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- Check out my YouTube Channel for a couple of videos here
- Read my March, 2017 interview in Truck Camper Magazine, where I pick 25 of my favorite campgrounds.
- A map of every campsite (660 of 'em, with no dups) I was in for my previous twelve years of travel is here. Check it out!
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- Photos submitted to the Truck Camper Magazine Calendar Photo Contest: Winner: 2011 Runner-Up: 2013, 2016
| 2006 GMC 2500HD w/2001 Lance 845 |
Previous years' travels: 2006
2007 2008 2009 |
States
Visited Map |
I bought my new truck and used camper in late October of 2005. The following May, I "hit the road" full-time for 6 months. I've done the same every year since, and now 2018 will be my 13th year of ramblin'! My how time flies. Not all of my nights are spent camping, but most are. I don't make entries that are repeats of previous campgrounds or when I stay with my kids or friends. Campsite fees are for one night with no discount (and no hookups, unless specified). However, being the old geezer that I am, I get 50% off at U.S. Guvmint CGs with the valuable Golden Age card, plus free entry to National Parks. One of the few ways (in addition to retirement) it pays to get older. All the aches and pains sure aren't fun. :)
I started my travels this year with almost 117K miles on my camper and 175K miles on my truck. I took my camper to the Lance factory before my 2014 travels and had some structural repairs done to it (pics here and here). It should be in good shape for several more years of travel. Of course, my old body will probably wear out before the camper. :)
Note: Click on small photos for a larger one. Click on
the USA flag-map (
)
to see the actual camp location (balloon marker) on a map (+/- 50 ft).
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Ref # |
Date |
Location |
Campsite & Other Photos (click links) |
Comments |
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11/4/18 |
That's it folks. Ramblin' 2018 is over! I'm back at my winter residence on the Central Coast of California. Had another great year of ramblin'. Thanks for traveling along with me! Ramblin' 2019 will start next May. This year's stats:
Sign my guest book or email me with any questions or comments.
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81 |
11/3/18 |
Arroyo Seco CG (USFS). 17 mi SW of Greenfield,
CA on paved (and curvy at times) County Rd G16. 900
ft. My last campsite for Ramblin' 2018! :( |
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Unusual USFS CG layout with a "modern" section (flush toilets and showers) and a "primitive" section (tent only with pit toilets). 33 paved sites in modern part, with several double sites. 16 in primitive. Lots of large live oak trees for shade. Small lake and Ventana Wilderness area hiking nearby. Nice views of mountains, farming country and vineyards on the road to here. $30 modern, $25 primitive. 2nd time here. |
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80 |
11/2/18 |
San Lorenzo CG (County). In King City, CA.
290 ft. |
Part of a large county park. Almost 100 sites, close together, on level land. In 3 concentric loops. A mix of paved and grass sites. Most sites have water & electric (25 have sewer, also). Many sites have significant shade, due to large leafy trees. About 1/2 mile away from busy US101, but noise level low. Flush toilets, showers & laundry. Agriculture museum in the park, along with much old farm equipment spread around the grounds. $27 (winter rate w/o using hoolups). 4th time here. Heard "boom" sounds during the night and day. Host said it was to scare the birds away from the nearby crops. |
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79 |
11/1/18 |
Gilroy Garlic USA RV Park. In Gilroy, CA 200 ft. |
Very nice commercial RV park with 170+ paved sites. Most RVers here appear to be "extended stay" folks, but the park does have short stay spots. All the usual amenities: showers, laundry, pool, etc. Close to large shopping centers with stores and eating places. Some hwy noise from nearby US101. $49 (back-in with full hookups). 2nd time here. Don't usually stay in this type of CG, but it's what worked into my schedule best. |
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10/26/18- |
More visiting with my kids. Now on the way home. |
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78 |
10/25/18 |
Cache Creek Canyon CG (County). 6 mi NW of
Rumsey, CA on CA16. 600 ft. |
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Nice CG with 45 paved sites on mostly level land. Plenty of trees. Nice creek at base of park, but not visible from most sites. Group sites and day use area near creek. Very remote area, but some noise from adjacent hwy. In a canyon for late sunrise and early sunset. Free-to-campers dump station. Flush toilets. $30. Only about 4 other campers here. |
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77 |
10/24/18 |
Woodson Bridge CG (State). 6+ mi E of I5 near
Corning, CA on South St. 250 ft. |
Nice CG with 37 paved sites on level land, well apart. Heavily wooded area for good shade at all sites at some point in the day. Sacramento River nearby, but not visible from any site. Picnic area beside river, however. Some noise from nearby hwy. Flush toilets and pay showers. $31. Only one other site occupied in my area of 15 sites. CG closes at end of this month. |
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76 |
10/23/18 |
Sycamore Grove CG (USFS). 2.5 mi S of Red Bluff,
CA on Sale Lane. 250 ft. |
Very pleasant CG with 30 paved sites on level land, in a single loop. Some sites have electric and water. Plenty of shade from a large grove of primarily leafy type trees. The wide Sacramento River is a very short walk, but not visible from the CG. Several hiking trails nearby. Flush toilets and showers in one of the 2 restrooms. Has the feeling of a County CG vs. a typical USFS one Very convenient for I5 travelers. $16 (no hookups) + one time $8 "must reserve" fee. 4th time here. New scheme to get more of your money. If you arrive w/o a reservation and find an open site, you can't pay for it through the normal "iron ranger" method. You must reserve it (by phone or Internet) and pay the $8 fee. Wow, who thought this one up? Hope it isn't the wave of the future at FS CGs. |
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75 |
10/21/18- |
Buckhorn CG (COE). On Black Butte Lake. 12
mi W of I5 near Orland, CA on County Rd 200 (aka Newville
Rd), then 1
mi S on lake road. 500 ft. |
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63 paved sites in scattered oak trees in five separate areas. Some sites on very hilly land. Minimal shade. About 25 additional "parking lot" type sites (overflow?) shown on the map. Lake view from most sites. Rural area, so very peaceful at night. Flush toilets/sinks/showers. Free-if-camping dump station. Launch ramp. $20. 4th time here. |
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10/10/18- |
Visted my 2 kids in the Napa area for about 10 days, then decided I'd better get in another few days of camping. Planning on 5 nights before returning to Napa for a few days and then heading home.. |
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74 |
10/9/18 |
Sandy
Beach CG (County). About 2 mi S of hwy 12
at Rio Vista, CA. 30 ft. |
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Nice CG with about 40 paved sites on level land, in 2 loops. All sites are pull-thru, parallel to the road. Shade varies a lot with site. Large lawn area in middle of loops. The wide Sacramento River is a short walk away and visible from some sites. Nice day use area by the river. Flush toilets and showers. Free-if-camping dump station. Launch ramp. $35 (w/water & elec); $20 if 65+ geezer (a real good deal, especially w/water & elec). 3rd time here. Unusual reserved site designation method here. On Sunday they put cones on all sites reserved anytime during the coming week. When you arrive you are expected to check the reservation board (at the sometimes unmanned entrance station) or ask the CG host to see if a site is really reserved for the day you arrive. Hmmm. Doesn't work too good for first-time-there campers. |
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10/7/18- |
Same CG as 6/7/18. Acorn CG (BOR) on New Melones Lake. 1200 ft. |
Had planned on another CG, but I checked my GPS database of area CGs for one closer. As I pulled in, I thought "I've been here before". Yep, earlier this year and I got the same site this time. O No problem getting a site. Of the about 70 sites, only about 10 were taken. |
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73 |
10/5/18- |
Moccasin Point CG (Water District?). On Don
Pedro Lake, 16+ mi S of Sonora, CA on CA49. 1000 ft.
