NFS Campground Review – Antlers, Shasta Lake, CA

View of Shasta Lake from Antlers Campground near the boat ramp

A well-forested and convenient base (right off I-5) to explore Shasta Lake in N.Central CA. Mainly a boaters campground however.

Link to campground here: Antlers Campgrounds, CA
Link to map location here: Antlers Campgrounds, CA

1. Site Quality = 4/5
   Very nice sites here. Most are heavily forested, with long, paved parking pad and large “sitting areas” containing picnic table, bear-proof food container and fire-pit. Generally very good separation between campers and lots of options for bigger rigs. Selection of back-in sites both single and very spacious double-size (could easily fit full-size RV & boat), plus a few exceptional lake-side sites with views from the back (#14, #18 are prime!). Only dings are that there is ONE tight tree-bordered turn at the beginning of the campground (not really do-able for anything bigger than 40-foot rig), and some of the sites, especially those bordering Antlers Rd (#34 through #42 outer-facing sites) are too uneven for larger rigs. You can see pics of each and every site on campsitephoto.com. NO hookups.
2. Facilities = 2/5
   Selection of flush toilets and pit toilets around the campground, but unfortunately they were not really clean while we were there. Boat ramp right next-door. NO dump station or showers.
3. Location = 3.5/5
   There’s good and bad things about the location here. On positive side you are right off I-5 and right next to Shasta Lake in a prime spot to explore the whole area. The negative is that you’re right off I-5 (there is some freeway noise in the campground) and also close to the railroad tracks (you’ll hear the roll of train coming through every now and then). Also, although you’re right by the lake the campground is on a bluff so there is no actual lake access except for boaters (at next-door boat ramp). No hiking either. However it’s an excellent base to explore the whole Shasta area.
4. Pet Friendliness = 4/5
   Another good spot for pooch with lots of space in camp. No dedicated hiking, but there is “hidden” run-around area in the back of the campground from a small trail between sites #33 & 34. Only ding is no lake access at camp. You’ll need to drive around the shoreline towards Gregory Beach or Beehive Beach get to the beach & water with pooch.

Overall Rating = 3.4

Summary: We were looking for a “beast-size” friendly campground to explore the Lake Shasta area and this place fit the bill. The campground is conveniently located right off I-5 and next to a popular boat-ramp. It is heavily forested and has nice paved sites with large “sitting areas”, lots of privacy and generally really good camper separation. Many sites are large enough for our size plus there are ”double” sites that could easily fit a RV, boat & toad, and even a few really prime sites that have lake-views out the back (#14, 15, 18). The only dings are the noise and access to water. This is mainly a boaters campground and gets crowded on the week-ends. Also despite being right next to the lake it is on a bluff and so there is no actual lake/beach access for non-boaters. Lastly you do hear some noise from I-5 and the train tracks. Neither bothered us, but it does detract from that “remote” forest feeling. If we come back and we can book one of the big prime sites (#14, #18) we’ll stay here again, but otherwise we’ll likely head to one of the other campgrounds we scouted out in the area (see below).

Extra Info: Average 3G on Verizon (2 bars). Total 59 sites (all non-hook-up), 45 of which are reservable on recreation.gov. Drinking water spigots on-site, but NO dump station. Sites cost $18 for singles, $30 for doubles. Senior Pass gives 50% off.

Extra, Extra Info – Other “Beast-Size” NFS Options: There are at least 2 other forest service campgrounds that accept “beast-size” around Lake Shasta.
1/ Hirz Bay NFS - It’s a windy 10-mile drive to get there, but road is very good, easy 2-lane and the campground has many larger-size (and very pretty) sites. Very relaxed & remote spot with nice hiking trail too. See photos on campsitephotos.com. Link to reservations HERE.
2/ Sims Flats NFS – Small and secluded campground half-way between Lake Shasta and Mt.Shasta ~1 mile off the I-5. Only 19 sites, all first-come-first-serve, but many are large enough for 40-footers. Very pretty & relaxed. This would be our #1 choice coming back to the area. Link to campground HERE.

Extra, Extra, Extra Info – BOONDOCKING: Lake Shasta actually allows camping anywhere on the shoreline if you’re able to get your equipment there. Most spots are best suited to tenters or small campers, but there are a few “dedicated” dispersed areas which cost $8/night and can accept bigger sizes. In our scouts, Gregory Beach seemed the best choice for “beast-size”.

NOTE/ You can see pics of each and every Antlers site on campsitephoto.com.

Typical back-in site (#32 shown)

View of massive double-site (#13 shown). Easily space for RV & boat in here side-by-side.

Typical “sitting area” with picnic table, fire-pit and bear-proof food container. This was taken from “prime” site #14 where you can walk to a full water-view out the back.

Front-view of our site (#12)

Back view of our site showing spacious “sitting area”

View down campground loop showing great separation between sites. #20 on right, #21 on back left.

Another view down loop. #26 on left.

