well off the beathen path

Vermilion Resort Originally uploaded by danamight meteor showers and comets Fair weather means anytime is a good time to watch the sky. totalescape.com/outside/event/perseid-meteor-shower The high Sierra Nevada is the place to really enjoy the show in summer camping out, but winter means snow is likely and a cabin rental might be a better choice, or grab a guest room at a rustic lodge like this one photographed above. Meteor showers are best viewed after 2AM, so you first need to decide if you are "a stay up late", or "wake up early" kinda person. Partying and drinking in the early evening means the excitement will be worn off and you will be dozing after midnight, missing the entire possibility of seeing any grazers. Taking a nap in the early afternoon before might help your odd sleep schedule adjust but be prepared to kick up the caffeine when you want to take in the awesome night views. Mount Pinos and Mount Abel are both popular SoCal spots f

California has the most amazing and diverse terrain you can imagine. Ancient lava beds to dense forests, giant boulder rock outcroppings to sand dunes. Off road motorcycles, otherwise known as 'dirt bikes' can find riding trails near home or across the state, in far away locations. dirt bike routes dirt bike camping dirt bike trails Dirt biking off road trails can be found outside of nearly any urban city in California. In National Forests, on BLM lands, all across the many deserts and in a good portion of the mountains. The Sierra Nevada mountains located in the middle of the state has many high elevation OHV routes to small alpine lakes and primitive camp sites. SoCal has the winter prime-time desert warmth, Central Cal has coastal dunes, steep canyons, and rugged foothills, plus the giant Mojave desert which stretches from Joshua Tree area to Vegas. NorCal has the endless forests, solitude and rivers you seek. SoCal Off Road Areas Imperial Sand Dunes Heber Dunes

Camping sites in Southern California While camping in California is an amazing experience overall with thousands of picture perfect settings to pitch your tent, camping in SoCal definitely has it's limitations. The primary reasons are.... Camping in SoCal is - 1. crowded (half the population is located in the lower third of the state) 2. dry terrain (minimal rivers, dry seasonal streams, few waterfalls) 3. wildfire prone (with average rainfall of only 10") 4. costly (all developed campgrounds charge fees) 5. not secluded (with suburbia spread into foothills, busy roads nearby) With the California population nearing 40 million, you will need to do your research in order to find a good, secluded, scenic camping area. Coastal camp sites are the most popular on the list and you should seek advanced reservation w/ the State Park system. City camping is mostly RV parks and a few county parks. Beyond the neighborhoods, countryside camping in the coastal footh

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

While it may be a bit hot to visit here during summer, I thought I would let everyone know about this awesome "stretch break" along US Hwy 395 , where the Mojave meets the Sierra Nevada. When you are on your way northbound toward Bishop, entering the lava corridor of the Eastern Sierra, look for a red cinder cone volcano on the right side of the highway. This easy to miss turn off is after Little Lake (which is the remains of a burnt hotel) & before Coso Junction. If you are driving over 55 mph, you may actually miss it. To find Fossil Falls (which is not a waterfall anymore) -- turn right off Highway 395, on to a well marked gravel road called CINDER ROAD. High clearance vehicle is not required. Follow road to the right w/ signs approx. 1 mile & you will be at a small primitive BLM campground & trailhead parking lot. Surrounded by a field of black lava chunks, the Sierra Nevada mountains to the west and Death Valley Park to the east. New picnic tables &

Mojave Desert / Mohave Camping Mojave, one of the largest deserts in the USA. Named after the Mohave tribe of Native Americans, it contains a number of ghost towns, the old railroad depots, and nearly 2000 plants species. The Mojave Desert is crossed by major routes - Interstate 15, Interstate 40, US Highway 395 & US Highway 95. READ MORE Right in the middle of the Mojave Desert is the National Preserve. The largest joshua tree forest in the state of Cali. Summer temps can easily reach the triple digits, so camping and hiking is most favored in autumn, winter or spring months. There are many primitive style (free) camp spots inside the park and surrounding the park, and there are also a few developed campgrounds as well. Goffs schoolhouse to the east has outdoor showers. Hole in the Wall Campground Mid Hills Campground Black Canyon Corral & Group Camp Hundreds if not thousands of dirt roads network the Mojave desert This desert park is an ideal spot for "i

Boating Powell: The Couples Choice No need for a big houseboat? Try a power boat rental instead. Cheryl and Jay rented a 21 foot power boat. This was MUCH less expensive than a houseboat rental, and a much faster way to get around the lake. It allowed them to motor deep into some of the slot canyons & find private coves for overnight stays. Obviously, they gave up a lot of the luxury of the house boats, but this power boat had a cabin that slept 2 comfortably, and it was nearly ideal for their needs. Jay brought his inflatable kayak, which worked great to get deeper into the narrowing canyons. From there, they could continued on foot, and had to wade or swim through some passages. It was a great experience! Lake Powell is located in the desert near the Grand Canyon. In the Summer shaded coves may produce relief from 100 degree days. The water temp ranged from about 80 to 86 degrees. Spring & Fall are very comfortable. Powerboat rentals start at $350 per day and

There are millions of people in California searching for that perfect weekend in the mountains. That secluded stream side camp with no one else around. Dense forest with mountain peaks, bluebirds, fresh air, total nature everywhere and maybe a view. Free firewood around every corner. No fees, no camp host and no camp fire restrictions. These awesome secret outdoor places do indeed exists, but they are not located in SoCal within an hours drive from your home. Nor are they located in the nearest State Park Campground. These rare finds are on the back roads of California, usually in the Sierra Nevada mountains or further north - in the vast spans known as Northern Cal. First off, you will need to drive (more than 3 hours) to reach these awesome wilderness retreats. Pack days ahead of time to make sure you are truly prepared and ready for serious back roads camping. Plan an early day departure from the city, so you can be at camp relaxing by sundown. Your goal that day is to

Winter months in California is prime desert camping time. The perfect time to plan your desert trip is November thru April. If a seasonal storm is not in the forecast, the weather is usually sunny and mild, wind is always a given & wildflowers bloom as early as February. Go enjoy the Mojave Desert , Death Valley , Anza Borrego Desert , Joshua Tree , the Lancaster Poppy Fields or the Eastern Sierra lava flows. California Desert Camping Ideas Surreal Box Canyon near Mecca, California is free camping BLM land located perfectly in between Anza Borrego Desert and Joshua Tree National Park .  This area is totally worth a hike, stretch break, or sightseeing visit, if not for an over night stay. Many superb camp spots tucked in near the cliff edges. Be prepared for late night traffic noise as semi-trucks from Interstate 10 use Box Canyon Road as a frequent through route. desert destinations Anza Borrego Desert SP Ballarat Benton Hot Springs Bodie California Borre