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Nice CG with 96 paved sites, 18 with hookups, in 5 areas (3 closed). On the large Don Pedro Lake. The area I'm in (B) is on a fairly steep hillside. Couldn't get into the closed areas, but looks like they are on flatter land, since they are closer to the lake.. Lots of trees for potential shade. Boat ramp. Flush toilets and showers. Free-to-campers dump station. $20 (winter rate, else $31). Hadn't been on CA120 coming down from the mountains in a while. Yikes, what a steep and curvy road for the last few miles! |
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72 |
10/4/18 |
Dimond O CG (USFS). Just before the NW entrance
to Yosemite National Park on CA120 take paved (but bumpy) Evergreen
Rd N for 6 miles. 4300 ft. |
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Very nice CG with 38 paved sites on sloping land. In a beautiful setting of tall trees of various types. Small stream nearby. Very handy to Yosemite NW entrance. Vault toilets. $26. 3rd time here. Last was in 2010 on almost the same exact day of the month (10/3/10). Gloomy weather while passing through Yosemite NP, so very few pics. |
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10/3/18 |
Same CG as 9/23/18. Lower Lee Vining CG (USFS). 7300 ft.
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My 2 weeks in the beautiful Eastern Sierra are up. Up until a couple of days ago, the weather has been great! Tomorrow I'm heading over Tioga Pass, through Yosemite NP and towards the Bay Area where my kids live. This CG is at the base of 10 K Tioga Pass and a perfect spot for departure. |
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71 |
10/2/18 |
Brown's
Town Campground (Commercial). In Bishop, CA.
4100
ft. |
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Nice place with 150 sites (RV and tent) on gravel or grass. Sites close together. About 70 with water and electric. Mature trees in grass sites. One row of sites has a golf course behind them. Small store and basic menu cafe. Pay showers. $32 (water & elec). Don't normally stay in RV parks, but needed to do some things in Bishop. Worked out fine. |
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70 |
10/1/18 |
Bitterbrush CG (USFS). About 12 mi SW of Bishop,
CA on Line St (aka CA168). 6800
ft. |
Nice CG with 30 gravel sites on level land, well apart. Bring your own shade. Small creek along one side of CG. Beautiful views of the Sierras. Lots of fishing spots (lake and creek) in this area, along with other FS CGs. Very nice and helpful CG hostess. Vault toilets. $26. 2nd time here. The fall color at 8K to 9K ft was spectacular (see pics)! Rained at night and new snow on the peaks next day. |
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69 |
9/30/18 |
Bishop Park CG (USFS). 15 mi SW of Bishop,
CA on West Line St (aka CA168). 8400 ft. |
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About 20 dirt sites on sloping land (several tent only). The fast flowing Bishop Creek (N Fk) is alongside most sites (and below some). Makes nice music. Heavy shade at many of the tent sites. Not much at the RV sites. Bathrooms with flush toilets and sinks. $26. 5th time here. I've caught many a fish out of the creek farther up where it's calmer. |
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68 |
9/29/18 |
French Camp CG (USFS). 23+ mi NW of Bishop,
CA on US395, then 1/2 mi W on Rock Creek Rd 7300
ft. Note: Exit US395 at "Tom's Place" sign. |
86 dirt sites on sloping land, full of boulders. A long, oval road accesses the sites, with 4 crossroads in the oval. Some sites will full hookups. Plenty of conifer type trees for at least some shade. Rock Creek to one side of CG, but not visible from any site. Makes nice music, though. Flush toilets and sinks. Dump station. Very handy to US395 travelers. $23. |
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67 |
9/28/18 |
McGee Creek CG (USFS). 30+ mi NW of Bishop,
CA on US395, then 2 mi S on paved, uphill McGee Creek Rd
(less than 2 lanes in spots). 7500 ft. |
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28 paved sites on level land with sand tent pads. No shade for RV/tent, but shade structures for all sites with picnic table and bear box. Nice views into the mountains and back towards the valley. Parts of CG ringed with aspen groves. Small, fast flowing creek alongside CG, with heavy tree/bush coverage on bank. Restroom bldg has flush toilets and sinks. $23. 2nd time here. |
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66 |
9/25/18- |
Boondocking site (USFS). Not a developed campground. From
the June Lake, CA loop road (S end) junction
with US395 go 7+ mi SE, then 1/2 mi NE on Owens River
Rd, then 1/4 mi N on unmarked dirt road (map says 02s214). 7500
ft. |
Nice, good size clearing in the tall pines and easy to get to. Only about 1/4 mi off a paved road via a one lane dirt road. US395 is about 1/2 mi away, but only trucks produce a bit of a hum. Had it all to myself, except for others maybe 1/4 mi away. Many other spots in this general area. The usual boondocking fee of $0. 4th time here. Feels like I have my own "little cabin the woods" here. :) Low of 24F. Brrrrrrrr! |
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65 |
9/24/18 |
Silver Lake CG (USFS). About 5 mi W of June
Lake, CA on hwy 158. 7100
ft. |
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60+ paved sites in 2 loops on level land. Very widely separated sites. S loop is near the lake, while the N loop is near a creek (outflow of lake). Can't see either lake or creek from sites, due to trees/bushes. Essentially no shade in N loop. S loop has some sites somewhat shaded by tall bushes. No shade isn't that big of a deal this time of year with mild temperatures. The fantastic view of the Sierras more than makes up for it. You can always bring shade, but you can't bring views. :) Flush toilets and pay showers. $23. 3rd time here. Down to 26F at night! Brrrrrrr. |
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64 |
9/23/18 |
Lower Lee Vining CG (USFS). About 3 mi W of
US395 on Tioga Pass Rd in the Lee Vining, CA area. 7300 ft.
Note: 1/4 mi. entry road from hwy is very rough with rocks and bumps. Drive slow. |
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50+ dirt sites (some tent only) on level land. Sites generally close together. Laid out somewhat randomly, w/o organized loops like many CGs. Trees predomiately tall pines and aspens. One section has very shady sites, due to a thick grove of tall pines. Nice creek along one side, but only a few tent sites are on it. Pit toilets, except 1 vault at front section. $14. 3rd time here. |
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9/19/18- |
Same CG as 6/19/18. Robinson Creek CG (USFS).
