camping in souther california

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carspidey

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Mar 12, 2010
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Hello All,

I couple of days ago I posted a Thread on "where to practce bushcraft skills around where I live"... There were a lot of comments on this thread and for that I am grateful... Thanks...

Now since I really don't know where to go, I have decided to go camping with a few friends... I live in San fernando Valley, Los angeles county...

I've been looking at different campgrounds but they are very restrictive as to making fires and most of them are like recreational centers...

Can you guys help me find a campground or recommed me one close by where i can have a real camping experience... where i can gather wood and make a fire (even in fire rings)... or is there other places where i can go camping... i mean other than campgrounds???

The only place I have seen so far is Wheeler George in Los Padres National Forest... Someone suggested Sequoia... but that's a little far right now... I'd like to go to a nice place and then work my way up to a place like Sequoia...

Thanks in advance... thanks...
 
I would like to know the answer to this too. That said, you don't need to build a fire to practice bushcrafting.
 
There is Lake Casitas above Ventura and there are a couple of campgrounds up Bouquet Canyon above Saugus. (At least there used to be!) You can always co up to Frasier Park or up to the Angelus National Forest above La Canada.

I usually ended up driving all the way past Bishop and camped along the Owens River (down low) or around Mosquito Flats (up high).
 
@cotdt - but if i don't practice fire making, where do i learn??? :D

i'll check out christopher... thanks for that...

About frazier park... they told me to go to Campo Alto... what do you think of that?

And when you camped along Owens River or Mosquito Flats... was that a developed campground???
 
Check out National Forests in California. You can camp in a national forest. They will have fire restrictions, and you may not ever be able to have a fire in So Cal, I don't know. The fire restrictions in Nor Cal ease up during the rainy season. I prefer the wilderness areas as there are less people due to the restriction on mechanized transport.
 
thanks hlee....

Vector... this guy is pretty cool... he offers classes and everything... maybe a bit pricey but I think it's worth it...

how is that saying goes? "give a man a fish and he'll starve... teach him how to fish... he'll have food his whole life" :D
 
Definitely go on a wild food outing with Christopher as vector posted. You will learn all kinds of useful plants, plus you will learn friction fire methods. I have been on several if his outings and they're great. Very inexpensive too.
 
There is Lake Cachuma up by Santa Barbara. Fishing is okay, it's stocked. They have fire pits were you can practice. It's not much for roughing it, has bathrooms and showers. Don't think you can gather wood yourself, but you can take wood along with you. It's just hard find a place around So Cal with the fire restrictions.
 
Angeles National Forest is probably the best and closest, less than a half hour away and they have firepits and nice camping spots. There are also little brook trout in the river and some great waterfalls.
 
thanks all for you input...

I just contacted Christopher and I am signing up for his class this Saturday (Survival Skills Intensive, $51. Increase your survival skills. In this 5 to 6 hour class, you'll learn how to make fire without matches, build a sturdy emergency shelter, make soap from plants, weave rope and baskets from natural materials, gather wild plants for food, and more. Hahamongna Watershed Park, Location 2.)

Tknife... on your last comments you meant the campgrounds on the Angeles National Forest right?

Chevy Racin - i'll look into that lake...

Thanks again...
 
My responses inserted in Bold. Glad to hear you're signed up for a class.

carspidey said:
@cotdt - but if i don't practice fire making, where do i learn??? :D

About frazier park... they told me to go to Campo Alto... what do you think of that? Sorry, it's been so long I just ddon't remember.

And when you camped along Owens River or Mosquito Flats... was that a developed campground??? Both. Camping along the lower Owens just outside of Bishop was not in campgrounds. (Fishing was pretty good.) Past Bishop on the way to Mammoth, turn left and head uptoward Rock Creek Lake. There are several developed campgrounds as well as trailheads for heading up into the forest. The Hilton Lakes are wonderful.
Click to expand...
 
Yeah, it's a really nice area. Can get crowded on the weekends though, mostly people swimming in the great water spots.
 
I highly recommend the San Bernadino National Forest. They have what are called "Yellow Post" campsites. They are <Free> primative, private camping spots dispersed throughout the forest. I used one for a car camping/fishing trip. It was isolated down off an empty road, the spot has car parking, fire pit, flat ground for tents, picnic table, just no water/power/bathroom. Might have made a good deer hunting camp, saw a nice coyote, we suprised eachother at 25 yards. But there is plenty of various fishing opputunities in the area including free Lake Gregory @ Crestline, and further up I really like teeny tiny Green Valley Lake (requires small fee to fish), which gets crowded due to it small size, but has always been beyond excellent producer of stocked local rainbows & NorCal Lassen Hatchery trout (typically a lot bigger and more aggressive). But all types of outdoor recreational activites are available in the SBNF. You will have to check w/ the forest service for fire restrictions because that is of concern there.
 
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Thanks for all your input... I really love this forum...
My friend and I are trying to plan a camping trip and we are exploring all of our avenues...

Thank you so much for all your help...
 
do you live near ventura?
wheelers gorge is cool for fires. there is alot of wood there, but the river is damn near dry. it's kinda sketchy there though. some real odd people out there.
you can check in more like lake casitas. that is in ojai also. I used to fish there as a kid and camp there alot.
Lions camp is also in the Ojai area. you used to be able to have fires there. might want to check that out.
there is a backpacking spot called the sespe creek trail. that is in los padres national forest.
if you want to be more on the L.A. side. there is a place called devils punchbowl, I think that is north of azuza.
 
The Government said:
If you do a 395 trip and go through Bishop you have to stop at Erick Schat's Bakery!
I like the Squaw and the Sheepherder's bread. It is a must.

http://www.erickschatsbakery.com/
Click to expand...

there is a schats in mammoth too. man that place is great.

if you can get to mammoth this summer, it will be the best place for all your hiking and fishing needs. there is fire rings, primitive camping, car camping(that is what I call it) lakes everywhere
 
Big Bear area has some of what you are looking for. Holcomb Valley to be specific. Most camping around here is quite restrictive. Central and Northern California has some great not restrictive or less restrictive camping.
 
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