Another view down back-side of campground. #39 on left (this site rather uneven)

View of facilities

Unofficial “run-area” out the back of the campground (accessible between sites #33 & 34)

NFS Campground Review – Sycamore Grove, Red Bluff, CA

Hanging at our shaded campsite in Sycamore Grove

A very relaxing forest service campground just a few miles off the I-5 in Red Bluff, CA (north-central CA)

Link to campground here: Sycamore Grove, Red Bluff, CA
Link to map location here: Sycamore Grove, Red Bluff, CA

1. Site Quality = 3/5
   Pretty nice sites here, esp. for forest service. The campground is a large grassy loop with ample shade trees near the entrance and middle, and more open sites along outer back so there is a nice mix of fully shaded to fully sunny. No real views from the sites, but good separation between campers and nice, green surroundings all around. All sites are paved with spacious “sitting area” containing concrete patio, picnic table, fire-pit and grill. Total 31 campsites, all reservable, of which 10 have 50 amp electric/water. Mix of back-in & pull-throughs. The only ding is that some sites are rather unlevel and on inner sites (inside the loop) the “sitting area” is on the wrong side of the rig. Also although all sites are “rated” at 44-feet many were too small for us (either size-wise or trees in the way) so I wouldn’t recommend anything bigger than our size (40-feet). Biggest sites were #1,27,28,30,31.
2. Facilities = 3.5/5
   Very nice facilities. Large (spacious) flush toilets and pay-showers, all kept spotlessly clean. Drinking water spigots all around the campground loop. NO dump station however.
3. Location = 3.5/5
   Red Bluff is not exactly a “destination” location, but as a stop-over this is just perfect. The park is ~4 miles from I-5 so it nicely away from the road traffic and right next to the Sacramento river offering water recreation (fishing, boating) plus miles of nice hiking in the surrounding meadows. Only real ding is that you are right next to the Red Bluff Dam and so you do get some noise from the operation there (didn’t bother us).
4. Pet Friendliness = 5/5
   Wonderful pooch park. Lots of space and shade to hang out in camp plus lots of lovely hiking trails in the surrounding area. No swimming tho’ (Sacramento River is simply too fast-moving).

Overall Rating = 3.75
BONUS ALERT = Camp in peaceful shade & grass just a few miles off the I-5!

Summary: We were looking for somewhere green & peaceful to stop off the I-5 in north-central CA and this campground came in to save the day. It’s a small, but pretty forest service campground set right by the Sacramento River & Red Bluff Dam and only a few miles off the Interstate. Sites are in huge grassy loop with large shade trees, good separation and very nice “sitting areas”. There is a mix of back-in & pull-through with selection from fully shaded (near entrance) to fully sunny (near back) and even a few 50 amp electric (10 sites total). The majority of the sites were a bit small or too unlevel for us, but we did find a good fit near the front (without reservations too). Surrounding area has river access and lots of hiking. The camphost was lovely too! Overall a really peaceful stop-over and one we would use again.

Extra Info: Average 3G on Verizon (2 bars). Total 31 sites (10 sites have 50 amp/water with rest non hook-up), all reservable on recreation.gov. Drinking water spigots on-site, but NO dump station (nearest dump in Red Bluff at the fairgrounds). Sites cost $16 for non-hookup, $25 for electric/water. Senior Pass gives 50% off.

View of one of the larger pull-throughs (#31)

View of large back-in #30

View of shaded site near entrance (#4). Hard to see on the pic, but trees are in the way here.

View down the end of the campground. Site #27 on right and we’re in #28 on left. Both are non-hookup

View down sunny side (back-side) of the loop. Site #21 shown/

View of sunny back-side pull-throughs. RV in front in site #14. Site #15 behind.

View of “sitting area” at each site with picnic table, fire-pit and grill

View of facilities

Walking with Polly on the lovely trails

RV Park Review – Orange Grove RV Park, Bakerfield, CA

Hanging in the orange grove at Orange Grove RV Park

An immaculate RV park set in a lovely orange grove in S. CA. Great stop-over spot for anyone travelling I-5.

Link to park here: Orange Grove RV Park
Link to map location here: Orange Grove RV Park

1. Site quality = 4/5 Very nice sites here. They are all spacious, flat dirt, but kept in very good condition with picnic table, individual orange trees (you can pluck as much fruit as you like in season) and good hookups (50Amp/water/sewer and cable). Most are pull-throughs with a few back-ins along the far rear. Only slight ding is that there is not much separation between sites (apart from the orange trees). Most sites are very similar, but edge sites (on end of every row) do have some extra space.
2. Facilities = 5/5 Very nice facilities here. Large, clean toilets with very big individual showers (huge in fact) with table and hooks for your clothes. Nice modern feel.
3. Amenities = 5/5 Very good amenities. There is a cute country store and lodge (with books, puzzles and tables), a decent pool area (just a tad small, but otherwise very nice), playground, laundry, fitness room (all new equipment). RV & car washing section in back (nice, little touch), plus free WiFi (which works well -> I gather it was just updated recently). Also on-site propane and dump station.
4. Location = 3/5 Bakersfield is not exactly a location destination (for most folks), but the park is a very convenient stopover for anyone travelling on I-5/99. In addition it’s nicely set ~9 miles out of town and inside an orange grove which means peace and relaxation -> a real bonus for the area. You are also just around the corner from the CA Fruit Depot.
5. Pet friendliness = 4/5 Great doggie spot. There is a walking area in the orange groves all around the park, plus a very cute (and nicely sized) off-leash area in the shaded grove on the SW corner. No bags, but poop-scooper areas all around. Only ding is no real hiking out the door. Nearest hiking w/ pooch is ~10 miles away at Kern River County Park.