7000 ft. First CG in CA in nearly 3 months and it's my favorite one in my favorite CA area - The Eastern Sierra!! |
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Was so dern beautiful, I couldn't leave! :) Full sun and temps in the high 70s. Down to 28F one night, but warmer next 3. My all time favorite CG! Been camping & fishing in this area for over 40 years. Will be "campground hopping" down US395 for the rest of this month. Took a new hwy (vs US395) to get to Bridgeport; NV338 from Yerington, NV. Nice scenery. |
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63 |
9/18/18 |
River CG at Lahontan Reservoir State Rec Area 2.
16+ mi W on US50 (not ALT50) from Fallon, NV,
then 1+ mi S on park road. 4000 ft. |
About 12 primitive dirt sites on 2 levels. Alongside a small river that comes out of a closeby dam. You can hear a very low level rumble from the dam. Some sites have trees, but not all. Many other campsites along the lakeshore (didn't see them). Pit toilets. $15. |
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62 |
9/17/18 |
River CG in Rye Patch State Park. 50 mi SW
of Winnemucca, NV on I80, then 1+ mi on park entrance
road (Hwy 401). 4000 ft. Note: Short, curvy, fairly steep road down to CG. |
Nice CG with 22 paved sites on level land. Some areas have several leafy trees for potential shade. Others will be mostly sun. Shade shelters in some sites. CG is below the Rye Patch dam and along the Humboldt River. Convenient to I80 travel, but far enough away you can't hear it. Flush toilets and showers in one bldg; vault toilets in another. $15. Note: Another CG in the Park along the lake shore. Was sitting out in the evening and thought I heard someone walking in the gravel near me. It was a group of about 6 turkeys (see pic)! |
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61 |
9/16/18 |
Water Canyon CG (BLM). About 5 mi SE of Winnemucca,
NV via Water Canyon Rd. 5700 ft. |
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Unique desert oasis CG in a small canyon. Dead-end dirt road runs uphill into the canyon and primitive sites are sporadically located between it and a small creek. Not sure how many sites, but guessing 10 or so. Vehicles going by frequently in either direction during the weekend day. Not sure what's at the end of the road. Vault toilet (a distance from some sites). The price is right @ $0. Was here in 2011, also. Drive today was longest of this year at 170 mi! My usual is around 100 mi. |
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60 |
9/15/18 |
Antelope Reservoir CG (BLM). 12 mi SW of Jordan Valley,
OR, then 1 mi S on marked dirt road. 4300 ft. |
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Primitive camping on a large reservoir (now very low). 3 dirt sites with old wood picnic tables and fire ring. Saw others boondocking near the reservoir. Thought I might have the place to myself, but 2 others came in just before dark.. Very peaceful at night. Vault toilet. Another @ $0. Was here in Aug 2011 and there was only a pit toilet. Nice upgrade. Reservoir was near full then (see pic). Some other truck camper folks that were boondocking within sight of me came by as I was leaving. Said that some young guys were hot rodding it near the lake and got stuck. Someone came out with a tractor to help and it got stuck!! |
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59 |
9/14/18 |
North Fork CG (BLM). 20 mi S of Jordan
Valley, OR on Owyhee Byway roads. 4700 ft. |
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Nice little 7 dirt site CG in a beautiful setting. Tall black rock bluffs surround it. Table, fire ring and BBQ on concrete pad. Slow flowing North Fork of Owyhee River along one side of CG, but hidden by trees/bushes. Byway road alongside the CG, but has very miinimal traffic. Vault toilet. Well worth it at twice the price of $0. Saw plenty of beautiful and interesting scenery today taking the Owyhee Byway. Heard 2 sonic booms from a military jet. |
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58 |
9/13/18 |
Poison Creek Rec Area (BLM). 2 mi S of Grand
View, ID on ID78, then 20 mi SW on Mud Flat Rd (becomes
gravel in 18 mi.). 4400 ft. |
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Site is really just a picnic area, but there was just enough room for me to back into an area clear of the road. Right by the road, so there was a bit of traffic until dark. Decided to stop here since I didn't know what boondocking opportunities there were ahead and I was ready to stop. $0. This is the start of my 105 mi trek (74 mi gravel) on the Owyhee Uplands Back Country Byway. Wish me luck. :) |
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57 |
9/12/18 |
Scout CG (Util) at CJ Strike Dam. 7 mi SE of
Grand View, ID on ID78, then about 2 mi on River Rd,
Black Sands Rd and Strike Dam Cutoff Rd. 2400
ft. |
Nice CG with 33 gravel sites on level land. No privacy between sites, as they are side by side. Some trees for shade and a nice grass area in the middle. Very quiet here, since not near any hwy. CG between the 2 outlets from the dam. Outflow is a continuation of the Snake River. Saw several people fishing in the CG. Flush toilets. Free dump station. $10. Took care of laundry, etc. in Boise before coming here and wished I'd picked a smaller town. Way too much traffic. :( |
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56 |
9/11/18 |
Montour CG (BOR). 9 mi W of Horseshoe Bend,
ID on ID52, then 2+ mi S on Montour Rd. 2500 ft. |
Very nice CG in the middle of farming country. 16 paved sites on level land with grassy areas between them. Tent camping on dedicated grassy area. A good number trees for possible shade. Very peaceful here, but road alongside CG has minor daytime traffic. Payette River nearby. Vault toilet. Dump station ($3). $8 ($3 tents). |
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55 |
9/10/18 |
Amanita CG (USFS). Almost 5 miles SW
of Donnelly, ID on W Roseberry Rd and W Mountain Rd..
4900 ft. |
12 gravel/dirt sites on mostly level land. Plenty of trees for potential shade. Alongside the beautiful Lake Cascade. A few sites have a nice through-the-trees view of it. Across the lake are tall mountains in the distance. Road beside CG has occasional daytime traffic. Vault toilet. $15. 1/4 mile away is another FS CG, Rainbow Point. Stayed there in 2016. Much of the drive today was along the Salmon River canyon. Mighty pretty. Took some dash cam video that I hope to make into a YouTube video this winter. |
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54 |
9/9/18 |
Hammer Creek CG (BLM). About 2 mi S of White
Bird, ID on US95, then 1 mi NW on Old Hwy 95, then cross
river and 1+ mi to CG sign. 1400 ft. |
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Nice CG with 12 well developed gravel sites on level land. Scattered shade trees. In a canyon alongside the wide and smooth flowing Salmon River. River only visible between the bushes. Launch ramp and parking area for floaters. Peaceful here, except for sporadic daytime ramp activity. Flush toilets. Free dump station. $10. Must be a popular put-in/take-out for river floaters, because many vehicles were parked in the lot. Talked to a neighbor and he said they were taking a 5 day, 50 mile float! |
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53 |
9/8/18 |
Johnson Bar CG (USFS). 4 mi SE of Lowell, ID on Selway Rd. 1600
ft. |
7 site CG with gravel/dirt sites on level ground. Beside the Selway River, but 50 yards
of rocks before you get to the water. Sites well apart. Some
sites have good river view. Scattered trees, so
lots of sun. Sandy beach downstream from CG. Group CG in a field nearby. Vault
toilet. $8.
