Tag Archives: free

4x4 Camps OHV, 4x4 Routes, Campspots, Off Road

Primitive Camp San Diego

Fire Light Cove

Open car camping is allowed in several places inside Cleveland National Forest, although NO campfires are permitted in the backcountry (trailside or dirt roads) – due to the high fire danger. Your best for FREE, open, dispersed camping (with a campfire) is Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Lower elevations w/ summertime temperature can get very hot, so plan for higher elevation camps. The more you explore, the more you can find.

The Tom Harrison San Diego Backcountry Map can get you out there on the back roads.

Laguna Mountain (off Sunrise Hwy. S-1)
[south Cleveland National Forest]
East of San Diego; 40 miles E on Interstate 8

  • Pine Creek Road – with plenty of mountain biking trails
  • Noble Canyon – popular mountain biking trail
  • Kitchen Creek Road (warning, heavy use w/ US Border Patrol)

Palomar Mountain (off Hwy. 76)
[north Cleveland National Forest]
N of San Diego; 40 miles N on Interstate 15

Anza Borrego Desert Camping
East of San Diego CA

  • Dispersed camping nearly anywhere in Anza desert (w/ a metal fire bucket)

[higher elevations (1000-2000′) near Cleveland National Forest]

  • Oriflamme Canyon (off Road S-2)
  • Culp Valley (off Road S-22)
  • Blair Valley (off Road S-2)

[lower elevations (100′) near Hwy 78]

Cupl Valley Camp

A winter day out exploring Culp Valley back roads.

mortero trails

Maps Mountains / San Diego Maps

California Rivers, Campgrounds

Douglas City Campground

Trinity River Campground

Douglas Steiner Flat Camping

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Northern California river camping. Douglas City is hardly even a town much less a city. A post office and a general store is the majority of what makes up this riverfront locale.

Tucked away on the scenic Trinity River, this small campground is perfect for those wanting to explore the Trinity River, Trinity Lake or the Trinity Alps region. Region is well known for fishing, hiking, kayaking and rafting. A small beach allows for river access. Group picnic area, picnic tables, telephone, beach, paved loop road are just a few amenities.

From Douglas City, drive half mile west on Hwy 299 to Steiner Flat Road. Follow signs to the developed camp. Numerous dirt roads lead to river edge, so there are primitive camping options available along Steiner Flat Road for those seeking free overnight stays.

• Elevation: 1,500′
• Number of Sites: 20
• Camping Reservations: No
• Sites Available: First come, First serve
• Vehicle Accessibility: Vehicle limit 28 ft. max.
• Length of Stay: 14 Days
• Water: Piped; river nearby
• Toilet: Flush & Vault
• Season: Closed for winter, Nov-April
• Fee: Yes
• Operated By: Bureau of Land Management
• Closest Town: Douglas City, CA

BLM Redding Ranger Station
530-224-2100

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nearby destinations –
Chanchelulla Wilderness
Chappie Shasta OHV Area
Douglas City, CA
Lewiston Lake
Shasta Trinity National Forest
Trinity Alps Wilderness
Trinity Lake
Weaverville, CA
Whiskeytown Lake NRA

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4x4 Camps OHV, 4x4 Routes, Back Roads, Campgrounds, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Off Road, Off-Road Trail, Trailheads, Washes, Wilderness, Wildflowers

Nettle Springs Campground

Nettle Springs

Apache Canyon Campsites

Cuyama Camping near Highway 33

Los Padres National Forest 

Way back off there beyond the boonies, 10 miles on a bumpy dirt road #8N06, and far from the pavement. Seclusion, peace and quiet, plus privacy is what this canyon can offer. This small campground is rarely busy, unless a huge family or hunting group has taken over camp. Most of the time it’s so quiet you can hear the wind in the trees, birds chirping and bugs buzzing.

N of Ojai (about an hour), scenic drive Highway 33 N of Ozena @ Lockwood is a little-known signed route called Apache Canyon. Los Padres Road #8N06 leads from the south end of Cuyama River Valley east to the dead end badlands canyon w/ Nettle Springs Camp. OHV trails and Chumash Wilderness access.

• Elevation: 4,400′
• Number of Sites: 8
• Camping Reservations: No
• Sites Available: First come, First serve
• Vehicle Accessibility: small RV ok
• Length of Stay: 14 Days
• Water: No Piped; seasonal creek iffy
• Toilet: Vault
• Season: Open all year
• Fee: No
• Operated By: National Forest Service
• Closest Towns: Frazier Park, CA & Ojai, CA

Los Padres National Forest
Lockwood Ranger Station
661-245-3731

Secluded Campground and Spacious Camp Sites

 

 

 

Campgrounds, Campsites, Group Campgrounds

Los Padres Camping

Los Padres Campgrounds
Big Sur, Mount Pinos, Ojai, Santa Barbara, Santa Lucia

Forests

Los Padres National Forest campgrounds span the length of the California Central Coast, from the Monterey Bay to Los Angeles County. Choose a desired area:

Big Sur Campgrounds

Frazier Park Camping

Mount Pinos Campgrounds

Ojai Camping

Santa Barbara Camping

Santa Lucia Camping

Bottcher Gap Campground
Lush coastal campground is Bottchers Gap near Big Sur, CA

Los Padres National Forest

see also Los Padres Group Campgrounds

maps of the Los Padres regions –

Los Padres nearby towns & cities –

Pine Mountain Club from ridge
Pine Mountain Club from ridge
Campgrounds, Campsites, Creeks

Tuttle Creek Campground

Tuttle Way

There she sits, above Lone Pine California, right next to the High Sierra. Above the Alabama Hills….. at the base of Whitney, on an alluvial fan overlooking the Owens Valley & US Hwy 395.

Tuttle Creek Campground is perfect stop for RVers traveling the Eastern Sierra, beginner mountain bikers needing to explore & test their skills, or the avid backpackers waiting to acclimate & get a good nights rest in reasonable temperatures, before attempting the tallest Mount Whitney.

Tuttle Creek is a BLM Campground w/ picnic tables, fire rings or BBQs. Awesome creek camping at the base of Mount Whitney. Hear the water rushing over the boulders; soothing for bedtime or stargazing. The fishing is decent. Wildflowers like indian paintbrush & lupine can be found here in spring and summer, in the high desert sage lands of the Eastern Sierra.

• Elevation: 5120′
• Number of Sites: 85
• Vehicle Accessibility: RVs okay
• Camp Fee: No
• Campsites Reservation: No
• Length of Stay: 14 Days
• Season: March – October
• Trailheads: John Muir Wilderness

From Lone Pine CA, head West 3 miles on Whitney Portal Rd, turn LEFT on Horseshoe Meadow Road, within 2 miles, turn right on a dirt road that leads to the campground.

Tuttle Creek flows past campground; No drinking water.
Pit toilets; Some shade.

BLM Lone Pine
760-872-4881

LONE PINE CA

HINT: On the dirt back roads, on the slopes of the Eastern Sierra, between Lone Pine & Bishop, you can find & fishing holes & primitive camps (free camping) on any numerous of creeks; some you can park so close that you don’t have to leave your vehicle to fish. You may need a high clearance vehicle to reach some.