Orange County RV Parks

CA Orange County / RV Park Orange County

Orange County Parks / Orange County RV Camping

Newport Balboa Island
Anaheim Harbor RV Park
1009 South Harbor Blvd
Anaheim, CA
888 835-6495
714 535-6495

Anaheim Resort RV Park
200 W. Midway Dr
Anaheim, CA
714 774-3860

Anaheim Vacation Park
311 North Beach Blvd
Anaheim, CA
800 772-3636

Canyon RV Park
Santa Ana River
24001 Santa Ana Canyon Rd
Anaheim, CA
714 637-0210

CC Camperland RV Park
12262 Harbor Blvd
Garden Grove, CA
714 750-6747

Lake Elsinore Marina & RV Resort
32700 Riverside Dr
Lake Elsinore, CA
800 328-6844
951 678-1300

Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort
1131 Back Bay Dr
Newport Beach, CA
800 765-7661
949 729-3863

Orangeland RV Park
1600 W. Struck Ave
Orange, CA
714 633-0414

Ortega Oaks RV Park & Campground
34040 Ortega Hwy
Lake Elsinore, CA
888 816-5833
951 678-9136

San Diego RV Parks

San Diego RV Camping / RV Park San Diego

RV Campgrounds San Diego

San Diego RV Camping

All Seasons RV Park
30012 Highway 395
Escondido, CA
760 749-2982

Butterfield Ranch RV Resort
Anza Borrego Desert
14925 Great Southern Overland Stage Route
Julian, CA
760 765-1463

Campland On The Bay
Mission Bay / Sea World
2211 Pacific Beach Dr
San Diego, CA
800 422-9386
858 581-4200

Champagne Lakes RV Resort
8310 Nelson Way
Escondido, CA
760 749-7572

Chula Vista RV Resort
460 Sandpiper Way
Chula Vista, CA
800 770-2878
619 422-0111

KQ Ranch Camping Resort
449 KQ Ranch Road
Julian, CA
866 217-8111
760 765-2244

Lake Cuyamaca RV Campground
15027 Hwy 79
Julian, CA
877 581-9904
760 765-0515

Oak Knoll Campground
Palomar Mountain
31718 South Grade Rd
Pauma Valley, CA
800 977-3920

Oceanside RV Park
1510 S. Coast
Oceanside, CA
760 722-4404

Paradise by the Sea RV Resort
1537 South Coast Hwy
Oceanside, CA
760 439-1376

Pinezanita RV Park & Campgrounds
4446 Highway 79
Julian, CA
760 765-0429

Rancho Los Coches RV Park
13468 Highway 8 (business loop)
Lakeside, CA
800 630-0448
619 443-2025

Sacred Rocks RV Park & Retreat
(formerly Outdoor World RV Park)
1331 Shasta Way
Boulevard, CA
619 766-4480

Santa Fe Park RV Resort
Mission Bay
5707 Santa Fe St
San Diego, CA
800 959-3787
858 272-4051

Santee Lakes Preserve
9310 Fanita Pkwy
Santee, CA
619 596-3141

Stagecoach Trails RV Resort
R.V. Equestrian & Wildlife Camping
7878 Great Southern Overland Stage Rt
Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Julian, CA
760 765-2197

Sunshine Summit
35025 Hwy. 79
Warner Springs CA
760 782-3537

Woods Valley Kampground
15236 Woods Valley Rd
Valley Center, CA
760 749-2905

Wine Country RV Parks

Valley Wineries / RV Camp Ground / Valley Resorts

Napa RV Campgrounds / California Wine Country San Francisco

Napa RV Campgrounds

Albatross Acres
5545 Old Highway 53
Clearlake, CA
707 994-1194

Arrow RV Park
Clear Lake CA
707 274-7715

Dutcher Creek RV Park
230 Theresa Dr
Cloverdale, CA
707 894-4829

Edgewater Resort
6420 Soda Bay Rd
Kelseyville, CA
707 279-0208

Hidden Valley Lake Campground
19234 Hidden Valley Rd,
Middletown, CA
707 987-9079