3rd time here. |
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52 |
9/7/18 |
White Sand CG (USFS). 67 mi NE of Lowell, ID on US12
(Lolo Pass Hwy), then 1+ mi
S on dirt Elk Summit Rd. 3500 ft. Bye, bye Montana. Hello Idaho. |
Secluded 7 site CG on the upper (and smaller) section of the Lochsa River. Dirt sites.
A mix of conifer and leafy trees. River
visible from only one site, but you can hear its music
from all. Small fishing
pond beside CG. Nice and peaceful here. Vault toilet.
$14.
4th time here. Had planned on staying at an FS CG in MT off US12, but it was closed! Hey FS, some people camp after Labor Day!! :( |
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51 |
9/6/18 |
Blodgett CG (USFS). 6 mi W of Hamilton, MT
on Main St., Canyon Creek Rd and Blodgett Camp Rd. 4100 ft. |
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Neat little 6 site (5 for RVs, 1 for tents) CG in a beautiful setting. All but one RV site paved. Walk-in tent site in the trees, well away from the others. Mid-day very sunny for most sites, but tall trees end it in late afternoon. Small creek at entrance to CG. Impressive rock bluffs nearly surround the place. Road ends at CG, so very quiet here. Quite a deal at $0. 2nd time here. On the way here I visited the Big Hole National Battlefield (see pics). |
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50 |
9/4/18- |
East Bank CG (BLM). 8 mi W of Wise River, MT on hwy 43. 5700
ft. |
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About 9 gravel sites on level land alongside the beautiful Big Hole River. Front of CG alongside a daytime low traffic hwy. Back sites have less noise. Scattered shade. Boat launch ramp and day use area adjacent to CG. One of my favorite views in MT from here (see river pics). Vault toilet. No trash svc. $0. 3rd time here. Low of 31F. |
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8/21/18- |
As usual, had a great time at my cousin's in Dillon, MT. But, like Willy, I need to be "On the road again". |
Weather started off with hazy, smoky skies, but ended up with beautiful sunny weather in the 70s to low 80s! Yay! Took a fun guided float trip and caught about 9 medium size trout. Saw a moose (see pic) and bald eagle. Took a second guided float trip and caught even more fish than the first! Got a good photo of a blue heron in flight (see pic). |
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49 |
8/20/18 |
Glen CG ( Montana State Fishing Access ). 19
mi N of Dillon, MT on MT91, then 1 mi E on Burma Rd.
5000 ft. |
6 primitive dirt sites on level land. Beside the well known for fishing Big Hole River. Need to walk through some bushes to see it. Some trees, but shade is limited in the sites. Away from hwy, so peaceful here. Might get some short term noise from people using the launch ramp. Vault toilet. $0. Had a good rain at night. Cleared the smoke out some. |
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48 |
8/19/18 |
Mill Creek CG (USFS). 7 mi E of Sheridan, MT
on paved then gravel Mill Creek Rd. 6500 ft. Highest CG since leaving CA. |
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Nice remote CG in a canyon with about 10 dirt sites. CG has a moderate stand of fir/spruce and is on slightly sloping land. Some sites get a lot of sun. Namesake creek not visible from CG. Several large boulders around. Minimal traffic road alongside leads to another couple of CGs (per map). Vault toilets. A deal from Uncle at $0. Only one other site occupied when I was here! One the way here, I passed through the neat little town of Ennis. Had planned on camping around there, but was more smoky than I wanted, from a nearby fire. Decided to head W for something better and found it. |
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47 |
8/18/18 |
Red Mountain CG (BLM). 16 mi N of Ennis, MT
on US287 then 8 mi E on hwy 84. 4500 ft. |
Well above the average BLM campground. 17 gravel sites on level land in 2 loops. Most sites well apart. Several sites parallel to the Madison River. These are side-of-the-road type and closer together. No shade, except for the "move your chair frequently" type from small trees, or make you own. Slight hum from nearby hwy. Horseshoe pit. Appears to be boondocking camping across the river. Another BLM CG across the hwy. Vault toilets. $12. 5th time here. The morning I left I saw a couple of guys fishing. One got out of the water with a nice 14" rainbow in his hand. Lots of people floating the river upstream of CG. |
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46 |
8/17/18 |
Confederate CG (BOR) on Canyon Ferry Lake. 18+
mi N of Townsend, MT on US12/MT284/Lower Duck Creek
Rd/Lower Confederate Rd. 3800 ft. |
Even though called a CG, it's more like boondocking, but with a vault toilet. No designated sites, picnic tables or fire rings. On the edge of a very large lake. Saw others camped a mile away, near the shore. $0 Heck of a wind came up about 6 p.m. and blew for an hour or so. Raised whitecaps on the lake (see pic). I had some tall trees near me and started to worry about one falling on me. Thankfully, one didn't. Other campers arrived at dark. They weren't close to me, but their barking dog was easily heard on and off until I left the next morning. Grrrrrrrr. |
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45 |
8/16/18 |
Boondocking site (USFS). Not a developed campground. 6+
mi E of Lincoln, MT on MT200, then 3+ mi N on Copper
Creek Rd. 5000 ft. It's at the intersection of Copper Creek Rd and (I kid you not) Sucker-Keep Cool Creek Rd. :) |
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Great boondocking site! Nice spot to back my rig into the trees and close enough to hear the creek music. Put my chair on the creek bank and I was in heaven. :) Hardly any traffic went by. Before coming here, I was getting ready to drop my envelope into the pay box at a nearby USFS CG and a young FS guy walked up. I asked him about dispersed camping close by and he recommended checking out Copper Creek Rd. Thanks for the tip FS guy! Only my 2nd boondocking spot this year. What a wimp |
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44 |
8/14/18 |
Harpers Lake CG (Montana State Fishing Access). 13
mi S of Seeley Lake, MT on hwy 83, then 3/4 mi W on
dirt CG road. 3900 ft. |
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14 dirt/gravel sites in 2 loops on different levels. Sites well apart and on level land. Plenty of shade in most sites from tall pines. Two small lakes (Harper and Blanchard) within walking distance. Small stream leads into one lake. Nice and quiet. Only a slight hum from 2 hwys about a mile away. No water. Vault toilet. $18 (or $12 w/MT fishing license). 2nd time here. Had a nice shady site, a cell/Net connection and it was peaceful here, so I stayed a 2nd night. |
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43 |
8/13/18 |
Swan Lake CG (USFS). About 58 mi N of Seeley
Lake, MT on MT83. 3200 ft. |
Very nice CG with 35 paved sites in 2 loops on level ground. Lots of tall conifer and leafy trees for shade. Good site privacy in most sites. Open grassy area in one loop. Large lake across the hwy. Vault toilets. $18. Lucked out again and found a site whose reservation didn't start until the next day! |
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42 |
8/12/18 |
Big Creek CG (USFS). 20
mi N of Columbia Falls, MT on North Fork Rd (some gravel). Very
heavy washboarding on some parts of the 8 mi gravel section. 3200 ft.
