Big Lagoon - Humboldt County

Big Lagoon is a nice alternative to Patrick's Point State Park if the aforementioned is full or you just want to avoid some of the crowds. It is more rustic and much less expensive than its state park neighbor, yet only a few miles north. Not only that, but dogs are allowed on the beach there, making it a more pleasant trip for the 4-footed friends. The walk to the beach is easy, any many sites back right up to the lagoon. My husband and sons rented a kayak in the adjacent day-use area, and had a big time, paddling for several hours in the calm waters of Big Lagoon. For more info, click here.

DogWood Campground in the San Bernadino Mountains

On our way to Big Bear, Ca to watch the Amgen Tour of California Bicycle Race; my family and I stayed at a lovely campground high in the San Bernadino Mountains. Dogwood Campground is at 7000 feet in elevation, it features: nice newer bathroom facilities, beautiful trees, affordable fees, spacious sites, minimal highway noise, friendly staff, firewood, fire-pits with grill, picnic table, tent and RV sites. When we stayed, we had minimal neighbors and a restful night's sleep. Highly recommended! To book a stay click here.

Guest Blogger: Robin Fator
www.darkponydesigns.blogspot.com

Sunset Beach-Camping Near Santa Cruz, Ca

Looking for a camping spot near Santa Cruz, Ca? My family and I recently stayed at Sunset Beach near Watsonville. This campground offers tent camping about 3/4 of a mile from the beach. It has the typical amenities you would expect: bathrooms with showers, water at every site, bear box, fire pit with grill, and firewood for sale. Not a lot of highway noise, beautiful trees and landscape, easy access to the beach. When we visited the campground was about half -full, we ended up with noisy neighbors, but I think that is always a gamble at any campground. To make a reservation click here!

Guest Blogger: Robin Fator
www.darkponydesigns.blogspot.com

Black Rock Campground - Lassen National Forest

This place is a real gem, tucked into the mountains between Red Bluff and Chico. I had no idea this special place existed at low elevation so close to home. On the edge of the Ishi Wilderness, it feels very isolated. The drive in is a bit arduous, as it is about 20 miles of dirt road, some places very slow-going, with one creek crossing. We were able to do it in our Subaru wagon, which I would not really consider a high-clearance vehicle, but a sedan might not be the best bet for this winding, rocky, narrow road. The dirt section took about 1.5 hours, but has several great views and passes through some beautiful territory (as well as some recently logged areas). We came in from the north side, off highway 36, but access can be gained from the Chico area as well (we were told this was the rougher of the 2 roads).

The campground itself is primitive, with no potable water available, so bring your own or a filter. There is one outhouse, which seemed generally unmaintained (bring your own toilet paper!). We had two lovely sites right at the front of the campground, with large grassy areas and just the right balance of sun and shade. The sites further back were more shaded, but less private. There is a trail into the wilderness that leaves right from the campground.

This has been an unusually cool year, so the creek was still flowing very rapidly, and the weekend was chilly, so we did not do any swimming. But I am certain that in warmer weather, you could find some great spots to cool off. We actually got snowed on- in May! The kids loved exploring up the creek and found a beautiful waterfall not far from the campground.

I highly recommend this unique place if you are willing to do the drive. You will not be disappointed by this area and its namesake monolith.

Death Valley- 2010- Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, Texas Spring

Back from a quick trip to Death Valley. Camped one night at Furnace Creek, (which I still like as the best option for family tent camping in the park). The kids love playing "fort" in those large trees near the visitors center. We then had to move to Texas Spring, which offers only a very few sites with shade (although if you get one of those 4 or 5 with good shade, it would be great). Next night was Stovepipe Wells, which I had previously listed as a parking lot for RV's, but it does have tent sites along the back side which are not too bad, though they offer very little shade. However, those sites do offer plenty of room to roam, as you are at the back of the campground, they have a view of the mountains, and you can set up your tent a nice distance from the parking area. You do have to trek across the parking lot to utilize the bathroom facilities.

One note about Death Valley: This year we endured some serious wind- gusts to 50 mph! If you leave your campsite during the day, prepare it for high winds! Stake your tent and leave some heavy items in there; fold up the chairs; secure all loose items! We saw many things, including tents and shade canopies, fly away across the desert.

Also: We hiked up Mosaic Canyon this year, which is near the Stovepipe Wells area. Not to be missed!