Garner’s Resort
6235 Old Highway 53
Clearlake, CA
707 994-6267

Glenhaven
Clear Lake CA
707 998-3406

Island Park Resort
12840 Island Dr
Clearlake Oaks, CA
707 998-3940

Lake Place Resort
9515 Harbor Dr
Glenhaven, CA
707 998-3331

North Shore Resort
Clear Lake CA
707 274-7771

River Bend Resort
11820 River Rd
Forestville CA
707 887-7662

Sea Breeze Resort
9595 Harbor Dr
Glenhaven, CA
707 998-3327

Shaw’s Shady Acres
Clear Lake CA
707 994-2236

Talley’s Family Resort
3827 Highway 20
Nice, CA
707 274-1177

Vineyard RV Park
4985 Midway Rd
Vacaville, CA
866 447-8797
707 693-8797

Wine Country RV Park Sonoma Grove
7450 Cristobal Way
Rohnert Park, CA
707 795-9333

Central California RV Parks

California Delta Camping / River Parks

Central Valley Campground

Chico RV Park

Almond Tree RV Park
3124 Esplanade
Chico, CA
530 899-1271

Bakersfield RV Resort
5025 Wible Rd
Bakersfield, CA 93303
661-833-9998

Bear Mountain RV Park
16501 South Union
Bakersfield, CA 93307
661-834-3811

Delta Marina RV
California Delta
Sacramento CA
707 374-2315

Dos Reis RV
California Delta
Sacramento CA
209 953-8800

Durango RV Resort
100 Lake Ave
Red Bluff, CA
866 770-7001
530 527-5300

Eddo’s Harbor & RV
California Delta
Sacramento CA
925 757-5314

Green Acres RV Park
4812 Westside Rd
Redding, CA
800 891-6777

Parkway RV Resort
6330 Newville Rd
Orland, CA
800 468-9452
530 865-9188

Quail Trails Village
RV Campground
5081 Wilderness Village
Paradise, CA
530 877-6581

Red Bluff RV Park
80 Chestnut Ave
Red Bluff, CA
530 529-2929

River Reflections RV Park & Campground
4360 Pacific Heights Rd
Oroville, CA 95965
530-533-1995

Sacramento River Park & RV
6596 Riverland Dr
Redding CA
530 365-6402

Snug Harbor Park
3356 Snug Harbor Dr
Walnut Grove, CA 95690
916 775-1455

Westgate Landing RV
California Delta
Sacramento CA
209 953-8800

see more about these towns –

Trinity RV Park

Trinity River / Northern Cal RV Campground

Trinity River California

Big Foot Campground
Trinity River, Trinity Lake
Junction City, CA 96048
800 422-5219
530-623-6088

Del Loma RV Park
Trinity River, Hwy 299 W
Big Bar, CA 96010
800 839-0194
530 623-2834

Lakeview Terrace Resort
Lewiston CA
530 778-380

Trinity Adventure Park
Highway 299
Junction City, CA
800-839-PARK

Trinity River RV Campground
Trinity River, Trinity Lake
7420 Rush Creek Road
Lewiston, CA 96052
530 778-379

Wyntoon Resort
Trinity Center CA
530 266-3337

Eastern Sierra RV Park

Eastern California RV Camping / E Sierra Nevada

Eastern Sierra Nevada RV Campgrounds Hwy 395

Eastern Sierra

Boulder Creek RV Resort
Eastern Sierra Mt Whitney
2550 S. Hwy 395
Lone Pine, CA 93545
800 648-8965
760 876-4243

June Lake RV Park
Eastern Sierra
P.O. Box 55
155 Crawford Ave.
June Lake, CA 93529
760 648-7967

Meadow Cliff Resort
Eastern Sierra Hwy 395
Coleville, Walker CA
888-333-8132
530 495-2255

Paradise Lodge
Bishop, CA
760 387-2370

Paradise Shores RV Park
Eastern Sierra
Bridgeport, CA
760-932-7735

Shady Rest Trailer Park
399 E Yaney St
Bishop, CA
760 873-3430

Sierra View RV Park
Eastern Sierra Mt Whitney
532 N. Main St. Hwy 395
Lone Pine, CA 93545
760-876-5313

Silver Lake Fishing Resort
6957 Highway 158
June Lake, CA
760 648-7525

Twin Lakes Resort RV Park
Eastern Sierra Twin Lakes
Bridgeport CA
877 932-7751

High Sierra RV Park

High Sierra RV Resort / Sierra Nevada RV Camping

Sierra Nevada RV

Camp Richardson Resort
Lake Tahoe RV
1900 Jameson Beach Road
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96158
800-544-1801
530-541-1801

Chris Haven RV
Lake Tahoe RV
2030 E Street
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
530 541-1895

Cisco Grove Campground & RV Park
High Sierra
48415 Hampshire Rock Road
Soda Springs, CA 95728
530 426-1600