Note: An alternate route from the west side of Glacier NP is via Camas Rd within the park to North Fork Rd and S 2 mi. Much less washboard to travel. (That's what I took to get here this time, since it was closer). |
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Nice remote CG wiith 22 gravel sites on level land, well apart, with additional group sites. All sites have significant shade, due to a dense grove of trees. The beautiful North Fork Flathead River is alongside the CG. Many sites have a view of the river . The steep hill across the river is Glacier National Park. $16. All sites occcupied or had reserved signs when I arrived. However, I found one reserved site that didn't start until the next day. Yay! When I left, I took the road to Columbia Falls. Yikes what washboarding! Only could do 10 mph sometimes. Good thing I don't have false teeth or they'd be on the floor. :) Boy, was I glad to see pavement! |
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41 |
8/11/18 |
Devil Creek CG (USFS). 36 mi SE of West Glacier,
MT on US2. 4300 ft. |
|
13 paved sites on level land, well apart. Moderate shade, except some sites are near an area where many of the trees have been cut down. Very convenient to travelers between East and West Glacier, but also noisy from the adjacent US2 and nearby train track Nice hostess. Vault toilets. $14. 2nd time here. Came here because of the elevation and cooler temperatures than around Kalispell. Unfortunately, the hazy sky is ruining the scenery of this beautiful area! :( Wait, woke up the next morning and blue sky! Yay! :) |
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8/9/18- |
A motel in Kalispell, MT. |
Sorry, no motel pics. :) |
What's going on here Ramblin' Ralph? You're in a motel? Yep, temperatures were 95 and 100 for those 2 days and way too hot for me to sleep in my "no a/c" camper. No telling how late it would be before it cooled down enough to sleep. Had to do it once last year in Oregon at 100F. Glad it wasn't more than 2 days in the motel, though, at those "close to Glacier Park" rates! Sure did like those 2 long hot showers, though. :) Needless to say, I'm sick and tired of hot weather, but it looks like it's ending soon (at least until ????). |
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40 |
8/8/18 |
Blue
Lake RV Resort. 9+ mi S of Bonners Ferry,
ID on US95/US2. 2000 ft. |
36 dirt or gravel sites on sloping or level land. All with electric and water. Lots of trees, although some sites are shadier than others. Frequent trains on nearby track for a bit of noise. Nice little lake that allows no-license, catch and release fishing (per website). Cabins available. Flush toilets, showers and laundry. $40 (higher for some sites). What's going on here Ramlbin' Ralph? You're at another commercial RV site?. Well, when the CG I checked between Newport, WA and Sandpoint, ID was full, AND I couldn't book a motel in Sandpoint because of a festival, I took what I could find by phone and was glad to get it. Not a bad little place, although camping in 90+ heat isn't to my liking. |
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39 |
8/7/18 |
Gillette CG (USFS). From Coleville, WA,
go about 25 mi NE on WA20, then 1/2 mi E on Pend Oreille
Lake Rd. 3200 ft. |
|
Nice CG with 30 gravel sites in a single loop. Sites generally well apart. Moderately dense stand of tall conifers. Slight noise from hwy. Trail through forest leaves from CG. Several small lakes and other FS CGs nearby. Only a couple of other campers here. Vault toilets. $16. Was here in 2016 in same site. That year there was quite a hailstorm at night (see pic). |
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38 |
8/6/18 |
Bonaparte Lake CG (USFS), 20 mi E of Tonasket, WA on hwy 20 then
6 mi N on Bonaparte Lake Rd. 3600 ft. |
30 gravel sites, on level land, in 2 well separated loops. Loops are at either end of a nice, small lake. Most sites are at the N end of the lake. In larger loop, some sites have good privacy, due to spacing and bushes. However, lakeside sites not as good. Plenty of tall trees. Boat launch Flush and vault toilets. $12. 3rd time here. Got a nice site with a partial
view of the lake. CG close to full. Slightly
smoky skies detracted from the scenery on today's drive.
Bummer. (: |
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37 |
8/3/18- |
Loup Loup CG (USFS). About 13 mi E of
Twisp, WA on WA20, then 1+ mi NW on paved forest road. 4100 ft. |
|
Very nice CG with 26 gravel sites on 2 levels. 20 sites on the upper level in a single loop (where I am). Rest in lower level, which has no loop and a restricted turnaround area. Best for tenters and small RVs (like me). Scattered stand of tall conifer trees for moderate shade. Very few bushes for site privacy, but spacing usually good. Convenient to hwy, but far enough away for barely noticeable noise. CG host said usually empty sites. Vault toilets. $12. 2nd time here. Liked it so much I stayed a 3rd nite, which is very unusual for me. Not many others here, so very peaceful. Coming here I drove across WA20 through North Cascades NP. Beautiful drive, even after passing through the NP. Third time I've done it. Also grabbed lunch in the neat little town of Winthrop. |
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36 |
8/2/18 |
Howard Miller Steelhead Park (County) in Rockport,
WA. About 37 mi E of Burlington, WA on WA20.