Hampshire Rocks Campground- Tahoe National Forest

We stopped here on our drive out to Yellowstone with a thunderstorm looming on the horizon, not to mention two hungry kids and a fussy toddler in the backseat (in other words, we did not have a lot of time to look for a better spot!). While Hampshire Rocks is in a lovely area, right along the river, with some great climbing boulders for the kids, the intense traffic noise from I-80 and a nearby train track pretty much cancels out the positives. One bonus: We weathered an early morning thunderstorm, packed everything up post haste, and headed into Truckee for a delicious breakfast at the Squeeze In.

Sheep Camp and Brandy Creek Campgrounds- Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

I cruised through these 2 campgrounds a few days ago, scouting a potential trip for us. Sheep Camp (see right photo) is small- 4 sites, and though it is close to several trails, it lacks structure and privacy.  It looks as if campers have just driven through wherever, leaving the area denuded of vegetation, although the site could be pretty if there were actually some understory left. It is right on a dirt road, and the campsites get the dust cloud from vehicles driving by. The Brandy Creek trail is very close, and the trail to Brandy Creek Falls is just up the road.

We ended up camping later at Brandy Creek Campground (see left photo). It has just 2 sites, tucked peacefully back off the road. The 2 sites are not close together, so privacy is very good. In fact, site #2 is one of the most secluded campsites I have seen. The campground sits above the creek, and though access is possible, it is steep and inconvenient. The Brandy Creek Trail goes right through the campground, and it is also just a few miles from the Brandy Creek Falls Trail, which we hiked, and wow! It was really beautiful. Highly recommended. 

Once again, I have to add that Whiskeytown NRA is close to town, and is therefore subject to the effects of campers who come out to party. Our campsite, though nice and quiet, had some graffiti (which was scheduled to be painted over the next day), and there was plenty of broken glass around. Our kids like to collect bottle caps from each of our campsites, and we gathered more here than anywhere else!

Gumboot Lake Campground- Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Gumboot Lake Campground looks like a sweet spot. It is a primitive campground, with just a few sites scattered around the edge of a little lake. We stopped by there to check it out on our way to the Gumboot Trailhead on the Pacific Crest Trail, which is just a few miles up the road from the campground. We didn't stay this time, but perhaps we will need to plan a return trip! It is a pretty easy trip from I-5 to the campground, so I am wondering if this place attracts the partying crowd...? The hiking on the PCT northbound was great by the way, interspersed with views of Mt. Shasta, the Trinity Alps and several small lakes down below the crest.

***Added June 29, 2009*** Stayed at Gumboot last weekend. The lake is beautiful and our kids had an excellent time swimming for 2 days straight. There were quite a few visitors to the lake, but we had our section of shore all to ourselves. But I was right that this spot does attract partyers. The campground is really just like dispersed camping, with no picnic tables or water and only one vault toilet. My book listed some walk-in sites across the creek, but people drive across, and that area was crowded. We had a good site at the end of the road, but it was barren from over-use. There is no fee to camp here, which is a bonus, but I felt like some campers had been there for an extended time. I would stay here again, but on a weekday, and I would want one of those camping tables to cook on.

Tuolumne Meadows Campground- Yosemite National Park

Tuolumne Meadows is a large, crowded national park campground. Some sites are very small, others are ample. There are enough loops in there to cover half the alphabet, and if you arrive after dark, it may take you a while to find your site. You might have to wait in line for the bathrooms. But we spent almost a week there and loved every minute of it.

It is the incredibly beautiful Tuolumne Meadows area itself that makes it all worth it. There are a plethora of hikes to choose from, many of which you can do with children. The kids went to a great Junior Ranger program and couldn't get enough of playing by the river. The store is within easy walking distance, so if you run out of beer or bananas, you can make a quick run. Going off trail and climbing some of the smaller domes was a favorite for the kids too. They love walking right up that sticky granite.

For more info, and to find out about making reservations, go to:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/

Fowlers Camp- Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Fowlers is another of the nice campgrounds just south of beautiful Mt. Shasta, and it is situated within easy hiking distance to the waterfalls of the McCloud River. The river is lovely, and the falls are a great hike to do with the kids. The Lower falls are very close to the campground via an accessible trail, and I remember the trail to Middle falls being short and easy for the kids to accomplish. Middle falls are quite spectacular. Continue on the same trail to catch a glimpse of Upper Falls. There is swimming in the river, and I believe the trail is actually about 10 miles long, leading to Algoma Campground as well.

Bridge Camp- Shasta-Trinity National Forest

I like lovely little Bridge Camp. It is at the end of the road, at the popular Stuarts Fork trailhead. The trail leads right into the incredible Trinity Alps, and the first few miles are a nice, gradual uphill- perfect hiking for the kids. You can keep going for 15 miles and beyond if you like. The campground is right next to the river (Stuarts Fork of the Trinity), and there is a great place for the kids to play. If you are so inclined, you can also go back down the road a few miles and have yourself a tasty ice cream treat at the Trinity Alps resort, which you will pass on the way to and from the campground.

