Help me find an awesomesauce campground in Southern California!
October 26, 2010 11:27 AM Subscribe
Looking for some suggestions for camp sites in the vicinity of Southern California for a camping trip this weekend.
Amenities-wise the basics would work fine - water, a fire pit, and level ground to pitch our tent. Anything above and beyond that is icing. The campsite must allow dogs (we plan on bringing our pug, Hoggle).
We really enjoy trail hiking and solitude and we most likely won't be doing any kind of water-related activities, although picturesque lakes and streams are a plus.
Past places we've enjoyed camping at:
-Coral Pink Sand Dunes - outside of Kanab, UT
-Tanner's Flat Campground - UT
-Fernwood Lodge - Big Sur, CA
-Joshua Tree State Park
-Malibu Creek State Park
This is going to be a weekend trip so the driving distance has to be manageable. So, please, no recommendations for Redwoods National Park or Zion or something like that.
Response by poster: We've been to Idyllwild to go hiking but have never camped overnight there. Any specific campsite recommendations?
posted by AsRuinsAreToRome at 11:42 AM on October 26, 2010
posted by AsRuinsAreToRome at 11:42 AM on October 26, 2010
Check out camping at Lake Edison in the Sierras. Remote and beautiful!
posted by mungaman at 12:18 PM on October 26, 2010
posted by mungaman at 12:18 PM on October 26, 2010
I know you've been to Joshua Tree already, but that's a really huge park. Have you been to the Wonderland of Rocks section? That's my favorite local place for weekend car camping.
posted by BlahLaLa at 1:09 PM on October 26, 2010
posted by BlahLaLa at 1:09 PM on October 26, 2010
Response by poster: @BlahLaLa I don't think we've been to the Wonderland of Rocks. It sounds fun though!
posted by AsRuinsAreToRome at 1:20 PM on October 26, 2010
posted by AsRuinsAreToRome at 1:20 PM on October 26, 2010
Firepits may not be usable this time of year in SoCal due to fire restrictions. Campstoves are a good backup plan. Have you ever been to Forest Falls? A nice little campground and a awesome waterfall, along with access to a great wilderness area.
P.S. Joshua Tree's a national park.
posted by buggzzee23 at 2:28 PM on October 26, 2010
P.S. Joshua Tree's a national park.
posted by buggzzee23 at 2:28 PM on October 26, 2010
Hole-in-the-wall Campground in the Mojave National Preserve:
http://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm
It's a very nice campground.
From there you can:
Explore Hole-in-the-Wall
Hike the Kelso Dunes: http://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/-hiking.htm
Visit the museum in the restored Kelso Depot: http://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm
Explore the caves at Mitchell Caverns: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=615
Look for tortises.
Photograph the beautiful landcape.
Enjoy a panoramic night sky.
And on a sunny day, go find the hidden jewel of the Mojave Desert: the Mojave Preserve Lava Tubes. Ask a park ranger for directions. They're spectacular on a sunny day, and mildly interesting on a cloudy day, as long as you aren't claustrophobic. (They're near Kelso Depot, but you'll need to get a map from a visitor center to find them)
And finally, it can get really windy there sometimes. Invest $10 in some sturdy, long tent stakes before you go, just in case.
posted by mintymike at 4:30 PM on October 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
http://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm
It's a very nice campground.
From there you can:
Explore Hole-in-the-Wall
Hike the Kelso Dunes: http://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/-hiking.htm
Visit the museum in the restored Kelso Depot: http://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm
Explore the caves at Mitchell Caverns: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=615
Look for tortises.
Photograph the beautiful landcape.
Enjoy a panoramic night sky.
And on a sunny day, go find the hidden jewel of the Mojave Desert: the Mojave Preserve Lava Tubes. Ask a park ranger for directions. They're spectacular on a sunny day, and mildly interesting on a cloudy day, as long as you aren't claustrophobic. (They're near Kelso Depot, but you'll need to get a map from a visitor center to find them)
And finally, it can get really windy there sometimes. Invest $10 in some sturdy, long tent stakes before you go, just in case.
posted by mintymike at 4:30 PM on October 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
I love Millard Canyon. It is in the Angeles National Forest which allows dogs, if they are on a lease at all times (up to six feet in length). It is a little walk in camp ground, the hiking trials from there allow for anywhere from a 20 minute walk to a waterfall to a several hour hike on the trails going up and around Mt. Echo. It is a perfect weekend camping get away spot with no mountain driving required! If you can drive to Pasadena, you can get here.
They have fire pits, but no running water. They only have vault toilets and you’ll have to bring water for drinking/teeth brushing. So if you don’t mind that for a couple nights/days it really is a lovely little campground. Make sure you get the adventure pass. There is a ranger who stays in a camper on site that is very diligent about checking for the passes.
It is a beautiful place. It does get a little crowded by the falls on the weekends, but less so in the fall. When I've been out on the hiking trails that lead out from the campground you can go for quite some time without seeing anyone else. So I'd suggest spending most the day on the trails and heading back to your campsite in the later afternoon/evening. The camp's gate closes at sunset so only the campers are there at night. It stays pretty quiet thanks to the onsite ranger (who informed us when I last went that drum circles are strictly prohibited a big plus in my book!)
Have fun! I'm looking forward to seeing what others suggest.
posted by Palmcorder Yajna at 4:34 PM on October 26, 2010
They have fire pits, but no running water. They only have vault toilets and you’ll have to bring water for drinking/teeth brushing. So if you don’t mind that for a couple nights/days it really is a lovely little campground. Make sure you get the adventure pass. There is a ranger who stays in a camper on site that is very diligent about checking for the passes.
It is a beautiful place. It does get a little crowded by the falls on the weekends, but less so in the fall. When I've been out on the hiking trails that lead out from the campground you can go for quite some time without seeing anyone else. So I'd suggest spending most the day on the trails and heading back to your campsite in the later afternoon/evening. The camp's gate closes at sunset so only the campers are there at night. It stays pretty quiet thanks to the onsite ranger (who informed us when I last went that drum circles are strictly prohibited a big plus in my book!)
Have fun! I'm looking forward to seeing what others suggest.
posted by Palmcorder Yajna at 4:34 PM on October 26, 2010
I came in to recommend Idyllwild too. I tend to use the Stone Creek campground myself as it is a little bit out of town, more spacious and feels a little more like camping. Not to mention I love Manzanita bushes. San Jacinto campground has showers and you can walk to dinner in town. But the downside is its a little cramped and crowded during peak season.
posted by Manjusri at 5:12 PM on October 26, 2010
posted by Manjusri at 5:12 PM on October 26, 2010
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posted by shakespeherian at 11:37 AM on October 26, 2010