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Camping in Southern Ca
- Thread starter DxAxN
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2010
- Messages
- 589
McGill campground is very nice and isolated on Mount Pinos. It is my favorite very close place that I have found. If you want to go in other directions, Red Rock Canyon state park looks cool. Montana Del Oro up by San Luis Obispo is a very cool area, though not terribly isolated. Great sea-side hiking though. That's getting fairly far away though.
If you expand it to more like 3 or 4 hours driving there are a ton more places.
If you expand it to more like 3 or 4 hours driving there are a ton more places.
eisman
Platinum Member
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- Sep 9, 2009
- Messages
- 7,011
There's a huge variety of places to camp it those areas. You have everything from seaside to mountain to desert. What you call camping is open to interpetation too. Do you want to tailgate, backpack, tent, etc?
If you want to tent or car camp you can use Leo Carrillo State park on the beach between Malibu and Ventura. Or you could go up to Chilleo Flats off hwy 2 between La Canada and Wrightwood. Or you could go out to the Devils Punchbowl or Vasquez Rocks.
If you want to hike I'd recommend Mt Pinos (which is always crowded), the PCH trail which runs from Palm Springs North (I really like the stretch between Mt San Antonio and Kratka Ridge), or the Sespe Creek area (Condor Sanctuary).
If you want to tent or car camp you can use Leo Carrillo State park on the beach between Malibu and Ventura. Or you could go up to Chilleo Flats off hwy 2 between La Canada and Wrightwood. Or you could go out to the Devils Punchbowl or Vasquez Rocks.
If you want to hike I'd recommend Mt Pinos (which is always crowded), the PCH trail which runs from Palm Springs North (I really like the stretch between Mt San Antonio and Kratka Ridge), or the Sespe Creek area (Condor Sanctuary).
The good thing about living in SO CALI is that we have so many great places to camp and hike. Many of them are amazing and beautiful.. The problems with all those places is that about a million other people think so too. If people and crowds don't bother you much there are lots of nice camp grounds by the coast and Leo Carrillo is great but you need to reserve your camp ground about 6 months in advance. There are also some great camp sites in angeles forest but lots of people. I do have to give points to the rangers for doing a good job and trying to keep everyone in line. Now as soon as you go on a longer drive of 3+ hours the number of people you see drops. As most people are lazy and won't go the extra mile out of there own way. It realy comes down to how far are you planning on driving?? But then thats what everyone already mentioned..
How did you like Reyes creek?? Never been there my self.
Sasha
How did you like Reyes creek?? Never been there my self.
Sasha
Yeah the more I look the more place I find that I never heard of... so thats good. Living in SoCal unfortunately you just have to deal with crowded places. I dont mind driving further, but was looking for something local for those spur of the moment trips.
Reyes Creek was nice, there was about 30 spots but only about 10 were being used. I went with my son so we just hung out at the camp and hiked along the creek and Gene Marshall trail. Supposedly there is trout in the Creek, I didnt see any. I didnt see acouple of fish that were about 2" long but not sure what they were.
Reyes Creek was nice, there was about 30 spots but only about 10 were being used. I went with my son so we just hung out at the camp and hiked along the creek and Gene Marshall trail. Supposedly there is trout in the Creek, I didnt see any. I didnt see acouple of fish that were about 2" long but not sure what they were.
tek77
Gold Member
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2009
- Messages
- 1,994
Try Mt Baldy. Stop at the visitor center in the Village, on your way up. They can recommend a few spots. The ones without utilities are 99% of the time unpopulated in my experience.
Here is a good list for other spots in the area:
http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Campgrounds&find_loc=Mt+Baldy,+CA
I only tried Crystal Lake about 8 years ago - it was OK. It's been improved since then.
Here is a good list for other spots in the area:
http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Campgrounds&find_loc=Mt+Baldy,+CA
I only tried Crystal Lake about 8 years ago - it was OK. It's been improved since then.
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- May 17, 2006
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- 4,290
You should contact me.
-RB
-RB
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2010
- Messages
- 589
Vasquez rocks is another close place I want to check out. Not super isolated, but it looks cool
As far as crowded places, I think you just have to be willing to drive 3+ hours. At the last place I camped, there was not one other person on the 'trail' (it was pretty much just hitting the desert) and I was pretty sure that I wouldn't be found for weeks if I got stranded. You just have to be willing to get away from the cities.
As far as crowded places, I think you just have to be willing to drive 3+ hours. At the last place I camped, there was not one other person on the 'trail' (it was pretty much just hitting the desert) and I was pretty sure that I wouldn't be found for weeks if I got stranded. You just have to be willing to get away from the cities.