McCloud River Bridge campground- Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Went to McCloud River Bridge this weekend. It's a keeper. I was pleasantly surprised by this excursion to the Shasta Lake area. I am not much interested in camping at the lake since the level is so low, but this campground sits off the lake, just above where the river comes to a halt. Beautiful views, really beautiful river, nice campground. The best thing was just hanging out by the river- swimming, relaxing, playing, jumping. The lupines were incredible- huge swaths of purple flowers all along the riverbanks.

The campground itself was a bit overdone, with pavers and even steps and hand rails leading to the tent pads. But most of the sites were open, with just enough shade. If you are camping with another family or small group, take note that each site can only accommodate one tent in most cases.  We had 3 families, and needed 3 sites. There is no hiking right from the campground, but we did find a short but cool trail to a cave not too far from there. The kids loved exploring there, and we even saw a tiny salamander.

Note: I have seen some photos, apparently when the lake level was much higher, where it seems the campground is in fact next to the lake rather than the river. So if the lake level ever gets significantly higher, this campground would be a different experience.

Here is some info from the Shasta Trinity: www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity/recreation/nra/shasta/index.shtml

Penn Creek loop- Patrick's Point State Park

Patrick's Point is definitely a superlative among state parks. We camped here in June '08, in the Penn Creek loop, which is tents only. The vegetation is heavy in this area- the campsites are almost carved out of the encroaching growth. We had a fantastic site that was like a wonderland for the kids. There were trees to climb, a creek running right through, and the dense understory provided plenty of hiding and "kid club" spots. Our site was mostly in the shade, but in the morning and afternoon, we could move our chairs out to the edge or in a little open space near the bathrooms and warm up or dry out from a day at the beach. 

Patrick's Point State Park has plenty of activities to keep the critters (and adults) busy. Kids + beach= serious wholesome entertainment. They never seem to get enough. Agate Beach is a wonderful place. You can spend hours sifting through the rocks there. We also spent time at the tide pools, and checked out the visitor center and nearby recreated Yurok village. As with most state parks, this is not a dog-friendly place, but you can throw the ball to Fido's content at the public beach in Trinidad, just south of the park. We also unintentionally stumbled upon the Oyster Festival in Arcata, which made for an excellent afternoon of beer drinking, oyster eating, and taking in the hippy-trippy-feel-good aura of the home of Humboldt State U.

Want to check out the Oyster Fest? http://www.oysterfestival.net/

Tannery Gulch Campground- Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Tannery Gulch has been a repeat trip for us. It is one of the better campgrounds on Trinity Lake, with great trees, from huge Douglas firs to Pacific dogwoods. You can usually find a spacious site, and it is well off the main highway, so no traffic noise. There is a sandy swimming beach here, so if the lake level is up, it is a fantastic way to spend the day. However, if the lake level is low, there are exposed tree stumps and mud. 

There is a short interpretive trail at the campground- great for the kids, and you can drive to other trailheads in the area.  There is an amphitheater here, which I believe occasionally hosts evening programs, perhaps on summer weekends. 

Preacher Meadow Campground- Shasta-Trinity National Forest

We went to Preacher Meadow for a short trip in June '08. Although the name might make you think of a place so awe-inspiring that you would shout to the heavens, it did not quite live up to that expectation. Don't get me wrong- it was definitely pretty.  The campground itself is nice- sites are not too crowded, good combo of shade and sun. It is not very far off Highway 3, so the sites overlooking the river would be the most quiet. The campground sits above the river, but the only access we could see was extremely steep- not safe for the kids to attempt. We drove up the road just a few miles and found a relatively calm spot for the kids to play in the river. And while there is no hiking from the campground, there are trails within relatively close driving distance. Trinity Lake is close by as well, but the lake level was so low that it seemed an unattractive option for swimming.

Cattle Camp Campground- Shasta-Trinity National Forest

So we left Ah-Di-Na and headed east on Highway 89, with impressive Mt. Shasta just to the north. We came upon Cattle Camp, and despite the negative image the name conjures, we gave this campground a big thumbs up. The sites are spacious, with plenty of room for the kids to roam and explore, and a great balance of shade and sun. Less than a mile's hike from the campground we found an excellent swimming hole where the kids played for hours. The trail goes beyond that as well, but we could never get our kids any further than that swimming hole! 

