Camping Gems - Places to Go in California

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Redwoods and Mount Shasta
Shasta Lake - the robin's egg blue waters of Shasta Lake are cool and serene all year round.  With white-peaked Mount Shasta nearby, this area is a hotspot for hikers, mountain bikers, boaters, fishers, and wildlife viewers.

Redwood National Park - Come see the world's tallest trees!  Stand at the base of a coast redwood and the huckleberry bushes tower over you. Watch statuesque Roosevelt elk grazing in the prairies. From wildlife to winding trails, this park has everything.

Whiskeytown Shasta Trinity National Recreation Area - At the juncture of the Klamath Mountain range and the Sacramento Valley, this area is home to a special collection of animal and plant life. Some of the park’s features are Whiskeytown Lake, Shasta Bally (6,209 ft.) and numerous waterfalls, providing outdoor enthusiasts opportunities for water recreation, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.

Bay Area
Point Reyes National Seashore - From its thunderous ocean breakers crashing against rocky headlands and expansive sand beaches through its open grasslands to its brushy hillsides and forested ridges, visitors can discover over 1000 species of plants and animals.

San Francisco - From hikes in the Presidio to walking tours of Chinatown, San Francisco is vibrant and full of fun.  Catch a concert in Golden Gate Park, walk your dog in Delores Park, or view the Golden Gate Bridge from the deck of a ferry to Alcatraz.

Yosemite National Park - one of the first wilderness parks in the United States, Yosemite is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.

Lake Tahoe - This gem of a lake is best explored in person and on foot -- or by bike or boat.  Take a hike along the Rim Trail, take a dip in the lake, or visit in winter for spectacular downhill skiing.

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
Death Valley National Park - Hottest, driest, lowest — a superlative desert of streaming sand dunes, snow-capped mountains, multicolored rock layers, water-fluted canyons and three million acres of stone wilderness.

Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park -Immense mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, and the world's largest trees -- these two parks testify to nature's size, beauty, and diversity.

Monterey Bay - home to one of the finest aquariums in the country, Monterey also offers a rich literary heritage (thanks to John Steinbeck's Cannery Row), a gorgeous coastline, and plenty of outdoor play space.

San Luis Obispo - From the 18th-century Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa to picturesque vineyards and ocean surf, San Luis Obispo (called "SLO" by locals) has everything you need to kick back and relax.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Coast
Santa Barbara - known as the American Riviera, Santa Barbara offers excellent side trips to the Channel Islands, the Santa Ynez Mountains, and wine country.  And don't miss the restaurants and shops!

Los Angeles - famous L.A. needs to introduction.  From Disneyland and Universal Studios to Hollywood and Malibu, Los Angeles is filled with fun things to do.

San Diego - be sure not to miss the San Diego Zoo and Wildlife Park, Sea World, and the incredible San Diego beaches.  This Southern California city was voted one of our most dog friendly in the U.S.

Inland
Joshua Tree National Park - a fascinating variety of plants and animals make their home in this land shaped by strong winds, unpredictable torrents of rain, and climatic extremes. Visit for the spring wildflowers, the wildlife, and the remarkable plants and cacti.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park - Five-hundred miles of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas and miles of hiking trails provide visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to experience the wonders of the California Desert. Visitors may see roadrunner, golden eagles, kit foxes, mule deer and bighorn sheep as well as iguanas, chuckwallas and the red diamond rattlesnake.