Coachland RV Park
High Sierra
10100 Pioneer Trail
Truckee, CA 96161
530 587-3071

Dardanelle Resort
High Sierra
Sonora Pass, Hwy 108
Dardanelle CA
209 965-4205

Hope Valley Resort & Campground
West Fork Carson River
Hope Valley, CA
800-423-9949

Meeks Bay Resort
7941 Emerald Bay Rd
Meeks Bay
Lake Tahoe CA
877 326-3357
530 525-6946
775 267-2178

Pioneer RV Park
1326 Pioneer Rd
Quincy, CA 95971
888 216-3266

Plasse’s Resort at Silver Lake
High Sierra, Hwy 4
Silver Lake, CA
209 258-8814

Sugarpine RV Campground
High Sierra RV Park
Sonora Pass, Hwy 108
Dodge Ridge
Sugarpine CA
800 326-9014

Sierra RV Parks

Yosemite Pines RV Resort & Family Lodging
Yosemite National Park
20450 Old Highway 120
Groveland, CA 95321
877 962-7690
209 962-7690

209 spaces / cabin rentals
Located 30 minutes from the gates of Yosemite National Park

Yosemite RV Park

Boulder Creek RV Resort
Eastern Sierra, Mt. Whitney
2550 S. Hwy 395
Lone Pine, CA 93545
800 648-8965
760 876-4243

Camp Richardson Resort
1900 Jameson Beach Road
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96158
800-544-1801
530-541-1801

Chris Haven RV
Lake Tahoe RV
2030 E Street
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
530 541-1895

Cisco Grove Campground & RV Park
High Sierra
48415 Hampshire Rock Road
Soda Springs, CA 95728
530 426-1600

Coachland RV Park
High Sierra
10100 Pioneer Trail
Truckee, CA 96161
530 587-3071

Golden Pines RV Resort & Campground
Camp Connell, Arnold, CA
209 795-2820

High Sierra RV Park & Campground
Yosemite National Park
40389 Hwy 41
Oakhurst CA
559 683-7662

Indian Flat RV Park
Yosemite National Park
9988 Highway 140
El Portal, CA 95318
209-379-2339

June Lake RV Park
Eastern Sierra
P.O. Box 55
155 Crawford Ave.
June Lake, CA 93529
760 648-7967

Lake Isabella RV Resort
Kern River, Southern Sierra
Lake Isabella, CA
800-787-9920

Lemon Cove RV Park
Sequoia National Park
Lemon Cove CA
559 597-2346

Paradise Shores RV Park
Eastern Sierra
Bridgeport, CA
760-932-7735

Plasse’s Resort at Silver Lake
High Sierra, Hwy 4
Silver Lake, CA
209 258-8814

Sierra View RV Park
Eastern Sierra, Mt Whitney
532 N. Main St. Hwy 395
Lone Pine, CA 93545
760-876-5313

Sugarpine RV Campground
High Sierra RV Park
Sonora Pass, Hwy 108
Dodge Ridge
Sugarpine CA
800 326-9014

Wishon Village RV Resort
66500 McKinley Grove Rd
Shaver Lake, CA 93664
559 865-5361

RV Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada Trips

Total Escape specializes in California locations & the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains are the backbone to the gorgeous golden state. From the Tehachapi Mountains to the Lassen Volcano, we cover the best back roads for camping, fishing, biking, hiking, kayaking, backpacking, off-roading & hot springing.

Summer is the time to explore the High Sierra. During the fall, winter, and spring, precipitation in the Sierra ranges from 20-80 inches, mostly as snow above 6000′ elevation.

Giant Sequoias are the most massive trees in the world. Sequoia trees can be found in several locations within the Sierras, from the Western Divide Hwy to northern areas of Yosemite Park on Hwy 120. Within Total Escape you can find the hidden groves too.