200 ft. |
|
Very nice CG with 50 sites (grass, gravel or paved) with electric and water. Most sites on level land. Some sites have some shade, but not all. Pretty Skagit River alongside the CG with some sites (including tent only) near it. Children's play area. Flush toilets and showers. Dump station. $30 (wiith hookups). No generator noise here, since everyone has electric. Yay! :) |
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35 |
8/1/18 |
Cranberry Lake CG in Deception Pass State Park. 10
mi N of Oak Harbor, WA on WA20. 100 ft. |
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Mega CG with about 230 dirt sites (some tent only) in multiple loops. Most are on level land. Some sites have electricity. Plenty of trees for shade. Large lake and a beach on Puget Sound close by. Jet noise from nearby Navy air station. Flush toilets and pay showers. Dump station. $30 (other sites $25 or $35). At the same price, this is a much better deal than my 7/24/18 State Park site. After getting off the ferry, I decided to get a good lunch in nearby Coupeville (tired of what I fix). Neat little seaport town. Had outstanding fried shrimp at Toby's Tavern! Yum. :) Also visited the local museum. |
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7/31/18 |
Same CG as 7/24/18: Fort Townsend State Park |
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Here again to catch the ferry to Whidbey Island the next day. I arrived at the ferry terminal just as they were loading and only had to wait one minute to drive on it! Not bad for not knowing when the ferries left. :) |
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7/30/18 |
Same CG as 7/25/18: Heart O' The Hills CG (Olympic National Park). |
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Got the exact same site as before! :) |
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34 |
7/29/18 |
Fairholm CG (Olympic National Park). About 27 mi W of
Port Angeles, WA on US101. 800 ft. |
About 90 sites (20 tent only) on a wooded hillside. The large (12 mi long) and scenic Lake Crescent is within walking distance. Tent sites are lakeside. Other sites are in 3 loops on a hill. RVs might need leveling. Small store and day use beach within walking distance. Flush toilets. $20. |
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33 |
7/26/18- |
Klahowya CG (USFS). About 36 mi W of
Port Angeles, WA on US101. 1000 ft. |
|
Nice CG with about 55 gravel sites on level land in 2 loops. Four of these are in an overflow area with little site privacy (I was in one for 2 nights). Regular sites have good privacy due to heavy vegetation. CG loaded with tall trees for plenty of shade. Medium size Sol Duc River wraps around part of the CG. Many sites have a view of it. Some sites will hear trucks on US101. Vault toilets. $17. Hadn't planned to stay 3 nights, but checked Mora CG about 30 mi to the W on Friday and it was full. So I returned here hoping that at least one overflow site was still empty. Only one was! On Sat a.m. I walked the CG and found a few sites that had been vacated. Took a nice one for my final night here. |
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32 |
7/25/18 |
Heart O' The Hills CG (Olympic National Park). 7 mi S of
Port Angeles, WA on Hurricane Ridge Rd. 1800 ft. |
|
100+ paved sites in five loops on hilly land. Many sites short and/or unlevel. A few larger pull-thru sites. Plenty of tall trees. The Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center is about 12 mi farther up the road, but I didn't go. $20. 3rd time here. Last time, in 2014, fee was $12. Seemed much more crowded this time. Road construction for 5 mi leading up to the Park entrance can cause delays both ways. I lucked out and didn't have to wait for the pilot car hardly at all. |
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31 |
7/24/18 |
Fort Townsend State Park. 4 mi S of Port Townsend, WA
via hwy 20, then 1+ mi E on park road. 150 ft. |
|
40 sites total. About 12 sites in the lower "RV section", where I am. Grass sites right next together, with no significant privacy. Not very appealing. Other sites are on a hill in the woods and best for tents. However, I could have fit in some. Short (but steep) walk to the water and a nice view across the bay to Port Townsend. Free-to-campers dump station. $30 (other area $25 to $35). 3rd time here. Not due at my cousin's in MT for 4 weeks. So, to escape the heat, I decided to take the ferry here and stay on the Olympic Peninsula for a week. It paid off, as the temps are in the 70s vs 80s! |
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30 |
7/23/18 |
Clear Creek CG (USFS). 3 mi S of Darrington, WA on Mountain
Loop Hwy. 600 ft |
Nice little CG with 13 gravel sites on level land. Good site privacy due to vegetation. Between a moderate traffic hwy and the good sized Sauk River. River only visible from a couple of sites, but you can hear its music from all. Sites nearer end of CG road have better river view and less road noise. Plenty of tall trees. Vault toilets. $16. 2nd time here. Lots of dump truck traffic on adjacent hwy. Going ???? My 7/15/18 site was at the other end of Mountain Loop Hwy. |
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29 |
7/19/18- |
Darrington Bluegrass
Festival, 3 mi W of Darrington, WA on hwy 530. 500 ft. |
|
Nice mid-sized festival with great music and scenery Four well known national touring bands this year and some other regional ones. Be hard to find a nicer facility for a festival. Weather sunny and bit warm on Sunday at high 80s. No rain this year, though. My 5th time here. |
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28 |
7/18/18 |
Emerald Springs RV Park. In Arlington,
WA. 100
ft. |
Very large, new RV park with about 200 gravel sites on level land. No shade, since no trees. All sites have full hookups. Restroom buildings have showers and laundry, also. $43 w/hookups. Stayed at an RV park again since not many other choices nearby. I also needed to dump my tanks and fill my water tank before going to a music festival. Some farmer must have sold off a large piece of land, since open fields are on either side of the park. |
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27 |
7/15/18- |
Turlo CG (USFS). 11 E of Granite Falls, WA on Mountain Loop
Hwy. 900
ft. |
|
Nice CG with 18 paved sites on level land. Stillaguamish River fork on one side of CG and low traffic hwy on the other. About 7 sites on the river (and I got one of them). Plenty of trees (leafy and spruce/fir), bushes and ferns. Moss in some trees. Guess that's what lots of WA rain does. $18. Had a great site on the river and lots of shade, so ended up staying 3 nights. Had time, since not due to a nearby bluegrass festival until Thursday. Saw a bizarre sight one evening. Trees across the river were loaded with yellow butterflies. Was here in 2007, also. |
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26 |
7/14/18 |
Expo RV Park. In Enumclaw, WA. 700 ft.
|
Nice place with 27 paved sites on level land and several trees. In town for easy driving access to eats and shopping. Only a porta-potti. $30 w/water and elec (up to $40 for larger spaces). Lots of beautiful scenery (including Mt. Rainier) while driving today, but too hard to find a pullout for a photo. :( Two nights in a row in a commercial park! Checked out 3 FS CGs on the way here and all were full. Called a nearby State Park and it was full. OK, so I'll motel-it. Nope, all 3were full. Found out there was this local park and it had one empty site. Am I lucky or what? :) |
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25 |
7/13/18 |
Packwood RV Park. In Packwood, WA. 1000 ft. |
Oops, forgot site pics.
