Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2004 07:36:23 -0700
Reply-To: Chris Sullivan <feedle@FEEDLE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Chris Sullivan <feedle@FEEDLE.NET>
Subject: Re: Camping question.
In-Reply-To: <002301c42644$7dd2b8d0$c800a8c0@laptop>
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On Apr 19, 2004, at 12:28 PM, Jean-Woo Kim wrote:
> For the first time, my family of 4, including 2 small children, went
> camping
> last week in our 87 GL Wolfsburg along the Southern California coast.
> We had
> so much fun. We went to State Park campsites and paid about 15 bucks
> for
> each night.
> What do others do when they go camping in their Vanagons? Is there a
> way to
> camp for free without checking into a campsite? Also, can some listees
> in
> SoCal suggest some good family campsites? My children want to go
> camping
> again.
There are few "free" places to really camp in Southern California,
unfortunately. Since all of our national parks started doing the
"Adventure Pass" program (which will eventually spread nationwide,
we're told), many of the formerly free roadside nooks and crannies
along our rural state highways have become "pay campsites" by nature of
being in one of the local National Forests. Additionally, crime is an
issue: many of the suburban areas where one would be likely to
"boondock" (the High Desert comes to mind here) has a somewhat serious
property crime problem (vandalism and auto theft).
However, the Adventure Pass isn't horribly expensive (I believe it's
$30/year currently) and usually worth it. There are a couple of spots
I'd be willing to share in the Cleveland and San Bernardino Nat'l
Forest... offlist *chuckle*. Except in peak fire season, it's usually
okay to camp anywhere in our local forests provided there's no posting
prohibiting either camping or parking. As always, it's a good idea to
inquire locally.. in fact, I make it a point to ask for suggestions at
ranger stations and the like.. often times, you can get some great
pointers from the friendly folks who work for the Forest Service.
As far as specific recommendations, check out the Chilao campsite in
the Angeles Nat'l Forest. $12/night, no hookups, but nearby water
(when the well isn't dry) and pit toilets. There is a small visitor
center
(http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles/about/visitor-centers-chilao.shtml)
which has a neat 3-D relief map of the Los Angeles area that puts into
perspective exactly how high the nearby mountains really are. It is
closed from around November to April. It is about 30 miles in on
Angeles Crest Highway (CA-2), about 10 miles past the Mount Wilson
road. It's 5200 feet high, so check snow levels before you go or come
expecting cold. My girlfriend and I went up there this past weekend
and there was light snow. There is also a serviceable restaurant
nearby. Wonderful scenery, well-forested area. I, personally, like
the campsites on the Manzanita Loop, especially the ones numbered from
around 19 to around 28. It is a busy campsite, but surprisingly quiet.
The Pacific Crest Trail (and a number of other interesting local
trails) runs close by. (818) 899-1900 for info. Best to call before
you head up there. Note that mid-summer, weekends can be VERY crowded
here. Oh, bring exact change.. it's a self-pay site (meaning: stuff
money in provided envelope and shove envelope into lockbox).
If you like the desert, and have been frustrated by the perpetual lack
of space at Joshua Tree Nat'l Monument, check out the Mojave National
Preserve, out past Barstow. It's still a new National Park, so there
isn't a lot out there yet, but I've had decent enough experiences at
the "Hole-in-The-Wall". Like Chilao, there is no hookups, but running
water and pit toilets (unlike Chilao, they don't have a well problem,
so there is always water). Another campsite out in the Mojave is
"Mid-Hills". The road to Mid-Hills is not paved.. however, it is
usually maintained well enough to get a passenger car down (so a Westy
should present no issues). Mid-Hills is at a higher altitude, with a
small stand of juniper and scrub pines, which makes it surprisingly
pleasant in early summer. Both are $12/night.
Book suggestion: http://tinyurl.com/2deza (amazon link) "The
Unofficial Guide to the Best RV and Tent Campgrounds in California and
the West". This book, plus "Foghorn Outdoors: California Camping"
http://tinyurl.com/3gf3k (also amazon) are indispensable, and both
should be part of every California RV'ers/camper's library.
Hope that steers you in the right direction.
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