Jake B
I am working in Berkeley over the summer and I want to get some peace and quite on the down time. I really want to camp but it seems there is no where close that is any cheaper then a hotel or hostel. Please help a Colorado boy camp in Cali
Answer
There is nowhere cheap because California state parks have had to hike rates up a LOT in recent years to stay afloat.
I highly recommend Angel Island, if you are able to carry your equipment on an easy ~2 mile paved walk. Campsites 4, 5, and 6 have million dollar views of the San Francisco skyline; the other sites have views of the Oakland/East Bay skyline. The island is crowded during the day, but after the last ferry leaves the only people on the island are the few campers and rangers, so you really feel that you have the island and the view all to yourself. If you go here, you'll need reservations ASAP.
For car camping, some regional parks near Berkeley that may be cheaper than state parks. Keep in mind that many of these parks get hot and dry in the summer so campfires may not be allowed:
Anthony Chabot Regional Park
Del Valle Regional Park
Sunol Regional Wilderness
If you want a more typical camping experience with big trees and campfires, look into various National Forests, which will be a bit of a drive but very doable for a short trip. Mendocino, El Dorado, Tahoe, and Plumas National Forests are within day trip range. For something closer to home, here are some more local parks that are heavily forested, and may be cheaper than state parks:
Memorial County Park
Sanborn County Park
Uvas Canyon County Park
Mt. Madonna County Park
For any of the local parks, you will most likely need to make reservations in advance, especially for the weekend. The national forests will be less crowded, and many if not most or all of their campsites are first come first served.
There is nowhere cheap because California state parks have had to hike rates up a LOT in recent years to stay afloat.
I highly recommend Angel Island, if you are able to carry your equipment on an easy ~2 mile paved walk. Campsites 4, 5, and 6 have million dollar views of the San Francisco skyline; the other sites have views of the Oakland/East Bay skyline. The island is crowded during the day, but after the last ferry leaves the only people on the island are the few campers and rangers, so you really feel that you have the island and the view all to yourself. If you go here, you'll need reservations ASAP.
For car camping, some regional parks near Berkeley that may be cheaper than state parks. Keep in mind that many of these parks get hot and dry in the summer so campfires may not be allowed:
Anthony Chabot Regional Park
Del Valle Regional Park
Sunol Regional Wilderness
If you want a more typical camping experience with big trees and campfires, look into various National Forests, which will be a bit of a drive but very doable for a short trip. Mendocino, El Dorado, Tahoe, and Plumas National Forests are within day trip range. For something closer to home, here are some more local parks that are heavily forested, and may be cheaper than state parks:
Memorial County Park
Sanborn County Park
Uvas Canyon County Park
Mt. Madonna County Park
For any of the local parks, you will most likely need to make reservations in advance, especially for the weekend. The national forests will be less crowded, and many if not most or all of their campsites are first come first served.
Great scary place to explore?
Alton
I live in Bay Area at Cali. Near sf. I want to go with my friend and explore a scary creepy place and camp outside or sleep there. Any ideas?
Answer
Many of the purportedly "haunted" places in Northern California (Winchester House, Alcatraz) are off limits to campers. But here are some interesting options:
- Angel Island was a POW camp during World War II. There are a lot of bunkers and abandoned military sites. From 1910 to 1940, the island was also a processing center for Asian immigrants. It felt more like a prison though. This was long before the civil rights movement. And because of America's racial laws, these immigrants were treated far more badly than European immigrants coming into Ellis Island on the East Coast. Many arrivals were held for years before being allowed onto the mainland.
- The Marin Headlands has a lot of bunkers and abandoned missile silos. The Point Bonita Lighthouse with its extremely dense fog and rickety wood bridge is also really creepy (especially at night). The coyotes who live in the headlands tend to howl quite a bit at night as well.
- Sugarloaf Ridge State Park in Sonoma has a campground and is close to Jack London State Park. The park is home to Jack London's "Wolf House." It burnt down in 1913 before he could move in and was replaced with a far more modest cottage. However, the impressive stone ruins remain. And they look like something straight out of a gothic novel. The author's grave is also located within the park.
- There are numerous campsites around Donner Lake State Park. The lake is named after the infamous Donner Party. In the winter of 1846, a group of settlers from Illinois attempted to cross the Sierra Nevada mountain range. They got caught up in a massive snow storm and set up camp on the shores of the lake. But there was no food. The survivors finally reached Sacramento in the spring of 1847. Subsequent investigations by the authorities suggested that they may have resorted to violence and cannibalism. But without any concrete proof of foul play, no murder charges were ever filed.
Many of the purportedly "haunted" places in Northern California (Winchester House, Alcatraz) are off limits to campers. But here are some interesting options:
- Angel Island was a POW camp during World War II. There are a lot of bunkers and abandoned military sites. From 1910 to 1940, the island was also a processing center for Asian immigrants. It felt more like a prison though. This was long before the civil rights movement. And because of America's racial laws, these immigrants were treated far more badly than European immigrants coming into Ellis Island on the East Coast. Many arrivals were held for years before being allowed onto the mainland.
- The Marin Headlands has a lot of bunkers and abandoned missile silos. The Point Bonita Lighthouse with its extremely dense fog and rickety wood bridge is also really creepy (especially at night). The coyotes who live in the headlands tend to howl quite a bit at night as well.
- Sugarloaf Ridge State Park in Sonoma has a campground and is close to Jack London State Park. The park is home to Jack London's "Wolf House." It burnt down in 1913 before he could move in and was replaced with a far more modest cottage. However, the impressive stone ruins remain. And they look like something straight out of a gothic novel. The author's grave is also located within the park.
- There are numerous campsites around Donner Lake State Park. The lake is named after the infamous Donner Party. In the winter of 1846, a group of settlers from Illinois attempted to cross the Sierra Nevada mountain range. They got caught up in a massive snow storm and set up camp on the shores of the lake. But there was no food. The survivors finally reached Sacramento in the spring of 1847. Subsequent investigations by the authorities suggested that they may have resorted to violence and cannibalism. But without any concrete proof of foul play, no murder charges were ever filed.
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