree house. It is a private and secluded site, perfect for your group event or family gathering.

Max. Capacity

14

Extra Persons

$35 per night

Min. Nights

2

Cleaning Fee

$150


From

$170

per night / 2 guests

Lions Den

location icon Burnt Rancheria Campground

Lion's Den is our most popular & secluded site in the Cleveland National Forest at Burnt Rancheria campground. This site features 2 bell tents, as well as a multi-level combination of tree tents and hammocks. The first bell tent features a queen mattress & sofa bed. The second bell tent is a lounge by day and with 2 sofa beds for sleeping.

Lion's Den also features a double tree tent & 2 story triple tree tent. 2 Trillium hammocks also included, as well as slack-line and yoga trapeze. It can accommodate up to 8 more than comfortably.

Max. Capacity

8

Extra Persons

$35 per night

Min. Nights

2

Cleaning Fee

$125


From

$150

per night / 2 guests

Deer Peak

location icon Burnt Rancheria Campground

Deer Peak is our family glamping site in the Cleveland National Forest, Burnt Rancheria campground. This site comes with 2 luxury bell tents. One bell tent comes with a queen mattress & the other features 2 full beds.

This site also features a triple tree tent that can sleep an additional 3 people, as well as a hammock for lounging.

 

Max. Capacity

8

Extra Persons

$35 per night

Min. Nights

2

Cleaning Fee

$125

I get it from my wife too, who I love very much, so I'm sympathizing. I love animals & nature more than most & it’s one of the reasons why we moved up to North Peak. This region represents some of the most pristine & biodiverse areas of our county.

It’s been two of the most magical months of my life up on these mountains, which I now have the privilege of calling home. To be immersed in nature & amidst wildlife is the only place I’ve ever felt at home.

My passion for nature started at a very young age. My father loved hunting & I’d been on several trips with him by the time I was 10. He also thought me fishing, spearfishing & diving. My most memorable childhood moments were traveling with him to some of the most remote & exotic places on this planet.

Hunting & being in nature were a part of him.

It might be hard to imagine today in our hyper-supermarket culture, but he lived in a time where having these skills were a matter of survival. But I came to understood many years later that it was so much deeper than that.

Great White Shark

 

It was about that sacred connection with the elements - earth, wind, water & fire. It was about being in tune with the cycles of the moon & understanding how that affected our oceans & tides. It was about disconnecting from the clock & re-aligning with the circadian rhythms of Gaia. It was about that once in a life-time encounter with a super predator like a Grizzly Bear, or Great White Shark.

Most people would think that terrifying. I don’t because I'm a hunter. I’ve gone deeper into the woods than most would dare & I do so in dark & twilight hours.

 

I understand that our planet is an intricately connected eco-system & it's up to us to maintain that delicate balance.

 

I have a tremendous reverence & respect for nature. I am obligated to give more than I take. I understand that our planet is an intricately connected eco-system & it's up to us to maintain that delicate balance.

I will not hunt what I don’t eat. The taking of any life from Gaia is sacred. The hunting of evasive species is a necessary reality in our modern day, which is the only exception to this rule. I admit I only speak for myself in that regard since hunters have many differences of opinion on this matter.


To Hunt Or Not To Hunt

 

We’re not just out here blasting away. Training certification consists of a 10-hour course & test before you can apply for your license, which is valid for 1 year. You need tags, stamps, or validation depending on what you’re hunting  & you have a limited time for the actual hunt. You must abide by pages & pages of rules & regulations, so cumbersome that it’s almost not even worth it anymore. All this takes time & costs money.

We’re limited to one male turkey per hunt - 3 for the entire season. Season started March 26 and runs through May 1. Hunting is limited to Cleveland National Forest from half an hour before sunrise to 5pm.

When it comes to deer hunting we’re only allowed to take a male buck that must have reached a certain age. You have to tag it & provide the picture to a database where deer populations are being tracked & monitored.

I just also found out that there is a long queue for duck hunting at Lake Cuyamaca for instance, which can cost upwards of $500.

The point is that it’s an extremely regulated activity to ensure the balance of the eco-system, & hunters play a key role in it all.

 

Industrial Farming



The most rewarding part of the entire experience for me is to taste meat I’ve caught with my own hands. There is a certain reverence & humbling sense of sacrifice throughout the entire process, versus our over-industrialized meat processing facilities.

