I grew up in California. Every summer my parents took me and my brothers to all kinds of different campgrounds, but the problem is that they have all run together in my memory.
My big brother and I have initiated a new grownup camping trip tradition, but the place we went to last time – well, I was appalled at how close together the campsites were. It looked like they had taken every single campsite as I remembered them, and made it into three. And they probably did, and I even understand why.
That being said, is there a California campground not hella far from the Bay Area where the campsites are far enough apart to give you that relaxing sense of relative aloneness?
My bro says now is the time to make reservations, so I need to give him some input soon. Thanks!
If what you would like most is relative isolation, stay away from state and national parks and stick to the national forests. You’ll probably have pit toilets and gravel parking, but they are often less crowded and just as beautiful. Also look into the sites within some campgrounds which require you to walk in (mostly cater to bicyclists and hikers). If you are willing to haul your stuff a little ways, you’ll have more privacy and quiet.
Car camping or hiking? Marin Headlands was my go-to place for an easyish hike. Most campgrounds have primitive toilets. You have to pack everything in and out but it’s not a super hard hike.
If you are willing to backpack, several hours of hiking can get you far from the madding crowd. Ventana Wilderness is a great option close to the Bay Area. (watch out for poison oak)
Well, we were thinking car camping;but it’s okay if it’s a ways from the parking to the campsite. Don’t mind outhouses and I am fine without showers etc.
At the last place, the next campsite’s tent was literally right up next to mine. I just want a little more illusion of privacy.
Of course, getting away from giant behemoth motorhomes running their generators all night is also a plus.
No direct recommendation, but most parks offer a campground map online (or through reserveamerica.com) that shows you the campground layout. There are usually a few spots that offer more privacy than the rest; you just have to reserve them early enough.
Problem is, all the suggestions above are more-or-less well-known places, and those will be crowded. Also, paradoxically, I suspect the larger the campground, the more crowded it will be. So, look for a smaller and lesser-known place.
Here’s one I know of: Frank Raines County Park, Stanislaus County. This is on the eastern-facing side of that mountain between Livermore and Patterson, so don’t expect to see a lot of trees. It’s kind of semi-barren, of trees and people alike.
See link for directions. TL;DR: Go to Livermore. Drive up Mines Road into the hills. Watch for Del Puerto Canyon Road on the left (it’s well-signed, I believe). Drive down the mountain that way. Watch for park on your right, with smallish lawn and picnic tables and children’s play area. If you get to the bottom of the mountain, you’ve gone way too far. Dirt parking area (probably mud now). Camping area in immediate vicinity of that. I’m not sure what the rules are – Price? Reservations required? Open this time of year?
(I thought you lived in the Santa Barbara area. Am I thinking of someone else?)
ETA: Not sure if there’s much if any hiking trails there. If you’re going for some hiking, this may not be the place you’re looking for.
ETA-some-more: That same link lists some other recreation areas in Stanislaus County. Check those out too.
How far from the Bay Area are you looking to go? And what kind of habitats/environment would you prefer? And you’re looking to go in the summer?
Agree that National Forests might suit your needs better than SP or NP campgrounds. Mendocino NF is probably the closest to the north, and Los Padres to the south. Another search term to try is “environmental campground,” e.g. this is from Humboldt Redwoods SP. Also, “dispersed camping” might be more your speed too, if you can do without water/toilets/etc. The Bureau of Land Management lists these resources: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/recreation/camping.html
I love camping at Pinnacles NP, there’s one large campsite, but it’s well divided into powered (RVs) and Tent sites; and I usually go on a weeknight, and/or offseason, and have no trouble finding a site far from everyone else.
National Forests is the way to go. Their campsites are marked by green triangles in greenish-shaded areas in the Rand McNally Road Atlas (if you’re old enough to remember paper maps.). No facilities, except a picnic table, fire ring, parking slot and tent surface. Chemical toilet, no electricity, dark at night. Usually a self-pay honor system, $5-10 per night.
Please respect the tranquility of the place. They are intended for people who sleep at night and recreate in the daytime.
Want a unique experience? Try slab city. It’s way off the grid but in the middle of the desert. You can find secluded spots easily. I post this jokingly, but on the off chance that It’s something you’d be interested in.
It’s not far from the salton sea.
Seconding the campground at The Pinnacles (make sure you go to the EAST side entrance…otherwise you’re in for an extra hour or so on the road).
There are “isolated” campsites in many campgrounds, but you have know which ones to reserve or get there early enough to pick them out. Of course if you go during the high season, all bets are off. I’ve had good luck at Joseph D. Grant Park, Henry Coe (if you can swing it, try to get a group campsite), Butano State Park, and Mt Madonna County Park. There are also some backpacking/trail sites that don’t require a major trek, like Sky Camp at Point Reyes and Alder and Twin Redwoods camps in Big Basin.
If they’re willing to travel to the desert parts of SoCal and do some dirt road driving, there’s no problem finding some really isolated campsites out there. I camped in a place off one of the meandering dirt roads in Death Valley NP and I’m fairly sure I was the only person for about 40 miles in any direction. In most of the desert roads in the area, you’re basically allowed to pull over and camp wherever you want. They ask you to use established campsites, but there’s plenty of them.
Depends on where you are. There’s plenty of NF campgrounds that have electrical or sometimes even full RV hookups, and the ones that are near populated areas can be absolute zoos. Some of them will run you $25/night too, even just with a tent! The problem is, I think, that for various reasons they pretty much stopped making new campgrounds sometime in the 80’s, which has led to the overcrowding and sometimes rearranging the campgrounds to make more sites, which leads to the situation the OP is bemoaning where your tent is practically touching your neighbor’s.
Part of the reason why those campsites are so crowded is that they’re on the highway maps. Often there’s very good more isolated but more primitive camping nearby. Oftentimes the best way to find it is to just stop in at the ranger station and just ask if there’s any good primitive or “dispersed” campgrounds nearby. Like I mentioned above, it’s allowed pretty much everywhere on BLM land, but there’s often lots of unofficial but perfectly legal camping sites on Forest Service land. I’ve also sometimes had luck finding free dispersed camping sites online. This site for example, although it’s more geared towards RV-ers so sometimes their idea of a primitive campground is a Wal-Mart parking lot: http://freecampsites.net/
You’re right. I once stopped and inquired at the ranger station in Adin, and was directed to a lovely, ,secluded spot by a river just a few miles out of town, where we spent the whole Memorial Day weekend without seeing a single other person.
I only drove by, but the Gold lake area in the Plumas NF looked pretty nice and probably not overcrowded. A couple hundred miles from the Bay area. Anyone ever been there?
We stopped for a day at Antelope Lake, also in Plumas NF, which was nice but quite populated with motorboat enthusiasts [disapproving face]. Saw some beaver traces (chews on trees, possible dam in creek) but no beaver.
The Feather River is gorgeous, though, especially in the lower reaches along Hwy 70.