Overall rating = 4.2
BONUS ALERT = Pluck oranges from the tree next to your site!

Summary: We needed a good stop-over with hookups (because of the heat) on I-5 and this park had been highly recommended by just about everyone we talked to. It definitely lived up to its reputation. Set quietly ~9 miles out of town the entire park is in the middle of an orange grove, with trees at each and every site. It’s immaculately kept with large, dirt sites, good hookups and great amenities (pool, hangout room, fitness room, RV washing station…you name it). Even the WiFi works well! The only slight dings are that sites do not really have much separation (apart from the orange trees) and there’s no real hiking directly from the park. In low-season the owners book everyone with space between, but in high-season (snowbird migration) I gather it’s packed. There are a few things to do and see around town. A lovely and relaxing stop-over and one I would definitely recommend to others.

Extra Info: Good 4G & 3G Signal on Verizon. Free WiFi on-site (works well). Sites $39/night ($35 for Good Sam’s or seniors), $195/week or $450/mo (all-inclusive).

Extra, Extra Info – Other Camping? There are a few other camping options which I can recommend in the area. For smaller rigs (I would say 35-max. It’s a tad tight for our size) nearby Kern River County Park is a lovely non-hookup park set beautifully right next to the river. Surrounding area has lots of hiking, trees, picnic area and recreation. For those looking for a “freebie” Camping World allows overnight camping in their lot.

Front view of our site (#161). All sites are very similar.

Another typical site view. RV in site #171

View down front empty row showing sites & picnic tables

Another view down a typical row. Our RV is on the left.

View down one of the back rows. Most of the monthly residents stay here. Front RV in site #67 on left.

View of facilities

View of pool area

View of playground

View of off-leash dog run

RV Park Rating – Santee Lakes, Santee (San Diego, CA)

Reblogged from Wheeling It:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

REVIEW updated as of latest stay Jan 2012

Biking along one of the many gorgeous trails by the lake at Santee Lakes

This was one of the first parks we stayed at in San Diego and continues to be one of our absolute favorite in the area. It’s a public park run by the water district, but has all the feel of an upscale, yet very natural private park.

Read more… 1,088 more words

Just updated our review of Santee Lakes with lots of new pics & details. This is one of the parks that is always on top of our list when we stay in San Diego area.

“Freebie” Site Review – Sycuan Casino, El Cajon (San Diego), CA

Hiking the hills near Sycuan Casino

A very spacious free parking spot ~20 miles East of San Diego

Location: Sycuan Casino, El Cajon 
Coordinates: 32.787428,-116.826650. Link to map location HERE
Cost: FREE (overnight). Possibility to stay longer if you request it.
How We Found It: From CasinoCamper.com
Nearest Dump/Water: Lots of dump stations around San Diego. Nearest is Circle RV Resort in El Cajon. There is also a free dump station in Mission Bay (San Diego).

1. Access – 5/5 Super-easy access here. Road is paved throughout and RV/oversize parking area is a HUGE asphalt lot (easily sized for 20-30 RVs of any size) up on the hill at the back of the Casino.
   Directions: As you enter the Casino go straight -> you will pass the Casino on your right and self-parking on your left. Continue straight to the back and past the employee parking lot. At very back the road will curve to the left and up the hill. The RV/oversize lot is the first lot on your left on the hill directly above the employee parking lot. Shortly after you arrive security will come by to check you in and ask how many nights you’re staying.
2. Nature – 3.5/5 For an “urban” setting this is pretty nice. The parking area itself is just a big asphalt lot, but it is surrounded by rolling hills with access to “unofficial” hiking directly from your RV.
3. Isolation – 2/5 Isolation is actually pretty decent considering you are parking your RV in the middle of a Casino. The RV parking area is behind and up the hill from the Casino so you’re separated from all the “regular” folk, plus it’s HUGE so easily lots of space to yourself. You are parked just above the employee lot however, so you will see/hear employees coming and going. Plus security does make rounds.
4. Pet Friendliness – 4/5 Great spot for pooch. You have lots of space around your RV to hang out, plus access to hiking in the hills surrounding the Casino. Of course doggie can’t access the Casino so that’s the only negative.

Overall Rating = 3.6

Summary: If you’re looking for a spacious and easy spot to stay a few nights for free near San Diego, Sycuan Casino is a very decent site. Located in El Cajon just a few miles off the beaten track it’s peacefully set in rolling hills. What’s particularly nice is that the RV/oversize parking area is behind and up the hill from the main Casino giving you separation, lots of space and relative quiet. On arrival security comes by to check you in and ask how many nights you are staying, but otherwise they leave you be and you are free to extend slides, put down jacks and make yourself at home as you please. The Casino itself is accessible from the back of the RV parking lot via steps and it is so-so (in my opinion), but it has lots of slots/games and offers a free buffet if you sign-up to the Players Club (look online for a coupon). There is opportunity to hike in the surrounding hills, plus you are only a few miles away from the Sycuan Resort which has an excellent golf-course. When we were there we were the only RV and had a nice shade tree and oceans of space to ourselves. Would definitely stop again if we needed a spot to overnight.