Eastern Sierra along Hwy 395, is all about the drastic elevations & volcano valleys. The Mono Craters are the youngest mountain range in North America. Located near Mono Lake & Lee Vining CA.

mono lake views

National Forests & Wilderness areas within the Sierra Nevada range:

Sequoia National Forest

  • Dome Land Wilderness
  • Golden Trout Wilderness

Sierra National Forest

  • Ansel Adams Wilderness
  • Kaiser Wilderness

Inyo National Forest

  • John Muir Wilderness
  • Golden Trout Wilderness

Stanislaus National Forest

  • Carson Iceberg Wilderness
  • Emigrant Wilderness

El Dorado National Forest

  • Mokelumne Wilderness

Toiyabe National Forest

  • Hoover Wilderness

Tahoe National Forest

  • Desolation Wilderness
  • Granite Chief Wilderness

Plumas National Forest

Lassen National Forest

Sierra Nevada destinations

The most popular Sierra destinations:

MAMMOTH LAKES

GOLD COUNTRY California

LAKE TAHOE California

MOUNT WHITNEY

JUNE LAKE Loop

YOSEMITE VALLEY

SEQUOIA Park

Some unheard of spots in the Sierra Nevada:

DARDANELLE CA

COURTRIGHT

PONDEROSA CA

GOLD LAKE

LONG BARN

ALTA SIERRA

PINE CREST

Mountain Home State Forest

McKINLEY GROVE

Monache Meadows

county line

County Line trailhead in Stanislaus National Forest, Sonora Pass

Independent Lodge

independent innsWhen you are staying inside a chain hotel, you can be in any city or town & the rooms all look the same. From Redding to Redlands, there is no difference.

No unique decor, no local pamphlets on area attractions, no wonderful view of the river.  No recommendations on dinner restaurants. Total Escape does not list chain hotels on our web site. We believe in supporting the mom-n-pops, the small independent inns, the rural cabins, the resort properties, the real back road businesses – that desire your business.

Common links point to third party vendors that lists chains, but we would rather save our page space for the real gems of California.

Make use of our 3000 lodges in the California Lodge Directory & make sure to tell them you found it on Total Escape!

California Lake Cabins

Camp lakes are a vacation like no other. Pines, fresh air, clean water, weather. California lake property is a dream, a rare thing. We should all treasure the snow melt & the alpine vistas. Innkeepers who offer up their lake front properties for tourist lodging are few and far in between. Here are the some top spots & a few unknown destinations for California Lakes with cabin rentals. (if you prefer not to rough it on the back roads)

Sierra Nevada California:

Pine Crest Lake, CA

Gold Lake, California

Huntington Lake, CA

Lake Tahoe, California

Green Valley Lake, CA

Twin Lakes, Bridgeport, CA

Edison Lake, High Sierra

Shaver Lake, Sierra Nevada

Northern California Lakes:

Lake Almanor, California

Lake Shasta, Obrien CA

Lewiston Trinity, California

Wanna campground on the lake instead of a cabin?

Start with the nearby National Forests.

www.flickr.com

Images of California

Here at Total Escape we known the subtle sensations that come with nature: overlooking a great view of scenic wilderness, or finding that perfect creekside campsite, or crossing that dry lake bed, real fast. Photographs are worth more than 1000 words. This web site is nearing a dozen years online & the founder, DanaMite, has burnt thru only one Nikon digital camera (so far).

If you are searching for a special place to relax, or to explore, you’ve come to the right spot.

California Camping Photos

kearsarge hike

Campfire Safety

camp fires California

Building Camp Fires in California

  • Obtain a free campfire permit, for campfires outside of developed campgrounds
  • Camp with a bucket, water, shovel &/or a fire extinguisher
  • Build campfires in designated areas ONLY; Obey all fire restrictions
  • If you must build a new rock ring, follow the guide on FireSafe
  • Gather wood for fuel — use only down or dead wood
  • Never burn plastics or other toxic materials in campfires; Gasoline geysers are not eco-friendly
  • Tossing beer bottle caps into a campfire only litters the site for future campers
  • While amateur glass bottle smelting is a real treat for boys at night, which one is actually gonna get their hands dirty & clean up broken glass outta the campfire the following morning?
  • Always douse campfire with water completely & stir it, when breaking camp
  • See more on the California FireSafe page

RV camp ground Mojave

San Bernardino County Parks w/ Campgrounds
Regional Camping Parks in SoCal Deserts

Calico Ghost Town

Camping & Cabins near developed ghost town center & I-15.

