Camping in Northern California

[mbalmer]

I want to go camping. Just for one to two nights here and there. I don't want to travel more than 3 hours to get there. I can't find anything that does not require a reservation. It also irks me that it costs $35 for a single night of camping when I'm just pitching a tent. I don't mind paying the big fee when I bring an RV. Sometimes I just want to ride my motorcycle, park, pitch a tent, and relax. I'm asking for ideas of where I can go that doesn't cost much if anything. Primitive camping is fine. Dirt roads are also fine as my motorcycle is a dual sport. I don't want to get too remote when I go solo. Ideas??

[maestro8]

You live in a valley with several million weekend warrior types. There are a finite number of state parks (even less since many have closed) within a few hours drive. These are the facts.

You're going to have to drive / ride a ways to find camping. At least 2-3 hours. What you can do is find BLM land and plunk down a tent... such as just outside the entrance to Yosemite Nat'l Park. (This is how one can do a weekend in Yosemite without planning)

I've been lucky to show up at some state parks sans reservation, right at check-out time, and snag a spot from someone who left their site early, or from someone who never showed up to take their reservation. But that's not a sure thing.

There are parks with first-come-first-serve sites, but you have to arrive earrrrrly, as in Thursday evening or Friday morning. These places fill up fast.

[Young at heart]

We camped around the country 38 years ago when we got married. The best campground was somewhere in N. Calif, about a days drive fron San Fran, but I didn't write the name down. Giant ferns dwarfed our small tent and the fee was $3. Probably $35 now, if it is even still there. The best part was a native told us about a dirt road to an unmarked beach that was empty and beautiful. Good luck with your search.

[Nurse Ben]

Drive to the Feather River Canyon, then head up toward Quincy. You can primitive camp in National Forest, any place that has a pull out, but you will not be able to have a camp fire without a permit. Expect crowds where there is water...

Another choice is to head up to South Lake Tahoe on 88 (?) and find a place along there, though that area has gotten more traffic, so you might have to go all the way up to Kirkwood for some R and R.

Also consider going North to Redding, then out to the coast, nice stuff out there as well. Maybe some primitive camping on Point Reyes, though I'm sure it's gotten busier since I was last there...

How about the Lost Coast/Pendleton?

Shoot, it's a big drive, but no one goes to Shasta proper, the town and mountain, that's a big drive but there's a lot of NF land up there.

In general, three hours is not far enough when you live in a big metro area, so give yourself 4-5 hours and you can probably find someplace nice. A little extra drive is worth it.

With school being out, how about going to San Luis Obispo?

Have you considered moving North