Extra Info: Flush toilets in the Casino. Verizon smartphone and aircard worked well (3G only). NO hookups or dump station.

Extra, Extra Info – OTHER BOONDOCKING: There are actually lots more Casino’s that allow free RV parking in and around San Diego. The two most popular are Barona (small RV parking area) and Viejas (allow up to 3 days stay).

View of the massive RV/oversize parking area

View to right side of RV. We were parked by a big shade tree.

View towards the back of our RV. Employee parking lot is directly below and Casino is in the background.

View to right side of RV. This is the employee parking lot. There's access to hiking in those hills in the back

View of RV/oversize parking lot. Literally oceans of space here.

"Arial" view of parking area from hills. That's us in the middle. The large structure on the left is regular car parking. Casino is out of view to the left.

RV Park Review – Mission Bay RV Resort, San Diego, CA

Polly poses by the water next to Mission Bay RV Park (Fiesta Island is in the background)

This is a so-so RV park in a FABULOUS location. We love staying here just for the access to water & beach with pooch.

Link to park here: Mission Bay RV Resort
Link to map location here: Mission Bay RV Resort

1. Site quality = 2.5/5 Just so-so sites here. The park is probably best described as a large asphalt parking lot. It has small strips of green and trees, but sites are all asphalt and there is really no separation or privacy between campers. Sites are a decent size with full hookup (50Amp/water/elec + local cable) and most are very similar. There are several “premium” sites, but I (personally) don’t feel they are worth the extra $$
   -> Premium Bay View sites have a nice water view through the back fence, but they are back-in only (so class A’s can’t face the view).
   -> Premium Beach View sites have somewhat of a view, but beach is across the park from a parking lot so it’s not really that attractive
   -> Super-size sites are really just longer asphalt sites
   In my opinion the nicest sites are next to green strips by the facilities (sites 154, 139, 127, 112) or in the middle of the park around the low 120′s which are often quite empty (so good chance of not having a neighbour).
2. Facilities = 3/5 Facilities also so-so here. Bathrooms are rather dated and have an older feel to them. Also the showers seem to take forever to warm up. However stalls are large, there is good water pressure and they are kept meticulously clean.
3. Amenities = 2.5/5 Also so-so amenities here. There is a small “snack shack” on-site, a pavilion, 2 laundromats and community room, but really not much else. They do offer free Wi-Fi which “mostly” works, although it does tend to cap out with users when park is fuller.
4. Location = 5/5 Location is where this place gets it’s star points. You are in a quiet corner of Mission Bay with full water-views right outside the park and small on-site beach. There are miles of walking/biking/exercising available around Mission Bay directly from the park, plus you’re crawling distance to Mission Bay Golf Course. You’re also only minutes from all San Diego’s best attractions incl. Sea World (right around the corner), Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach and even downtown. For location this can’t be beat.
5. Pet friendliness = 4/5 If you want to be walking distance to dog-friendly beach & water there is really no other park in San Diego that compares. There is small on-site pet run, pretty water-side walking around De Anza Cove directly from the back park gate, plus pooch can go on the beach and around Mission Bay (before 9AM and after 4PM in winter, or after 6PM in summer). Best of all you’re only ~5 mins drive from off-leash pet heaven Fiesta Island, and ~10 mins drive to Ocean Beach Dog Beach. Only ding is the park does limit certain breeds.

Overall rating = 3.4
BONUS ALERT: Stroll along miles of beach and water with pooch!

Summary: This park is all about location, location, location. It’s in a quiet corner of Mission Bay Regional Park surrounded by green, sand and water, within easy distance of practically all San Diego’s best attractions and right next to Mission Bay Golf. Also it’s the only RV park in San Diego I know where doggie can directly access a beach (within hour limits), or be only 5 mins from off-leash beach access (Fiesta Island and OB Dog Beach). All other RV & State parks in the area do not allow dogs on the beach. So for all those reasons we really (really) love this place. But the park itself we could probably take or leave. Sites are fully asphalt with no separation/privacy and there are minimal amenities. It’s kept nicely clean, there is good security, but there are not alot of “extras”. It is also quite pricey ($50-$80/night) unless you take advantage of discounts. Water and beach-front sites are back-in only and not (in my mind) worth the $$, but on internal sites you can use Passport America for 50% off Mon-Thurs ($25/night) plus in winter the park offers excellent monthly rates ($800/mo all-inclusive). If you stay here in low season (winter) and take the discounts I think this park is one of the best locations in the city, and we’ll come back again and again just for that.

Extra Info: Good Verizon 3G & 4G LTE signal. On-site free Wi-Fi, but it is unreliable. All sites are full hookup. Nightly rate $50-$80. Monthly rate (winter) $800/mo (all inclusive -> 30-day stay limit then need to go out for 24 hrs before another 30-day stay). Park takes Passport America (mid-week) and Good Sam’s.

Typical site view (#117 on left, 116 on right)

View of our site by the facilities (#112). It has a nice green strip.

Typical Bay View site (#40 shown). These do have nice views, but they are pricey and back-in only

View down one of the rows

Another view down one of the rows. Winter is low season and many spaces are unoccupied.