Moabi County Park

on the Colorado River; Elevation 470′
NEEDLES CA
760-326-3831

150 RV sites, tent camping. Hot showers, restrooms, marina, store, fishing, boating, BBQ, camp fire rings, picnic tables & shelter; Open year round, no reservations required. Moabi Park has over 160 acres of open area riding for OHV use. more info here

Mojave Narrows Park

off I-15; near Victorville CA
760-245-2226
85 RV sites, tent camping. Hot showers, restrooms, hiking & equestrian trails, BBQ, camp fire rings, picnic tables; Open year round, no reservations required. more info here

Mojave River Forks

18395 Highway 173, Hesperia, CA 92345
760-389-2322

50 RV sites, tent camping. Hot showers, restrooms, hiking & equestrian trails, BBQ, camp fire rings, picnic tables; Open year round, reservations recommended.
more info here

Prado County Park

between the borders of Orange & Los Angeles counties.
on Highway 83, S of Hwy 60 & N of Hwy 91
CHINO CA
909-597-4260

75 RV sites, tent camping. Hot showers, restrooms, fishing, boating, waterslides, BBQ, camp fire rings, picnic tables & shelter; Open year round, reservations recommended.
more info here

Yucaipa County Park

885 acres in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains
From Interstate 10, exit on Yucaipa Blvd, go north and east to Oak Glen Road, turn north and east.
909-790-3127
RV camping & group sites
Hot showers, restrooms, fishing, boating, horseback rentals, BBQ, camp fire rings, picnic tables & shelter; Open year round, reservations recommended. more info here

Bay Area Picnic

San Francisco Picnic Grounds – San Francisco Parks

San Mateo County Parks & Picnic Grounds

East Bay Picnic Parks

pescadero

Picnic destinations near San Francisco Bay Area


Utah Red Dirt Roads

Zion waterfalla

Zion National Park after a huge thunderstorm afternoon (late summer)

 

Hiking trails? That’s pretty much all we did in Zion & Grand Cyn.(N. Rim) Angels Landing…great 5-6 hour hike in Zion! Major elevation gain, but well worth it. Did a small Canyon overlook trail with spectacular views espcially at sunset. Hiked into the Grand Cyn. on the North Kaibab trail, but it was covered in mule poop & was a pretty stinky trip. Wish I could have spent the day differently. Next time I hike into the canyon, I’ll remember to pick a trail that is NOT used by animals.
 
Explored the Narrows a bit, before the afternoon thunderstorm. It was flash flood season & we didn’t want to be caught in a slot canyon. 2 California men (bodies) were pulled out earlier last month. Rangers are serious when they warn about the dangers of hiking in the afternoon or even the wrong season. It was weird weather. Sunny one minute, stormy the next. Couple of thunder storms dumped on us at night. EEEkkk. My tent held up fine. Good big ole Coleman condo style..I love it! Didn’t get wet, no leaking.
 
My favorite campground (just E of Zion , N.Fork Virgin River – Ponderosa-Zion primtive camp) was inaccessible due to slick, muddy dirt roads. We tried, believe me… we really tried, but the “dirt roads are impassable when wet” notes all over the maps aren’t kidding. I just wanted to find out for myself. Ended up at a convenient (but expensive) campground just outside Zions East entrance station.
 
That Utah red clay dirt is very slippery. I got about 2-3 mi. up the road, before I loss control. Fish tailin’ all over & stopping on the edge of a cliff. Those small oak trees wouldn’t have braced my Amigo if I did go over. Scarey! My BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tires were packed solid. No tread at all & you know me, NO 4 wheel drive either. Luckily, I had 2 very strong guys & a lot of patience. Using sticks to scrape some mud out, my friends pushing my vehicle & a tedious 11-point U-turn, we got outta that bad sitch. Headed down hill, slowly, cautiously & praying for gravel & pavement to start soon. A little dirty & a few minutes on cam-corder. It should be a fun experience to re-live through video later. Hey, whats that saying??….”that which does not kill us, makes us stonger”. I think I live by that motto.

