Tag Archives: hike

Yosemite BLM Camping

merced BLM sign

BLM Merced River
Cheaper Camping
West of Yosemite NP

California Highway 140 (CA State Route 140) accesses Yosemite National Park from the west side @ Mariposa, CA. This not-so-secret camp spot is set in an ideal location, off the main highway and right on the river.

river road

Merced River crosses the highway near MidPines @ Briceburg Road, with 3 small BLM campgrounds located along the river. These river camps are open all year round, are dirt cheap and only available on a first come, first serve basis. There are numerous walk-in camp sites, where you must haul your gear and park a short distance away.

railroadflat

Briceburg River Road

BLM Briceburg Visitors Center
OPEN ONLY Saturday and Sunday 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Dirt road access w/ turn off at the Briceburg Information Center on California Highway 140. West of El Portal, CA and east of MidPines. Nearest grocery and services are 12 miles away to the west in Mariposa, California

BRING ALL YOU NEED for your overnight stay, as driving in and out on this (20 mph) dirt road can be an easy “half-day affair” with road conditions, passing traffic, potholes, stops for lunch, sightseeing and a gasoline stop. If you plan to do day-trips into Yosemite National Park – be aware that Yosemite Valley is ONE hour away from Briceburg, eastward via paved mountain roads.

Driving this non-paved route requires crossing a narrow suspension bridge, where big vehicles, RVs, trailers and rigs longer than 18′ are not recommended. The one-lane, dead-end dirt road hugs the cliff edge, above the river, is one lane in some spots, and mostly graded with a few pot holes; almost 5 miles long – ending at a locked gate with trailhead parking. Next to a vault toilet. (Not an ideal spot to be stuck at)

briceburg bridge
Briceburg Suspension Bridge
  • camping

  • fishing

  • hiking

  • kayaking

  • river rafting

  • swimming

  • wildflowers

campground full

Merced River Recreation Management Area

rare empty campsite

camp

BLM Campgrounds @ Merced River

vault toilet, picnic table, fire ring
and an overnight fee to go with

McCabe Flat Campground

Willow Placer Campground

Railroad Flat Campground

last camp view

BLM Hiking @ Merced River

This rugged canyon was the site of the historic railway called YVRR (Yosemite Valley Railroad), which hugs the Merced River for many miles. Now numerous hiking and biking trails. Dog friendly BLM campground. Walk-in campsites.

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The old Yosemite Valley Railroad Grade
wildflower merced
California milkweed

merced poppy patch

Active Outdoors California

Experience California, Outside

Above Convict Lake, CA
Above Convict Lake, CA

Go west young man. The left coast, the best coast. California is the state of vacation paradise. Zillions relocate to the golden state to experience the wonderful weather and more life out doors. It is one of the top US destinations in terms of number of people visiting.

Beautiful, fantastic and scenic; there is something for everyone, unique coastline, wild terrain, mountains, deserts. Camp for free, or find a luxury RV resort. We have accommodations listed for every type of traveler.

camping

Leisure

skies

Small towns, big cities, freeways, farms, and lots of mountains. Weather is always the biggest draw, attracting millions to the sunshine on the West Coast. Another major factor in the population is diversity. Come for college and never want to leave. Near perfect weather, locally grown food, great wine, alpine lakes, freeways and earthquakes too.

Whether you are out for a week long road trip, living on the road full time or just planning a one day escape from the city, you are bound to find it here in California.

emptycampsite
Sly Creek Reservoir Campground

Drastic desert landscapes, extreme mountain peaks, granite rock walls, raging rivers, volcanic landscapes, and plenty of adventures. Follow the images above and below to discover new spots & explore hidden secrets. We have thousands of pages just on California.

snowy bridges
Big California Winters?

snow

sledding

snowmo

truckcamper

Sierra Nevada Lakes
Mojave Desert
Anza Borrego
Boulder Gardens
Wildflowers
Sequoia Groves
Camping Redwoods
Shasta Cascades
Mill Creek California
Free Campgrounds Sierra

hiker

big sur jade cove
Big Sur Coast @ Jade Cove
kernrivertube
Kern River @ Fairview
Blue Lake, Modoc National Forest
Blue Lake, Modoc National Forest
Northeast California
Northeast California is Cattle Country

Soak in a primitive hot springs near Mammoth Mountain, snow ski the slopes @ Lake Tahoe or maybe antique shop in Virginia City, NV

US Hwy 395 runs up the eastern side of California, with the highest Sierra peaks towering on the west side of Owens valley. Fossil Falls, Mount Whitney, Alabama Hills and Death Valley NP, all easily accessible. This main artery, a north-south route from LA to Reno, offers some of the best sightseeing and outdoor recreation in the whole state.