View of facilities

The "snack shack" at Mission Bay RV Resort

Walking on the beach by Mission Bay RV Park

Boondocking Site Review – Rockhouse Canyon Road, Clark Dry Lake, Borrego Springs, CA

Early morning hike in the hills by Rockhouse Canyon Road boondocking area

A lovely, large boondocking area just ~7 miles from Borrego Springs and right next to Anza Borrego State Park in SW California.

Location: Rockhouse Canyon Road, left-turn off S22 ~7 miles NE of Borrego Springs, CA
Coordinates: Approx. 33.2954N,-116.2893W (= SW corner of boondocking area). Link to map location HERE
Cost: FREE (no official stay limit at the moment, although this may change with State Park acquisition – see “summary” below)
How We Found It: This is a fairly well-known boondocking spot in the area. We first discovered it when we met a guy who was staying there our very first year in the area. The RV forums also talk about it, as do other bloggers. Much of this area is still private land so there is no “official” info on the place, but it’s a well-known/well-used location.
Nearest Dump/Water: Nearest dump at Borrego Palm Canyon campground  inside Anza Borrego State Park ($8 fee). If you’re headed east there is also a free dump at the ARCO station at the corner of S22 and Hwy 86 by the Salton Sea.

1. Access – 4.5/5 Very easy access for any sized-rig here although as usual a little extra effort is needed to access the best spots.
   Directions -> From Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs take Palm Canyon Drive (S22) east towards Salton Sea. Drive ~7 miles until you see Rockhouse Canyon Road on your left.
   Boondocking Spots-> Take Rockhouse Canyon road, up a short hill and past the “no trespassing” sign. Initial 100-ft of hill is paved, but road becomes reasonably firm dirt/sand after this spot. Boondocking spots are all over the desert after the sign, many off dirt spurs that depart from either side of the road. You’ll see plenty of cleared-out spaces with home-made fire-rings used by previous folks. Most people stay closer to the entrance (best Verizon signal here), but there are lots of really nice (and very private) spots further in. Some of the dirt spurs can be rather sandy/rough so check out the road before bringing in a big-rig.
2. Nature – 5/5  Fabulous nature spot. You are in the middle of the desert valley surrounded by scrub with outstanding views of the mountains all around. Good and easy-access hiking on nearby Coyote Mountain too.
3. Isolation – 4.5/5 Good to great isolation here depending on where you park. Only slight ding is this is a fairly well-known boondocking area and the Verizon signal is strongest near the entrance (closest to S22), so if you want a spot with good internet, you’ll likely get some rigs in your view.
4. Pet Friendliness – 5/5 Another great pet spot. You have days-worth of hiking and exploring in the surrounding hills, plus lots of space to hang out in camp. Also this is mostly “scrub” desert so not alot of cholla around which is a big positive for paws on the ground.

Overall Rating = 4.75

Summary: This is probably one of our absolute favorite boondocking spots.  It has easy access, lots of space, gorgeous desert nature and simply fabulous mountain views all around. Although it’s fairly well-known amongst boondockers, Borrego Springs is a lightly-visited town so there are lots of opportunities to find space to yourself. In boondocking circles you’ll sometimes hear this called “Clark Dry Lake” although the boondocking area is actually up the hill before the dry lake bed.  The spot is only ~7 miles NE from town, right off S22 on Rockhouse Canyon Road which is an easy dirt road that takes you back into the boondocking area. Front area (nearest S22) is super-easy to access and has the best Verizon signal, but is also the most popular. Further back on Rockhouse Canyon (nearer to the dry lake bed) the spots get much more isolated, but Verizon signal fades fast. We chose a spot a few miles down the dirt road which had very poor Verizon signal (just barely usable w/ our external antenna/amp), but really great privacy. The area is on private land inside Borrego Springs so there are no “official” rules about camping (this also means no restrictive dog rules), but that may change! According to our info a large part of this area was just recently acquired by the State Park, so it’s probable that boondocking will still be allowed in the future, but possibly with a stay limit and most likely some dog rules too. Lots to do & explore in the surrounding area including the cute town of Borrego Springs plus no end of historic trails and natural beauty in Anza Borrego State Park. Overall a fabulous spot and one we’d come to again and again.

Extra Info: No water or facilities (nearest dump/water inside Anza Borrego State Park). Good Verizon 3G signal near the entrance (closest to S22), but poor to zero signal further back.

Extra, Extra Info – OTHER BOONDOCKING? There is actually a ton of other boondocking around Boorego Springs

1. PEG LEG - This is actually right next to Rockhouse Canyon Road and is a great “beginner” boondocking area. It’s a large, flat and super, super easy-access “dirt parking” area right off Peg Leg road next to the Peg Leg monument. Cute little area and always rigs around. There’s a free book-swap in the mailbox. This is the same area where the annual Peg Leg Liar’s Contest is held. More info HERE. Free and no official stay limit.
2. GALETTA MEADOWS - This private land inside Borrego Springs allows free camping (3-day limit). Great for sculpture viewing! Contact Galetta Meadows for more info.
3. ANZA BORREGO STATE PARK - One of the unique things about Anza Borrego State Park is that they actually allow free, no-permit back-country camping anywhere within the state park as long as you stay within 1-vehicle length of the road, don’t trample vegetation and stay 100-feet away from any water source.  There are lots of dirt roads leading to interesting spots around the park, but for those looking for a specific spot there is “official” free back-country camping at Blair Valley (could fit big-rig at the entrance), Yaqui Pass (easy, large area), Yaqui Well, Culp Valley, Sheep Canyon, Arroyo Salado, Mt. Palm Springs and Fish Creek. Download the State Park magazine for more info HERE.
   NOTE/ If you have a dog be aware that Anza Borrego State Park does *not* allow dogs on any trails or in any wilderness areas. So if you go back-country camping w/ pooch you can only walk him/her on-leash on the park road.
4. OCOTILLO WELLS SVRA - This large off-road vehicle area east of Anza Borrego SP off Hwy 78  allows free 30-day camping anywhere within the area. It is also surrounded by BLM land. More info HERE.

