Camping spots in California

[stansell]

The wife and I are planning a camping trip weekend after next. Our thoughts are:

Lassen national park
Mono Lake
Yellowstone

We haven't been to any of these places yet. Any suggestoins as to which one to do first? Or any other cool places?

 

[GregH]

I grew up near Lassen. It's is a great park and not alot of crowds. Lots of interesting volcanic sites and good scenic hiking.

Heading up PCH and visiting Redwood State Park area is another favorite of mine.

Yellowstone is not in California.

 

[bri]

It really depends, CA is a huge place. Some of my favorite areas are also along the coast. Around Mendocino and north. North of Ft Bragg is the Lost Coast. Amazing rain forest country. There is a road into USAL beach and hikes along the coast from the USAL beach camp grounds. You can also connect with the pacific crest trail. Watch out for the 'coons here. If you get up here stay and eat for a while at: http://www.albionriverinn.com/

Carmel and the Big Sur coast are also great. Andrew Molera SP is always a fun time and awesome beach.

There is also Death Valley, Joshua Tree and White Mountains. The white mountains are near Big Pine and are home to the oldest living trees on earth (Bristlecone Pines). A ton of choices.

Maybe you meant Yosemite not Yellowstone?

Yosemite Valley is always crowded when the weather is good. Great place though. Once you are 2-3 miles in on a trail, you willl see far fewer people, except for half dome. Tuolumne Meadows and the high country are slower.

Lee Vining creek (between Mono Lake and Yosemit high country) has large fish in the pond down near the bottom and smaller stockers on the way up, make sure to follow the regulations. Then you have the entrance to Yosemite and Tuolumne Meadows. There is a decent camp ground along Lee Vining Creek, but it is close to 120.

Bodie is a Ghost town and a State Historic Park, pretty cool, north of mono lake.

Head up th 395 to Bridgeport, great fishing and good tips at th bait store here. You can ask about multiuse places to camp, they know the area.

Further north on 395 to the 108, heading west on th 108 there are 4x4 roads to the north. Across from the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center is good fishing and you may see some of the latest rotorcraft that the Marines are using. If you camp near here and it is not too cold be prepared for the Corps to run up the hill at about 4:30am with radios and singing while they march. I think they like to wake up the campers.

South on the 395 is gorgeous too, passing Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 on down to death valley.

Brian

 

[stansell]

Yeah, I am an idiot, I meant Yosemete, not Yellowstone.

Lots of good suggestions. I am leaning towards Lassen, but Mono Lake is my wifes preference (she saw it in a national geographic one time and fell in love). I'll probably cave and we'll end up going to Mono lake. Is it really crowded this time of year like Yosimete?

Thanks
Rob

 

[p m]

If you have a dog, forget all of the above.

Other than that, there are thousands of square miles of National Forests in CA where you can camp - including land near Hwy.120 going from Yosemite to Mono Lake.
In many Nat'l Forests (maybe, in all of them) you can camp in the wild anywhere you want - as long as it is not within a certain distance from existing campgrounds, private property, and running water.

 

[p m]

Also - you have to love high desert to camp near Mono Lake. Check campgrounds near Mammoth lakes, it's only about 1/2 hour away.

 

[jmonsrvr]

north coast of california is great...lolts of great camping both primitive and pay spots...

just drive down 395 from monitor pass you can camp the whole way down...drive down to mammoth or bishop..lots of dirt roads at the base of the east side of the sierras...lots of 13 and 14 thousand foot peaks....you can camp where ever you want off of the dirt roads...

try buttermilk rd...you wont be let down. fun moderate dirt road that has amazing views...

your dog will love you out there..
one more thing lots of hot springs..some primitive some not. you will have to find them on your own...

you know go to a good outdoor shop with a good libary and start there. get yourself some maps too. ca is so big and has so many great places to explore...its hard to just pick one. its all about what you want..coastal mountains and redwoods, big peaks and granite, or desert, rolling hills..have fun

 

[Snwbord24]

There are lots of places in the sierra's as well. Off of Hwy 88 or Hwy 4 east of stockton. I'm sure Meg will win out in the end though so have fun with wherever she wants to go.

 

[stansell]

Yeah, I'd love to go to some of the spots off HWY 4, but this is more of a camping trip than a wheeling trip.

 

[nickangus]

I recommend

Calaveras Big Trees

State Park

http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=551

it's really nice and u take hwy 4 to angles camp then hwy 49 and your there its all on this website

Nick

 

[kellymoe]

I now this is a little late but for a future trip check out a place outside Bishop called Coyote Flats. It is 20 miles of dirt road. 4 wheel drive is not absolutley needed but it make things a ton easier. Great fly fishing, lots of room for the dog run, three lakes to hike to. I was up there the week after Labor Day for 4 days and never saw another person. There are no campgrounds, just pick a nice established camping area and have fun. No need to build new fire rings, there are plenty. Walk 50 feet from your tent to the stream and toss a line in. I caught fish all day long right infront of our site. It is above 10,000 feet so plan your trip accordingly. It used to be kind of a locals spot and I used to keep my mouth shut about it, but it has found it's way into just about every backroads guidebook so the word has been out for awhile. There are other great spots in the Owens Valley area but I WILL keep those to myself for now. I have not stayed at an established campground in probably 20 years. There are tons of spots like this out there you just have to be willing to explore a bit.

 

[tehamarx]

If you're going to Lassen, check out the weather b4 u go. It's starting to get cool.
If it's Mono, make sure u visit Bodie.

 

[stansell]

Thanks for the info (even belated ). We ended up doing the Yosimite/Mono Lake combo. Talk about a busy weekend. However, the crowds were light due to time of year and the views spectacular. I doubt I'll ever go back, kind of like standing in line at Disneyland in some places, but it was worth it to see halfdome at sunrise and Mono lake at sunset. Camping again next weekend.