Camping

[cdirth]

Are there any good places to camp within a few hours of the bay that you can have a fire, pets are allowed, and maybe have to do a little offroading to get to?

 

[556.sig]

I know a nice spot up an hour and a half from me (I'm in north Sacramento and the area is up highway 80 near eagle lakes road). Its a good 30 min. trail drive to an unregulated camping area along the river. PM me if you want some more details. It would be a solid 3 hour drive for you just to the trailhead, though.

 

[2003-4x4runner]

[MENTION=133562]cdirth[/MENTION], Check out Prewitt Ridge Campground past Big Sur off HWY 1. Its about a 3 hour drive from San Jose. Its a primitive campground, ( no water or toilets) The place has great ocean views with some light off roading trails. You can have dogs and fire's, as long as you have a fire permit.

 

[zxpwr350]

bringing this thread back from the archives...

I think Gold Lake is a candidate on this list. 4-5hrs away from the bay. Never been but it's the first on my list for summer. The place looks awesome during summer time on the videos I've seen.

Any other places? Ideally close enough for younger kids to endure the travel time. Also, close to the water (lake, beach, river) or will excellent views is plus.

 

[Trojan4x4]

bringing this thread back from the archives...

I think Gold Lake is a candidate on this list. 4-5hrs away from the bay. Never been but it's the first on my list for summer. The place looks awesome during summer time on the videos I've seen.

Any other places? Ideally close enough for younger kids to endure the travel time. Also, close to the water (lake, beach, river) or will excellent views is plus.

I would suggest Mendocino camp grounds or cow mountain. Might get couple bears in Mendocino but I think they are still sleeping...too cold.
Not a lot of snakes or tics too. Knoxville is OK to if you wanna do more wheeling but it's a snake territory, no bears though . Pick your poison

 

[thenightman]

[MENTION=133562]cdirth[/MENTION], Check out Prewitt Ridge Campground past Big Sur off HWY 1. Its about a 3 hour drive from San Jose. Its a primitive campground, ( no water or toilets) The place has great ocean views with some light off roading trails. You can have dogs and fire's, as long as you have a fire permit.

I was just up here, and agree. Off Nacimento-fergusen road you can get on coastal ridge road, or south coast ridge road, both are dirt roads. I haven't been on coastal ridge road, but there are lots of primitive campsites with excellent veiws of ocean and hills on south coast ridge road.
Check out tassajara road as well, it starts in Carmel valley, is dirt, and has good campsites along it.

 

[gamefreakgc]

bringing this thread back from the archives...

I think Gold Lake is a candidate on this list. 4-5hrs away from the bay. Never been but it's the first on my list for summer. The place looks awesome during summer time on the videos I've seen.

Any other places? Ideally close enough for younger kids to endure the travel time. Also, close to the water (lake, beach, river) or will excellent views is plus.

I second Gold Lake, or honestly any of the lakes in the basin. It's absolutely gorgeous up there with great hiking and off-roading. The drive up to the fire lookout at the top of the Sierra Buttes is fun but not too challenging for more stock vehicles like mine. No rocks but steep & bumpy lol. I usually tent camp near Packer Lake and then use that as a base to explore from there.

You have to spend at least one sunset at Lower Sardine Lake. Absolutely gorgeous.