"Aerial" view of our very private boondocking spot from Coyote Mountain. You can see S22 snaking off into the distance in the far background.

Another "ariel" view towards some nicely-spaced rigs near the back-end of the boondocking aera.

View of our boondocking spot from dirt spur off Rockhouse Canyon Road

Typical boondocking site. You'll see clear-out spaces and fire-rings like this all around.

Another site view, with another rig parked in the background

View of short, paved section near entrance of Rockhouse Canyon Road. Boondocking are starts right after the "no tresspassing" sign

Dirt-road section of Rockhouse Canyon Road. This is near the entrance with some rigs parked right off the road.

Biking around the dirt roads w Polly in the boondocking area

Very approximate map of Clark Dry Lake boondocking area. Borrego Springs in on the left. S22 constinues to Salton Sea on the right.

2011 Top RV Parks & Campgrounds Of The Year

Believe it or not we’ve made it to 2012! With 2011 speeding rapidly behind us (at an ever increasing rate, or so it seems) this is the perfect time to review the best of the best of sites that we stayed at last year (just like we did in 2010). In line with our “free-the-beast” camping style most of the spots we chose were public parks. In fact out of 62 total stops in 2011, only 5 were private parks, and all but one of those 5 were big city. It’s the way we like it ->loose and free in the wild with just a rare touch of civilization every now and then. Since SO MUCH of our camping was in the wilds I’m switching around a few of our catagories this year. Hope you enjoy them!

1/ Top 3 Camping Spots with a VIEW

Lovely Lone Pine Campground, CA

We came across some simply spectacular views in 2011. In fact so many campgrounds made this list that I had to narrow it down to those that gave us true 360-degree views right from our RV site.

• Tuttle Creek, Lone Pine, CA -> Sweeping 360-degree views of Mt.Whitney and the Owens Valley, all for only $5/night. Wow!
• Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, NM -> Nestled in the Sacramento Mountains you have a fully open view of the valley with the mountains behind you. Oh, and sunset out your window too!
• Elephant Butte Lake State Park, NM -> Book a water-front site in the north campground for sweeping views of the lake with the mountains in the background. Gorgeous!

2/ Top 3 BEACH Camping Spots

The wonderful beach at Fort Stevens State Park, OR

We managed some great beach stops both in FL, TX and OR. It was hard to chose, but these 3 made the top of our list:

• St Joseph Peninsular State Park, Cape St.Blas, FL -> Remote and gorgeous with paw-friendly beach only ~1 mile away! We simply raved about this spot when we were there and it definitely makes our top list.
• Carl G.Washburne State Park, Florence, OR -> A hidden gem along the OR coast boasting both a dog-friendlly beach and an awesome lighthouse.
• Fort Stevens State Park, Astoria, OR -> Miles of beach, history, lake and trails all in one. And ALL of it paw-friendly too.

3/ Top 3 FOREST Campsites

Our "sitting area" at Convict Lake, CA

When we’re in the mountains we LOVE the forest campgrounds and we managed some pretty gems in 2011. Here are my favorites:

• Canyon Rim, Flaming Gorge, UT -> What a spectactular spot! A mini-campground with only 7 RV sites just steps away from outstanding views of Flaming Gorge.
• Cayton, San Juan NF, CO -> We totally fell in love the remote Lizard Head Wilderness here and would come back in a heartbeat. You’re next to river, mountains and days of hiking at 9,400 feet.
• Convict Lake, Mammoth Lakes, CA -> It’s the most expensive of our NF choices, but in a simply fabulous location. Lake, mountain and views. You get it all here!

4/ Top 3 Camping DEALS

Desert boondocking just outside of Yuma, AZ

This may seem like an odd catagory, but I had to mention it. I’m lumping together a few campgrounds into one here just to give you a feel for just how GREAT a deal you can get camping in the wilds.

• New Mexico State Parks -> I’ve mentioned them soooo many times on the blog, but they deserve just one more. New Mexico has the BEST camping deal in the country IMHO. The Annual Camping Pass is $225 and covers a YEAR of primitive camping with only $4/night extra for electric. Add to it that New Mexico has some of the most beautiful State Parks we’ve encounted and I really can’t imagine a better deal.
• BLM Campgrounds -> BLM campgrounds are primitive and often remote, but they’re fabulous deals at only ~$5 a pop. Good examples that we’ve simply loved are Tuttle Creek and Owl Canyon in CA, Datil Well and Orilla Verde in NM.
• Boondocking -> What’s even better than $5/night? That would be FREE!! There are tons of great boondocking sites especially on BLM land out west. We snagged a gorgeous spot on the beach in Sea Rim, TX, a desert beauty in Quartzsite, AZ and a remote lovely just outside of Yuma.