Wheeling

 

PCT Highlights

Pacific Crest Hiking Trail

trailtoPCT
Bucks Lake Wilderness – Silver Lake to Gold Lake ridge line hiking trail.

pct

 

Highlights of the PCT route:

(from south to north)

hiker

elevation: high altitude

PCT maps: topographic

trailheadcamp

burney falls

Llama Pack Trips

Llama Packing Trips

Pack Animals for backcountry trips are not limited to only horses. Goats, mules, donkeys and llamas are also used for wilderness trekking and backcountry trips. Llama outfits can offer overnight lodging, as well as meals, on their beautiful, rural properties.

Llama Pack Camping California

Pack llamas for rent. At one time there were dozens of California llama outfitters, now-a-days there are only a few of these types of businesses left, as we display in the list below.

Fort Bragg, CA

Lodging and Llamas
18301 Old Coast Hwy
707-964-7191
2 fully furnished cottages,
hot tubs, fireplace, pet friendly

Julian, CA

Wikiup Bed & Breakfast Inn
1645 Whispering Pines Dr.
800-694-5487
Llama Petting Hours: 9am – 5pm daily

Grass Valley, CA

Highland Llama Trekkers
14223 Highland Dr.
530-273-8105
Llama sales & Pack trips

driftwood

skies

Many people confused llamas with alpacas, but they are indeed two different animals. Llamas are larger, growing to twice the size of alpacas and llamas belong to the camel family. Alpacas are very much herd animals, while llamas are more independent minded. Alpacas also tend to be a bit more skittish than llamas. Differences Between Llamas and Alpacas

As the number of pack animal outfitters within California have decreased, over the past 2 decades – alpaca farms have instead tripled.

alpaca farm tour

Alpacas farms may offer visitor tours, boarding and sales, breeding, but no wilderness treks; Sometimes they sell alpaca fiber (otherwise known as yarn), and they may have alpaca gifts and handmade items for sale.

Rayo LlamaTreck

Alpaca Farms in California

(visits by appointment only, call first to confirm)

Alba Alpacas
80 Feghali Rd.
Ramona, CA 92065
858-337-4656

A & M Ranch
Madera Ranchos
RV Camp sites
Madera, CA

Alpacas of El Dorado
4535 Boo Bear Lane
Somerset, CA 95684
530-642-8082

Alpacas of Somerset Farm
8226 Stoney Creek Rd
Somerset, CA 95684
530-620-6033
530-744-7474

Arapaho Rose Alpacas
10702 Arapaho Dr.
Redding, CA 96003
530-223-3364

Loomis Alpacas
3600 Holly Hill Lane
Loomis, CA 95650
916-768-0735

RockStar Alpacas
16440 Bonney Road
Royal Oaks, CA 95076
831-212-3695

Sierra Rose Alpacas
15895 Greenhorn Road
Grass Valley, CA 95945
530-272-1218

The Alpaca ​Hacienda
31755 Rancho Vista Road
Temecula, CA
951-440-9021
Tours, boarding & Sales only

 


Smith River Camping California

Panther Flat

Forests & Parks near
Smith River California

Del Norte Redwoodspinetree
Florence Keller Park
Jedediah Smith Redwoods SP
Siskiyou Wilderness
Six Rivers National Forest
Smith River NRA

camp

Campgrounds along the Smith River

listed from north to south

Patrick Creek Campground (open May – Sept)

Grassy Flat Campground (open May – Sept)

Panther Flat Campground (open all year)
coin operated showers; walk to town, Gasquet, CA

North Fork Campground (open all year)

Jedediah Smith Redwoods
State Park Campground
(open all year)

Big Flat Campground (open May – Oct)
remote location, off County Road 405

Florence Keller Park
County Park & Campground
@ US Hwy 101

Panther Flat CG

camptruck

Dispersed Camping on River

Water

NFS Cabin Rentals

bycounty

PDF Smith River Map & Guide
6.5  MB download
20 page river guide w/ trailheads mileage and information, navigable runs detailed, campgrounds, picnic sites, fire lookout tower, plus cabin rentals

USDA Smith River page

Smith River NRA Visitor Center
10600 Highway 199
Gasquet, CA 95543
707-457-3131

Epipactis gigantea-1-lg

towns near the Smith River: