well off the beathen path

SoCal Off-Road Camping Big Bear, California Big pine trees & good space at this developed camp in the San Bernardino National Forest , which is better known as Big Bear Lake , California. Green Valley Lake is about 6 miles away. Off-roading trails are nearby. Crabflats campground is best suited for off-road campers, so note - it can be busy & noisy on weekends. Not recommended for large RVs. Southern California Camping - 27 camp sites near Big Bear @ 6200' elevation fee, vault toilet, picnic tables, OHV reservations accepted Max Camper Length: 28' Dirt road access. Trailers, 5th wheel campers and motorhomes over 28' not recommended. San Bernardino National Forest Road #3N16 Big Bear Discovery Center: 909-382-2790 San Bernardino National Forest trails nearby - PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) 2W07 (Crab Creek Fishermen's Trail) 2W08 (Holcomb Crossing OHV) 2W03 (Cox Creek Trail) 3N34 (Dishpan Springs @Deep Creek) DIRECTIONS to CAMPGROUND: ...

Sequoia Camping @ Frazier Mill Mountain Home State Forest On the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, at the base of the Western Divide (California SR 190) this campground is within Mountain Home State Forest . The unheard-of park is worth a weekend jaunt, located south of the big park, Sequoia National Park and north of Giant Sequoia National Monument & Sequoia National Forest . Frasier Mill Camp is positioned on fern-lined Bear Creek; a good size campground on a historic lumber mill site. Accessible to numerous Sequoia groves, Balch Park fishing pond, wilderness trailheads. A fork of the Tule River flows through this section of Sequoia National Forest land & there are meadows all over. Bring your mountain bike to easily explore all the dirt roads. East of Springville, CA - Sequoia Camping - 46 camp sites on creek @ 6000' elevation fee, vault toilet, piped water, hiking trailheads, creek first come, first served camping Max Camper Leng...

Mineral King Campground, Sequoia NP Sequoia National Park: Cold Springs Campground in Mineral King Area A large developed camp ground with bear lockers, a raging creek, some walk in sites, & access to the Sierra Nevada high country trails. This is the last real campground in the main valley, everything beyond this spot is pure alpine highcountry. 9000'-13,000' peaks - in the Southern Sierra Nevada mountains. Car camp, tent camping or bring a backpack and climb to pristine lakes and into the real Wilderness. Cold Springs Campground, California on the East Fork of the Kaweah River, closest campground to the hiker trailheads @ Mineral King Valley. Mineral King Road open May-October (usually, depending on snow) Atop the mighty canyon sits mountain passes, peaks and lakes above 10,000' elevation. A rocky alpine valley of wonder and water, granite, dark skies and a good night sleep. Black bears and hikers are everywhere, anytime. This sweet spot river campgrou...

Lilypad Campground @ Lake Wishon Reservoir Sierra National Forest, California The long journey up the mountain into the Sierra National Forest is only for the true adventure seekers. First off, get a good forest map . Second, plan several days if not a full week off of work to explore this region in depth. It is a long drive from most anywhere in California, and this spot is way, way tucked back in there right up against the High Sierra peaks and wildness. East of in Fresno, historic village of Clovis is a good lunch stop in route. Drive up mountain on Hwy. 168, turn right at Shaver Lake on to Dinkey Creek Rd. Now you will clock the mileage 28.7 miles to the camp. Drive past McKinley Grove and past Dinkey Creek. Follow signs to Wishon Reservoir. This campground is located adjacent to the road before you reach the dam. All this travel time will have you asking 'is it worth it'? The answer is 'yes'..... if you want an uncrowded lake with plenty of wi...

California Desert RV Camping Colorado River Camping Picacho SRA: Picacho State Recreation Area not to be confused with Picacho Peak State Park on Arizona side of the Colorado River. This riverside Picacho Camp is also not the "Paso Picacho Campground" inside Cuyamaca Rancho State Park , in the neighboring San Diego mountains. Picacho Campground Southern California Desert Camping - 54 camp sites on the Colorado River @ 100' elevation first-come first-served camping Max Camper Length: 35' and Max Trailer Length: 30' 3 boat launches; day use areas and campground open all day and all night. Park Office: 760-996-2963 Long, graded dirt road leads to desert campground centrally located north of Interstate 8 on California - Arizona state border near Yuma, AZ. Lower Colorado River campground has adequate space for tent camping as well as motorhomes. Vegetation makes for privacy at most sites. Tall tamarisk trees provide shade at some sites and sky...

Wildfires in western states are common place each summer with the typical "wildfire season" starting in mid summer and lasting into late Autumn, or until the first significant precipitation. The less rain in winter, the drier the land. The less snow in the mountains, the less water in the rivers, creeks and reservoirs. When significant drought conditions in California meet with dry springtime chaparral, wild land fires can easily be ignited.  Campfires restrictions are tighter than usual this summer 2013, so knnow the current conditions and restrictions by contacting the nearest ranger station. Remember that campfire safety is always key. NO CAMP FIRES, what?   What a way to start the summer! as of June 3, 2013 : The lower half of California is in extreme drought conditions and backcountry fire restrictions are already in place.  This means you can only legally have a campfire inside a developed campground. Severe conditions may escalate to 'no campfires anyw...