5/ Top 3 Not-Yet-Mentioned Gems

Hill view of the lovely Davis Mountain State Park, TX

These didn’t fit into the other catagories, but they made our list of top-rated campgrounds for their own individual reasons. So, here we go:

• Davis Mountains State Park, TX -> One of our absolute top-rated campgrounds because it combined the best of everything. Great sites and facilities in a fabulous location with both hiking, star-gazing and hills. Sadly fire swept this area in 2011, so we’re not sure what it all looks like now.
• Mesa Verde RV Resort, CO -> Yes, a private park believe it or not. Great facilities just outside Mesa Verde National Park. It made the very top of our list of private parks visited in 2011 and deserved a mention for that reason alone.
• Markham Park, Sunrise, FL -> We wintered here last year and consider it one of the nicest spots for extended stay in southern FL. Want gigantic sites, oceans of green, trails and lakes? Add-in a full-blown dog-park and biking area to boot. Then, this is your spot!

There are tons of other worthy and beautiful campgrounds that I didn’t manage to mention, but we’ll just have to place them in the archives for the next time. Happy Camping everyone!

Boondocking Site Review – Ogilby Road, Imperial County/Yuma, CA/AZ

Polly and I check out an old ore shoot in the hills by our boondocking spot

A huge, easy lesser-known boondocking area with tons of interesting mining history ~14 miles west of Yuma, AZ on the CA side of the AZ/CA border.

Location: Ogilby Road, CA, S34 (no official info on the web, but there’s a very crude map of Yuma BLM areas HERE)
Coordinates: Approx. 32.817215N,-114.837856W (= SW corner of boondocking area). Link to map location HERE 
Cost: FREE (2 week stay limit)
How We Found It: We asked around about Yuma boondocking sites on the RV forums and this was one of the options given. It seems to be one of the lesser-known areas with no “official” info (that I could find) on the web so it took a bit of “digging” to get to.
Nearest Dump/Water: There is water, propane and dump at the Shell Station at 611 Sidewinder Rd directly off I-8 a just few miles east of Ogilby Road.

1. Access – 4.5/5
   Very easy access for any sized-rig here although as usual a little extra effort is needed to access the best spots. 
   Directions -> From Yuma, AZ take I-8 west ~14 miles to Ogilby Road (S34, Exit 159) and turn right to go north. Drive approx. 5 miles on Ogilby Road (easy, paved road) until you cross some railroad tracks. Immediately after the tracks there will be 2 wide, flat, firm dirt roads going off to your right. The first is Sidewinder and this is where the majority of rigs seem to boondock. The second is American Girl Mine and seems to be lesser used.
   Boondocking Spots -> BLM land surrounds both of the dirt roads going back multiple miles and you will see “14-day camping” signs all around. For easy boondocking simply drive down either dirt road and pick a spot close-by. For more scenic spots drive several miles back towards the hills and take anyone of the many ”dirt spurs” off the main road. Towards the very back the dirt roads can get washed out, narrower and bumpy so scope out these areas before bringing in a big-rig.
2. Nature – 4.5/5
   It’s all nature out here, but might be considered a bit “barren” for some. This is dry, scrub-like desert. The boondocking area is mostly flat-land with large barren spots, some shrubs here and there, a few smaller trees and some ocotillo cacti. The hills towards the back are rocky mining areas. Lots of interesting browns, minerals & texture, but not alot of wildlife or green.
3. Isolation – 4.5/5
   Very good isolation with only one (very minor) ding. This is a huge area and seems lesser-used so if you’re willing to drive around and explore you can certainly find a spot to yourself. Only very minor ding is there can be some noise from the railroad tracks depending on where you park.
4. Pet Friendliness – 5/5 
   Another great pet spot. You have days-worth of hiking and exploring in the surrounding hills, plus lots of space to hang out in camp. Also this is “scrub” desert so not alot of cactus around which is a big positive for paws on the ground.

Overall Rating = 4.6

Summary: This area seems to be one of the lesser-known boondocking spots around Yuma and took a bit of “digging” to find. It’s a large, flat easily accessed spot ~14 miles West of Yuma and ~5 miles North of I-8 on Ogilby Road. Once you get to the area 2 wide, flat dirt roads take you back across several miles of open, flat boondocking landscape. We chose American Girl Mine Rd and drove as far back as we could towards the hills finding a lovely and quiet spot by ourselves, but you can choose to be closer to other rigs too. Most of the area is very flat, firm/rocky and fairly barren, but the hills are a fascinating place to explore esp. if you take the time to discover the old mines. Lots to do and see in the surrounding area. We had a most relaxing time here and would certainly come back.

Extra Info: No water or facilities (nearest dump/water at the Shell Station exit 164 off I-8). Good Verizon 3G signal.

Extra, Extra Info – OTHER BOONDOCKING? There is actually a ton of other boondocking around Yuma. 

