Sep
02
What are good non-expensive tent camping places in Northern California?
ByMy husband and I love to camp, but we are new to the northern California area, and don’t know any good places around the Sacramento/Grass Valley area. We are looking for something under $10 a night. We don’t mind roughing it, so even if its out in the middle of nowhere, but its a good place to camp near a lake or stream it would be awesome to know of. Thanks!
2 Comments
September 2nd, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Welcome to Kalifornistan! It’s a land of many wonders and blunders. the first being that campground fee’s have doubled in the last few years mainly at state parks and national parks. There are still a few $10 and less spots and even fewer free ones. Weekends around your area the most popular sites get reserved 6 months in advance. Now don’t lose hope of finding a site there are just as many non reservable sites too you just have to be the early bird to catch the site, by early I mean a couple of days early by thursday no later if you want to stay through the Weekend. Popular spots are the lakes and rivers that are around you and tops is Folsom lake and the rivers above and below that. The National forests around you are also great destinations and that’s where you will find the most luck of getting a spot for the weekend. They also have what is called dispersed camping where you head out a forest road and find your own spot or what is called a yellow post site.These are free with the cost of an adventure pass $5 a day $30 for the year.
Google map to see what state parks and forests are closest to you and then look up their web page, check for campground listings and you will find which ones are reservable and which are first come. Here is a link to help you find public and private campgrounds in your area,
http://www.totalescape.com/
September 2nd, 2010 at 1:12 pm
How about a FREE campsite? It is called East Park reservoir or another name is Ladoga. It is off interstate 5 near Williams towards a place called Stonyford. It has a lake for swimming and boating plus out houses. You need to bring drinking water though. Check it out on a good California map. Oh, no reservations needed.