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Mom & pop type place with 87 grass/gravel sites on 7+ acres of level land. Some tent sites, too. Several large trees for potential shade in your site. Restroom bldg with showers and laundry. Right in town for easy access to eats, etc. $37 w/full hookups ($27 w/o). I rarely stay in commercial parks, but the nearby FS CG I'd planned on was full. Bit the bullet and stayed here. Worked out OK, as they had Wifi and a good burger joint was across the hwy where I ate and had a beer. Managed to not get hit crossing the hwy to get back to my rig. :) |
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24 |
7/11/18- |
Paradise Creek CG (USFS). 20 mi N of Carson, WA on Wind River
Rd (Forest Road
30). 1500 ft. |
Nice CG with 40 paved sites on level land in a single loop. Plenty of shade from a dense stand of 100+ foot fir/spruce trees. Small creek on one side of CG. Other side is close to a paved road with occasional noise from log trucks and motocycles. Otherwise, very peaceful here. Vault toilets. $18. Was also here in 2009. Close to 90F in the afternoon and no breeze. Lots of shade, however. |
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23 |
7/10/18 |
Still Creek CG (USFS). About 1 mi E of Government
Camp on US26, then 1 mi S on access road. 3700
ft. |
About 27 paved sites on significantly sloping land. All in a long, elongated single loop (except for one cross road). Such dense tree coverage you'll have trouble finding a sunny spot for your chair. Paved interior road has some very large potholes. Noise from trucks on US26 very noticeable when sitting outside. Convenient to the "micro town" of Government Camp. Vault and pit toilets. $23. Before coming here I visited the town of Government Camp. Nice rest area there for getting on the Internet with my hotspot and updating my website. Also walked around town a bit and had a good lunch. Saw several people with skiis and found out they are still skiing on Mt. Hood in July! Afterwards I visited a primo spot for a picture of beautiful Mt. Hood at Lake Trillium. Wow, what a view! (see photo). |
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22 |
7/9/18 |
Frog Lake CG (USFS). 7 mi S of Government Camp,
OR on US26, then E on Frog Creek Rd. 3900
ft. |
|
33 dirt sites on level land. Plenty of tall trees for shade. Many sites have lots of room for tents, chairs, etc. RV leveling may be needed on some sites. Small lake nearby, which lived up to its name; hundreds of teeny (1/4" long) frogs hopping around. Nearby busy hwy results in some noise, but less inside camper. Vault toilets. $23. On the way from Madras, OR (where I did my laundry), I had a great view of 2 tall Oregon mountains (see photos). |
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21 |
7/7/18- |
Haystack West Shore CG (BOR). About 12 mi S
of Madras, OR, on US97, Jericho Rd & Haystack
Rd. 2900
ft. |
|
13 paved sites on level land, alongside a medium size lake (not full now). All sites back onto the lake and have a good view of it. No vegetation screening between sites. There are some large trees, however, that provide some shade during part of the day. Well away from the hwy, so very quiet at night. Some sporadic noise from adjacent road traffic. This is a pleasant place to sit in your chair and enjoy the lake and hill scenery and the various birds around. Vault toilets. $15. Was here in 2012 and the sites were dirt. Very pleasant here, so stayed a 2nd night this time. |
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20 |
7/6/18 |
Prairie CG (USFS). 6 mi N of La Pine, OR on
US97, then 3 mi E on Paulina Lake Rd. 4300
ft. |
17 dusty dirt sites on level land, among scattered pines. Nice meadow with a creek on one side of the CG, down a moderate slope. Road near N part of CG goes to popular camping area and generates slight noise. Convenient to US97 travelers. Been in a few hundred USFS CGs and would rank this in the lower 50%. YMMV. Pit toilets. $14. Low of 35F. |
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19 |
7/3/18- |
Kiahanie CG (USFS). From Oakridge, OR take
hwy 58 W about 1 mi, then right on Westfir-Oakridge
Rd and Aufderheide Dr for about 23 mi. Watch for
campground sign on left. Note: Once in CG, you
take a dirt road on the left about 1/4 mi before any campsites. 2200
ft. Aufderheide Dr is paved and very scenic. Sometimes you're in a "tunnel" of overhanging trees. |
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Nifty, peaceful CG with 19 gravel sites on level land. Excellent privacy between sites. Beside a fork of the Williamette River, although it can't be fully seen from the sites, due to heavy vegetation. Very short walk, though, and you can hear its music from the sites. Tall, tall Douglas fir trees, various short leafy ones, and some ferns. Moss hangs on the lower branches of some of the large trees. Beside a paved road, but very little traffic. Only about 5 sites occupied on the holiday. Very few skeeters. Water pump. Vault toilets. $10. 2nd time here. Had a great site w/o any close neighbors, so decided to stay a 3rd day. High of about 80F and low of 48F. Had planned on heading N from here, but found out the road was closed by a landslide. Backtracked to US97 to get N. |
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18 |
7/2/18 |
Thielson View CG (USFS). About 5 mi NW of the
OR138/OR230 jct N of Crater Lake National Park. 5200
ft. |
|
60 paved sites on level land in 3 loops (2 non-reservable). On the large Diamond Lake. Sites well apart and well screened. Dense trees give many sites shade most of the day. Not many sites right on the lake (vs. just across the CG road from it). Great view of the unique "spikey" Mt. Thielson across the lake. Some skeeters. Vault toilets. $15. 3rd time here. Low of 33F! Passed through Crater Lake NP to get here. |
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17 |
7/1/18 |
Farewell Bend CG (USFS). About 54 mi N of Medford,
OR on OR62. 3400 ft. |
Very nice CG with about 60 paved sites in 2 separate sections. Loaded with tall trees and "Oregon Green Stuff". Very good privacy between most sites. Rogue River (small near my site, but larger further downstream) is along one side of CG. OR62 is on the other side, with moderate traffic. Eliminated about a dozen skeeters with my electric zapper racket. Flush toilets. $23. |
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16 |
6/29/18- |
Collier Memorial SP CG (State). 31 mi N of Klamath
Falls, OR on US97. 4200 ft. First CG outside of California this year! |
|
Very nice CG with 70+ paved or gravel sites in 2 loops on level ground. About 55 sites are full hookup. In a nice grove of tall pines for plenty of shade. Two streams a short walk away, but not visible from sites. Flush toilets and showers. Free-to-campers dump station. $19 ($29 w/hookups). Pulled in Friday about 5 p.m. and got one of the last no-hookup sites. Yay! Had to move Sat to a hookup site, which was OK, as I didn't want to look for another CG on a Sat. Also needed to fill my water tank. |
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15 |
6/28/18 |
Sims Flat CG (USFS). 40 mi N of Redding, CA
on I5, then 1 mi E on Sims Rd. 1700 ft. Now on my way to Montana!! Constant camping until mid August. |
19 paved or gravel sites on level land among many tall trees. Plenty of bushes for good site privacy. The very scenic upper Sacramento River is a short walk. I5 is close, but slight noise (hardly noticeable in my camper). Loud train track just across the river, but only a train every few hours. Small remnants of old lumber mill and CCC camp within the CG. Flush toilets, but old building. $15. Stopped here in 2012, on my way to Alaska! |
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14 |
6/19/18- |
Robinson Creek CG (USFS). 9 mi SW of Bridgeport, CA on
Twin Lakes Rd. 7000 ft. |
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Very popular CG with 54 paved sites in tall pines on level land. Shade varies significantly with site. The very nice Robinson Creek wraps around the CG. Usually good fishing, if they have stocked recently. Many sites on the creek. My favorite Sierra CG. Several other CGs and two large lakes nearby. $23. Had a great time camping with my daughter and son and family. This was my 42st straight year to camp in this area. |
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6/11/18- |
Visited friends in SoCal and my kids in NorCal |
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13 |
6/10/18 |
Los Alamos CG (Dept. Water?), off I5 8 mi S of Gorman,
CA. Take Smokey Bear Rd exit, then S to lake entrance,
then right and follow road N & W about 2 mi. 2800
ft. Note: My Garmin GPS tried to route me another way from Smokey Bear Rd, which was longer and I don't think would have worked. |
93 sites in 3 loops on hilly, sandy land. No or little shade in sites, except for about 6 with shade structures. Flush toilets and sinks. Pyramid Lake nearby. Slight hum from I5, but overall very peaceful. Pay dump station. $20 (higher for shade sites). 7th time here, since convenient to I5 to/from SoCal. Hardly anyone else here. |
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12 |
6/9/18 |
Tule CG (COE) on Lake Success. About 9 mi
E of Porterville, CA on CA190. 600 ft.