Joshua Tree Desert Camping

4:00 AM–Thank God I packed up the car before going to sleep just six hours ago. Trying to hitch the bike rack up is a chore and a half but it’s before long that we find ourselves on the road to Joshua Tree Nat’l Park. Leaving this early makes the drive through the desert a little more tolerable. Soon enough we’re entering Twenty-nine Palms with its interesting murals with just a few more miles to go before the turn off. Then the wheel is turned onto a dirt road that takes us into the backside of the park through Bureau of Land Management acres. The trail proves that any 4X or skilled SUV driver can cruise on these bumpy and sandy roads. This area is known for the many mining sites that have either been abandoned or are still in operation along the hillsides and canyons. Some of them date back more than fifty years. Evidence to their boom years are evident everywhere, cabin structures with bullet marks, rusting steel laying all over the place, gapping holes in the earth partly filled in with boulders or covered up with strong steel mesh covering all entrance into the ground. This is done to prevent the novice climber from making the wrong mistake of even thinking about a descend into the earth. Here is where my girlfriend and I decide to set up camp on the edge of the park boundaries. Most of this area is completely desolate and even in the 90-degree heat proves to keep us searching for shade. There are plenty of trails to explore by foot or bike, but as you travel on the road through the park, the sandy bottom tests our endurance as it becomes harder and harder to petal along the road. Best bet if your head bent on doing this is to start out earlier to avoid heat exhaustion or fatigue. The desert sky at night becomes envelopes into million of glittering stars with a noticeable satellite cruising the heavens on its pre destined course. A telescope will maximize this view which wouldn’t be so spectacular if observed in the city with its constant hazy glare at night. Driving through Joshua Tree gives the travelers the awesome feeling of desert tranquility. The Ocotillo trees sway in the afternoon breeze, lizards scurry in every walk of life, desert wildflowers adds color and diversity to such an dry, monotonous landscape. Even the mighty Joshua Tree forest astonishing the traveler with awe, realizing how many years it took for them to grow over the many hundreds of years to be the height they are here in this arid place.From our next campsite, White Tank, we climbed around the rock formations that had been weathered by the elements. A nice workout on Mother Natures Playground is what I like to consider it with tons of excitement for the naturalist and avid explorer-climber. Everyone getting his or her kicks hanging off some slab of rock some seventy feet off the desert floor. If you like to go off-roading, there are plenty of roads around the mining areas with some nice terrain that isn’t too hairy for travelling on. Within the park boundaries, there are nice vantage points to view the Palm Springs Valley from a far as well as Mount Jacinto in the distance. One such viewing point is called Keys View. Campgrounds inside the park can range between ten to a hundred-fifty sites so make sure you know which campsite you would prefer before settling for the first empty site you come across.

If you want some privacy, be sure you ask the ranger about availability before setting up camp. You could have to listen to families and yahoo chatter all night if you don’t plan ahead of the ruckus.

CA Hills

CA hillHow high is a hill?

Vague answer is 1000 feet (305 meters)
Only 1000′ elevation to make it to mountain status

Mountain terrain and hills occupy approximately 36% of the Earth’s land area. In California we have plenty of both. The San Andreas fault does a great job at making that happen along the coast where the Pacific plate is sliding against the North American plate. On the peninsula called Point Reyes in San Francisco, there are rocks on the cliff that match those of Tehachapi, in the Southern Sierra, some 300 miles away.

California is rising from the ocean; the Sierra Nevada mountains prove it, as one of the fastest growing ranges on earth. The lunar landscape of Mono Craters, up near Lee Vining, is the youngest mountain range on the whole continent. They are right next to Mono Lake & also close to Benton Hot Springs CA

If the flat landers are bummin’ you out & you need to head for the hills, use out mega list of small towns for California to find your desired altitude. Urban areas, deserts & the Central Valley are off limits. Experience & explore the unknown.
Search hidden California.

Sequoia Skiing

Sequoia XC Ski Areas – Park Skiing

Sequoia National Forest & Sequoia National Park do not have any major snow ski resorts. Shirley Meadows Ski Park in Alta Sierra is the closest thing to a facility that exists in the Southern Sierra Nevada.

Cross Country snowy terrain exist in the lower Sierras, you just hafta look to find it. The local rangers in Kernville can tell if there is any good snow on the 7000′ ridges & what places are plowed already & have trail head parking open. It’s quite a seasonal thing you know?

Sequoia National Park is open year round, permitting the snow plows can get thru on Hwy 198. Kings Canyon highway is closed for winter months. Excellent cross-country skiing & snow mobiling trails @ Big Meadows Rd.


Shermans Pass in April 2007
Originally uploaded by danamight

Camping in the spring on the Kern River can be wonderful, even as it snows nearby. This is the middle of the highway, well after the first snow gate.


Kern Rock Climbing

needles climb Sequoia

The Needles as seen from Dome Rock, on the Western Divide Highway.
Eastern Sierra’s Mount Whitney can be seen in the far distance on the right.

Sierra Nevada Rock Climbing – Sequoia National Forest

Good granite without the crowds! This Sequoia park is often passed by for the masses heading to the big walls of Yosemite or the bouldering of the Eastern Sierra Nevada.

Check out these Sequoia spots for some climbing options:

  • Dome Rock on the Western Divide (if half dome didn’t split & was smaller)
  • Kern River Gorge (deep in the heart of Kern River & the Rincon)
  • The Needles (granite spires at 8000′ elevation overlooking Kern River Valley)

California, off the beaten path