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California Camping Beaches

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California Campsites Beach Most of the beachfront camping available on the California coast is located within developed campgrounds, usually inside State Parks, National Parks, National Forests. A few located in local county parks and regional parks, and some private RV parks too. The campgrounds listed below are camp sites located on or near the Pacific Ocean. Free camping might be found on back roads near the coast, so those options are mentioned if available. (listed from south to north) San Diego Beach Camping Orange County Beach Camping Los Angeles Beach Camping Ventura Beach Camping Santa Barbara Beach Camping Central Coast Beach Camping Big Sur Camping Monterey Bay Camping Marin Camping @ Point Reyes Sonoma Beach Camping Mendocino Beach Camping Humboldt Beach Camping Redwood Beach Camping Lost Coast - Usal Beach Campground

Watershed Lake

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lake in ca watershed: mountain ridge lines dividing two drainage areas; water parting; divide. the region or area drained by a river, stream, or drainage area. Many Sierra Nevada lakes are considered watersheds, due to the heavy snow pack found in this high elevation region of Cali. To name them all would be ridiculous, since most are in remote Wilderness locales - only accessible by foot or on horseback. Several rare and special ones are accessible by vehicle; 4WD might be required. Camping is sometimes primitive style, but there are a few with awesome small developed Campgrounds, usually run by the National Forest. Be very eco-conscience while visiting such areas and always practice good outdoor ethics in these extremely sensitive environments . Yep, that mean you too! COURTRIGHT COYOTE LAKE EDISON LAKE GOLD LAKE JUNIPER LAKE RED LAKE Lakes in California are often located inside or next to protected wilderness areas. The impressive Sierra Nevada wilderness with lak

Crab Flats Campground

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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:

Frazier Mill Campground

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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

Cold Springs Campground

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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

Lily Pad Campground

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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

Picacho River Campground

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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

California Wildfires 2013

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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

California Tent Campgrounds

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Tent Camping in California Car camping is also referred to as 'tent camping', where you drive to your destination and pitch a tent to sleep in. Minimal crowds w/ maximum scenery is what most seek. Peace and quiet all weekend is often the goal. Hiking trails, biking trails, horseback trails too. Few RV campers,  if any; Small campgrounds located on one-lane roads, or better yet - dirt roads! mountains • foothills • deserts • beaches • rivers • creeks • meadows • waterfalls • trailheads •  parks • forests • groves • lakes Whether you seek a developed campground: paved, level parking spot w/ toilets; or a primitive spot on a dirt road w/ creek and rock campfire ring... we have all of them listed on this web site. National Parks, National Forests, State Parks, county campgrounds, backpacking trailheads, free car camping, PG&E lake camps, 4x4 camp sites . Here at Total Escape we focus mainly on the secluded camping - off the beaten path, forested back roads camp sites

Free Camping California

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Free camp sites may seem hard to come by in Southern California - or anywhere along the ocean on the popular west coast, but these no charge camps are quite common in the rest of the golden state. The very best camps are found inside the Sierra Nevada mountains and most any forests of Northern California. Free camping usually means remote, secluded and private. Many accessible via dirt road. Creekside, lakeside, 4x4 not required. Minimal tourists, maximum privacy. USDA rangers like to call it dispersed camping . Some parks refer to it as open camping . RV campers refer to free camp sites as boon-docking . If you wish to camp overnight outside of a developed campground , then you will avoid fees and steer clear of any crowds. Many Californians crave the seclusion and privacy of the back roads, totally saturated inside real nature with the wildlife and all. Developing your self sufficient camping techniques means you will have more options and skills to choose your perfect camp

Bass Lake Camping

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Bass Lake is a very popular outdoor recreation area in Gold Country California. Lake Camping, due mainly to the fact that it is next to Yosemite National Park 's south entrance, Hwy 41. Bass Lake has good fishing, boating, plenty campgrounds & this pine forested lake is close to the Central Valley, north of Fresno, CA. aka - Crane Valley Reservoir  Crane Valley Dam Bass Lake offers outdoor recreation: marinas, fishing, permits, public boat launches, boat rentals, kayak rentals, jet ski rentals, horseback rides, horseback and hiking trails. Residential cabins, homes and condo neighborhoods surround the lake on all sides. There are numerous Sequoia Groves tucked way back near Yosemite, behind Bass Lake in Sierra National Forest. Miles and miles of forest roads to explore will lead to secluded, primitive camp sites (free), small campgrounds, creek fishing, lake fishing and recreation, higher elevations, backpacker trailheads, hiking trails, kayaking creeks and rock cli

Cabins for Rent

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Huntington Lake, Sierra National Forest Alpine Cabin Homes, Soda Springs near Donner Pass I-80 Cabins to Rent California has some amazing locations for cabin rentals. Gorgeous scenery in so many places, nearby hiking, mountain biking and fishing. Cabins in the redwoods, cabins on the coast, cabins on rivers, or in the mountains and rustic cabins in the desert. Cabin Communities in California Alta Sierra Bass Lake Ben Lomond Big Bear Big Sur Dardanelle Downieville Fawnskin Huntington Lake Gold Lake Idyllwild Julian June Lake Kernville Lake Almanor Lake Arrowhead Lake Tahoe Mount Laguna Nipton Panamint Springs Pine Mountain Pinecrest Ponderosa Shaver Lake Silver City Truckee Willow Creek  Wrightwood Rental Cabins in California North Coast Shasta/Cascade Gold Country The Sierras San Francisco Central Valley Central Coast The Deserts Los Angeles Orange County Inland Empire San Diego