|
|
100+ paved sites on level land in 2 widely separated sections. Scattered trees, but significant shade at your site is unlikely. On a large lake. Large day use area with picnic shelters and children's playground equipment in South section. North section has some sites with electricity. Slight noise from adjacent hwy. Flush toilets and showers. Free dump station. $20. 2nd time here. A lot more water in the lake than in fall 2016 (see pics). |
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11 |
6/8/18 |
Codorniz CG (COE) on Eastman Lake. 12+ mi E
of Chowchilla, CA on Avenue 26 then 9+ mi N on Road
29. 700 ft. |
Remote CG with 65 paved sites on hilly land on a large lake. Some sites very long. Some sites are either partial or full hookup. Some trees for shade and shade structures in some sites (but not all). Lake view from some sites. Launch ramp. Flush toilets and showers. $20 ($30 w/hookups). Smaller 19 site Wildcat CG (no hookups) close by. Over 90F when I arrived. However, sitting in the shade wasn't bad with the nice breeze off the lake. Took a while for the inside of my camper to get down to a comfortable sleeping temperature, though. Hardly anyone else here, except some big rigs in the electric sites.. |
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10 |
6/7/18 |
Acorn CG (BOR) on New Melones Lake. 7+ mi S
of Angels Camp, CA on CA49, then 2 mi W on Reynolds
Ferry Rd. 1200 ft. Note: Another CG called Acorn is on nearby New Hogan Lake. BOR and COE must not coordinate names. :) |
Almost 70 paved sites on hilly land on a very large lake. Scattered leafy trees for shade in some sites, but many full sun. Lake views for some sites. Launch ramp close by. Dump station (fee). Vault toilets. $22. Checked out close by Manzanita CG first, but liked this one better. Got a really nice shady site with a through-the-trees lake view. |
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9 |
6/4/18- |
Boondocking site (USFS). Not a developed campground. South of Lake Tahoe, CA
in the Hope Valley area. 2.5 mi SW
of the hwy 88/89 jct and 4.5 mi S of hwy 88 on Blue Lakes Rd. 7500
ft. |
Popular boondocking area spread out over about 3/4 mile alongside Blue Lakes Rd. Spots for both small and large rigs. Views of creek/meadow/mountains vary with site. Creek size Carson River (West Fork) nearby. $0 Decided to stay a 3rd night and moved about 1/4 mi away. Nobody else around and a fantastic view of the mountains! Low of 28F. Bummer, my schedule won't allow another night. :( My 5th time here. I like it! Passed by the west side of beautiful Lake Tahoe today. |
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8 |
6/3/18 |
Goose Lake CG (USFS). About 11 mi N of Sierra
City, CA on CA49 and paved Gold Lake Hwy. 6300
ft. |
|
Primitive CG with 7 dirt sites with concrete tables, bear boxes and fire rings. CG alongside a light use hwy, with little nightime traffic. Some sites use a separate entrance from main one. All sites near the lake. Dirt road between sites is lumpy and has some large rocks . Plenty of tall pine trees. Nice small lake. Vault toilet. $10. Very scenic drive today along the beautiful N Yuba River. Gained 4K ft in elevation for cooler weather. |
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7 |
6/1/18- |
Indian Valley CG (USFS). 31 N of Nevada City, CA on curvy
CA49. 2300
ft. |
|
Nice CG wiith 16 paved sites in 2 loops. Lots of tall trees for shade. The beautiful N Yuba River beside the CG, but very steep access to it. Vault toilets. $24. 2nd time here. Was worried I wouldn't get a site arriving around 5 Friday afternoon, but I did! Got to almost 90F Saturday, but not bad in the shade in my easy chair. |
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5/26/18- |
Visited my 2 kids in the SF Bay area. |
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6 |
5/23/18- |
Fraser Flat CG (USFS). 25 mi NE of Sonora,
CA on Hwy 108, then 3 mi N on paved Fraser Flat Rd.
4700 ft. Note: Fraser Flat Rd drops about 1000 ft from the hwy, but is only moderately steep. |
Very nice CG with 39 paved sites in 2 loops on level ground. Plenty of tall, conifer type trees for shade. Some sites have very significant shade and others plenty of sun. Stanislaus River (S Fk) alongside CG, with fishing pier. Well off the hwy for peace and quiet, but there was some light traffic on the adjacent road. Vault toilets. $19. 2nd time here. Low of 38F. Rained a bit Thur night and Friday was dreary and cool. Good reason to stay in my camper. :) |
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5 |
5/22/18 |
Hidden View CG (COE) on Lake Hensley. 18 mi
NE of Madera, CA on CA145 and Road 400. 600 ft. |
52 paved sites (some tent only) in 3 loops on hilly land. Also, two group areas. Some sites have electricity. Many sites have a view of the medium size lake. Minimal trees, but most sites have a shade structure. Might need leveling blocks in some sites. Nice and peaceful here. Flush toilets and showers. Launch ramp. Free dump station. $20 ($30 w/elec). |
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4 |
5/21/18 |
Island Park CG (COE) on Pine Flat Lake, 36 mi E of Fresno, CA
(off Trimmer Springs Rd). Note: Short steep entry road.
1000 ft. |
On a large lake with nearly 100 sites total. About half are paved and in a hilly area, with many tent only. These sites are frequently not level, but some have electricity. The other sites are overflow in a flat grassy area, packed together like a parking lot. Flush toilets. $20 ($30 w/elec). 3rd time here. Got a great site right by the lake w/o anyone near me! Very peaceful to sit and look out at the lake as the sun goes down. Lots of small bunnies around at that time of day. |
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3 |
5/20/18 |
Lodgepole CG (NPS) in Sequoia Naitional Park. 56 mi
E of Visalia, CA on hwy
198 and Generals Hwy (very curvy). 6900
ft. |
|
200+ paved sites in the trees. Multiple sections. I was in a 22 site smaller one and didn't investigate the others. Park brochure says there is a river in the CG. Flush toilets. $22. Didn't plan on coming up into the Park, but 1st choice was closed and 2nd was full. So, I made the very curvy drive up. Was pooped when I got here. Didn't stay 2nd day since it was under 50F at noon. Brrrr. |
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2 |
5/18/18- |
KCL CG (BLM) in Carrizo Plain National Monument. About
43 mi E of Santa Margarita, CA on hwy 58, then 26 mi
SE on Soda Lake Rd (part dirt), then 1/4 mi SW on gravel
rd. 2300 ft. |
|
8 well developed gravel sites, close together, on level land. 4 walk-in sites in a corral area. Scattered shade from a few large eucalyptus trees. Nice view of the plain. Pesky flies. This place is in the boonies and probably miles to the nearest house, so very peaceful here. Vault toilets. Lowest price you can find @ $0. 3nd time here. 3 other sites occupied first night and 1 other 2nd night. |
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1 |
5/10/18- |
Parkfield, CA ("The Earthquake Capitol
of the World") for the Parkfield Bluegrass
Festival. NE of Paso Robles, CA in farming country. About
15 mi off of CA41/46 or 25 mi off US101, via San Miguel. 1500
ft. Yay, my first stop for 2018!! |
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My 6th time at this great mid-sized bluegrass festival. Try it, you'll like it. Out in peaceful ranching land. Weather great. No rain, versus 2 prior years. Lots of good music by national, regional and local acts. Way more campers and listeners than last year. Got a couple of jammng sessions in with local friends before I hit the road. |
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