I love eating meat but I’ve cut it down to once or twice a week since we’ve moved up here. I never thought I’d say this but I have started to relate to a vegetarian lifestyle. I don’t intend to cut meat out of my diet completely, but I no longer wish to eat meat that’s not sustainably sourced.

I don't want to support the inhumane & unsustainable meat food processing industries. They’re wrecking havoc on earth's ecosystem &  are contaminating our foods with unnatural substances & hormones.

 

Any good hunter will tell you that 90% of hunting itself is all about observation, preparation & patience.

It's a whole combination of very deliberate things that must come together before that final pull of the trigger.

A hunter spends days before hand scouting out the territory & getting to know his prey. So many factors come into play & a hunter gets to know these animals intimately. You learn their movements & in some cases even recognize them individually. You begin to recognize their sounds & learn how to mimic them in the case of turkey hunting.

The more I observe them the more I am fascinated by their beauty & intelligence. These life-forms are more conscious than most people know. They feel & love just like us. In observing them over the past few weeks, it seems they even now where the hunting land boundaries are.

I’ve had certain interactions with animals where I am sure they are aware of my intentions. I’ve seen this especially while diving. I’ve witnessed, for instance, marine life interacting with me differently depending on whether I was spearfishing or not. I once shot a dove out of the sky who was flying alongside his lovebird. The instance he saw her falling, he stopped mid-air & flew right down to be by her side. They were no more than 5 feet in front of me when they came down. He would not leave her side until I finally picked her up & placed her in my bag.

To this day I remember that encounter vividly & I can tell you so many other similar stories of my interactions with wild animals. 

SHunting in Cleveland National Foresto tragic, beautiful & mysterious is this dance called life. We all live today & die tomorrow with nobody really knowing anything for sure.

That's what hunting & being an outdoorsman has taught me. I am hoping these words can lend a different perspective to some of the people against the sport. I am not trying to justify it or convince you of anything. I just felt like I needed to tell this story. 

She keeps telling she’ll put my eagerness to shoot to good use with a camera, but I tell her it’s just not the same.

And it all has me wondering - to hunt or not to hunt?

 

 

 

adventure icon TOP THINGS TO DO

The San Diego Backcountry offers a host of attractions and activities. Our sites are located just 30 minutes from Lake Cuyamaca and Julian. Enjoy miles and miles of trails through our beautiful Cleveland National Forest & Rancho Cuyamaca State Park. There are numerous restaurants and pubs, including our local venue The Outpost by Valley Farm. 

Bell Tent Interior Mt Laguna

LAKES & WATERFALLS

The Laguna Lake is a seasonal lake about 1 mile from Blue Jay and Fox Den. The hike through the meadow is beautiful and picturesque and suitable for kids.

Lake Cuyamaca is about 20 minutes north of the campground and offers a host of activities like fishing, boat rentals, bird watching and hiking.

Green Valley Falls is a little further west and features a fun streams, small falls and swimming holes. It's about a 40 minute drive from the campground.

The Outpost by Valley Farm

HIKING

Discover some of our beautiful and world renowned trails; such as the Pacific Crest Trail. 

The Laguna Mountain Recreation Area offers various trails from moderate to difficult. You can access the Laguna Meadow Trail from the Laguna / El Prado Campground. This is one of the most beautiful trails in the area and features a seasonal lake.

Penny Pines Trail is another very popular hike just off Sunrise highway. The views from this fairly moderate trail are stunning. Noble Canyon Trail is another popular hike and also offers some of the best mountain biking opportunities in the backcountry.

Mountain Biking

MOUNTAIN BIKING

Among the funnest activities available in our San Diego Backcountry is mountain biking. There are numerous mountain bike trails to choose from that are very close to our glamping sites.

Big Laguna Trail and Noble Canyon are 2 of the most popular and can be done as one long track.

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Our Lifestyle Business Guide is Here!

 Lifestyle Business Guide from Alter Experiences

It’s been 7 years since we took the decision to move up to the mountain and give this thing a try. That was the best decision we ever made and paid off in so many unique and unexpected ways.

Read more ...

 

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Glamping Retreats

(619) 642-7015
 
Laguna Campground
Mt. Laguna CA, 91948
 
 
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