1. LVTA SITES - For long-term stays there are four official LVTA BLM sites at Imperial Dam, Pilot Knob, Tamarisk and Holtville Hot Springs (LVTA fees apply at all sites). See more HERE.
2. FREE (14-day limit) SITES - These are a little harder to find with less “official” info available on the web, but here are a few that I’ve discovered:
   - Mittry Lake - This is ~18 miles NE of Yuma and can (apparently) accommodate any sized-rig. More info HERE
   - Pilot Knob – Aprox. 1 mile west of Pilot Knob LVTA there is apparently a separate free 14-day stay area.
   - KOFA National Wildlife Refuge – North of Yuma on the 95 (towards Quartzite). More info HERE.

View of our spot back by the hills on one of the "dirt spurs" off American Girl Mine

View of a "site" along American Girl Mine. You'll find people have built home-made fire-rings all over the place.

Another nice "site" view by the back hills

View of the wide flat-land to the right side of our boondocking site

"Aerial" view of our boondocking area off American Girl Mine Rd as seen from the hills in front of our RV. Not alot of folks out here.

"Aerial" view towards the rigs boondocking near Sidewinder Road. Again, taken from the hills in front of our RV. This seemed to be a more popular spot.

View of one of the many "dirt spurs" leading off American Girl Mine. As long as you see this 14-day camping sign you'll know you're still on free boondocking BLM land.

"The beast" driving on American Girl Mine Road. This is a firm, wide dirt road.

Very approx. map of Ogilby Rd free boondocking area. I-8 is at the bottom and the railroad tracks are in red.

CP Campground Review – McDowell Mountain Regional Park, Fountain Hills, AZ

Lovely McDowell Mountain Park

A gorgeous regional park with 50 miles of trails in the mountains just ENE of Phoenix, AZ.

Link to campground here: McDowell Mountain Regional Park, AZ
Link to map location here: McDowell Mountain Regional Park, AZ

1. Site Quality = 3.5/5
   Decent to fabulous site quality here depending on which loop you’re in. All sites are hard gravel and have lovely “sitting areas” with picnic table, fire-pit and grill. Selection of back-in or pull-in with good separation, 50Amp/water hookups and generally lovely views all-around. For big-rigs however it does matter which loop you choose:
   ->North Loop (sites 3-40) – This seems to be an older loop and although sites are long and spacious enough, many have very step/uneven entrances with rather short, flat sections for parking. In our spot (#28) ~half the site was so strongly sloped that we would have been unable to level if Paul hadn’t been able to move the heavy concrete parking barriers in the back. Only a handful of sites comfortably flat and long enough for bigger rigs here (recommend sites 6, 11, 20, 23, 31, 35, 37).
   -> South Loop (Sites 43-80) – This seems to be a newer loop and has simply gorgeous sites all-round. All are very large, flat and very spacious with simply oceans of space in-between. ANY site is lovely here. Definitely the spot to book for big-rigs!
2.  Facilities = 3.5/5
   Simple, but very nice facilities. Large, clean flush toilets and individual (very spacious) shower stalls with separate bench area. Only slight ding is regular showers have those annoying timer buttons and spray heads with no temperature control (Note/ the disabled shower has a detachable head & temp-control). On-site dump station.
3. Location = 5/5
   A really gorgeous location here. You are right at the base of the McDowell Mountains with gorgeous views and access to ~50 miles of excellent hiking/biking trails including a competitive mountain biking circuit right on-site! Play-ground and picnic area, plus you are only a few miles from Fountain Hills for shopping needs.
4. Pet Friendliness = 5/5
   Lovely pooch park. Plenty of space to hang out in camp, plus pooch is welcome on all the trails. DO be aware of coyotes however. Lots around in the park & area, and they’re not shy of walking through camp.

Overall Rating = 4.25
BONUS ALERT = Camp with sweeping mountain views and 50 miles of rocking trails!

Summary: This is a wonderful gem of a park located just ENE of Phoenix at the base of the McDowell Mountains. Sites are very nice with wonderful mountain views, lovely “sitting areas” and lots of space in between. The North Loop (#3-40) has rather slooped sites many of which would be too unlevel for “beast size”, but the South Loop (#43-80) has lovely, spacious (enormous), flat spots that would fit any size rig. This is a mountain bikers “hot-spot” and has over 50 miles of wonderful multi-use trails as well as a competitive track on-site. Beautiful sweeping desert and mountain views all-around with lots of nature (expect to hear packs of coyotes at night and maybe even see them by your campsite!). Nearby Fountain Hills provides basic shopping needs with ~30 min drive to Scottsdale or Phoenix. Overall a very peaceful, natural park and a spot we’d definitely revisit.

 Extra Info:  Decent 3G Verizon signal with 1-3 bar signal variation. 64 total sites, all reservable on-line. $25/night with electric/water (50Amp). On-site dump station.

Typical site view in North Loop (#24). It's hard to see in the pic, but this site has a downward front slope.

View of another very sloped North Loop site (#16)

View of our site (#28). Very private site, but we would not have been able to level if Paul hadn't moved the heavy concrete parking blocks in the back.

View down North Loop (RV in site #10 on left, #8 behind)

One of the enormous sites in South Loop (#68 shown)

View of spacious pull-ins in South Loop (#44 on left, #43 on right)

Another view down spacious South loop (RV in site #54 on left, #52 behind)

Typical "sitting area". #31 shown. The covered sites in background are the host sites.

View of facilities

View of covered playground between the 2 loops