We also hiked on the Pacific Crest Trail, which has several access points in the area (driving distance). The one drawback to Cattle Camp is that the planners seem to have gone a bit wild with the concrete. Not only is the parking area paved, but there is also a concrete pad for the picnic table and fire ring. Given the other positives, I still call this a great campground, and plan a return trip. If you get a hankering for some soft serve, you can stop at Floyd's Frosty in McCloud as you head back to I-5.

It is a little difficult to find useful info on the Shasta-Trinity website, but here is the camping link: www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity/recreation/#Camping

Ah-Di-Na Campground- Shasta-Trinity National Forest

We planned to camp at Ah-Di-Na in late June 2008, hoping to get up and out of the smoke from the Whiskeytown fires that had Redding socked in. The campground is about 7 miles down a fairly rough dirt road, if I remember correctly. Not too bad, but I would hesitate to take, say, a Prius down there. The campsites seemed very used- not much ground vegetation. It is right on the McCloud River, and I would guess there is some good fishing here, as most campers seemed to be fisherfolk. It is a pretty spot, down in a little valley, but we felt a little closed-in there, ultimately deciding to leave and camp elsewhere. There were many fires burning, and it did not seem like a good place to be should we need to make a quick exit. There were some ruins of an old homestead to explore, so the kids enjoyed checking that out before we left. The Pacific Crest Trail runs right through this area. 

Here is a little history of the campground from the Shasta-Trinity National Forest website:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity/documents/st-main/maps/rogs/mccloud/ah-di-na.pdf

Crystal Creek and Peltier Bridge Campgrounds-Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Whiskeytown is our local outdoor adventure area, just a few miles from west Redding. A few years back we camped at Crystal Creek, which Whiskeytown defines as primitive camping. (There is no drinking water available.) With only 2 sites, Crystal Creek feels nice and secluded. It is right next to the creek, so it offers the kids hours of water play. There is plenty of shade, and in the summer it would be a great place to stay cool. We camped there in the fall, and it was pretty chilly in the morning without the sun to warm things up.

We have also been to Peltier Bridge several times. This is a great little campground with only 7 sites, 3 of which are walk-in (again no drinking water). It is also right on the creek, so swimming and water play are great activities. The blackberry picking can be awesome here. There are several hiking trails in the area.

That being said, it is a crap shoot as to the quality of your camping neighbors. This is close to town, and last year we had some loud, drunk neighbors that really colored the experience.

More information: http://www.nps.gov/whis/

Lone Pine Campground- Inyo National Forest

We stayed here when we left Death Valley. It is just outside of Lone Pine, CA, above the Alabama Hills, which offer practically endless opportunities for hiking and climbing. The boys loved exploring in the huge rock jumbles. Lone Pine Campground must have one of the best views of any campground out there. It sits in a little canyon at 6,000', in the shadow of the high Sierra, just below Mt. Whitney. Incredible. There is a trail up to Whitney Portal that leads right from the campground. We were there in April, and the weather was fantastic. There are very few trees on the lower portion of the hiking trail- in summer I would bet it seems pretty exposed, but we saw lots of wildflowers. The Inyo National Forest website indicates that there are no walk-in sites, but I saw them, and the recreation.gov site will allow you to reserve them. They looked very nice.

This was a superb campground- killer views, nice hiking, an icy-cold creek for the kids to play in. Our site was a bit close to the Whitney Portal road, and we did occasionally hear cars drive by.

Further info: www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/

Furnace Creek Campground (and a few others)- Death Valley National Park

We just spent spring break in Death Valley National Park, so this is where I will begin. We camped at Furnace Creek, 196' below sea level. Even though we had no reservations, we happened upon a shaded tent site that was lovely, although close to neighbors on both sides. I think it was site #86 or 88. There is a row of sites, all numbered in the 80's which have shade. That row is nice, but it is right across the road from an rv area. There is a tent-only area with walk-in sites, but there were no shaded sites left when we arrived. I was pleasantly surprised that Furnace Creek ended up being a great place to stay. We could walk to the visitor center, where the boys completed their Jr. Ranger activities, and we attended an evening star program which was worth the time. It is centrally located to several other park attractions, and you could run over to the ice house to re-stock the cooler. We did not bring the kids' bikes, but it would be a great place to have them.

Here is what I observed at other campgrounds in the park:

-Stovepipe Wells- a giant parking lot for rv's

-Sunset- another rv parking lot

-Texas Spring- looked good, but we did not stay there. I believe it is a generator-free campground, which is a plus.

-Emigrant- a small, tents only campground, but right next to the main park road, and questionable shade. Might be a good, quick stop if you were coming in late at night from the west.

More info can be found at www.nps.gov/deva