California Camping

[mardaf]

Hey, this is my first post here and I was hoping to get some advice on campsites. There are 4 of us heading down from Canada along the coast and heading to L.A. We would like to do as much camping as possible and have been in touch with the folks at reserveamerica.com. They have told us that only one motorcycle was allowed per site but two tents could be put up on a site. This was for Hidden Springs campground in Humboldt Redwoods SP. Not sure how can they can allow a 36' long RV + towing a Crown Vic in there but not allow more than one motorcycle per site. It start to make it a little cost prohibitive. Is this just the standard line or do the state parks actual enforce this rule?

If anyone has any suggestions on where we should look for camping or suggestions of some great roads we'd welcome some input. We'll be down in the middle of August.

[bosozoku]

There's always the campground at the mouth of the Mattole River, on the Lost Coast. I was there on 4th of July weekend a few years ago, and it was less than half occupied. Should be no worries about extra scoots at your campsite, and there's a really good chance that you can snag two adjoining sites so it'll be even easier.

Here's a LARGE pic file of the campground, from offshore. Click the pic in the middle for hugeness.

[mardaf]

Nice, that's sounds like the type of sites we are looking for

[TallRob]

the Carrizo Plain national monument has free camping!

[tad]

I can vouch for this:
http://www.oceancove.org/

Nice place, also right on the ocean.

[CRASH]

Originally Posted by tad

I can vouch for this:
http://www.oceancove.org/

Nice place, also right on the ocean.

+1 but it can get WINDY there. Make sure you stake and keep lots of heavy stuff in your tent.

[mardaf]

Thanks, based on your post i did a search and it looks like a great option for us. We were having trouble finding somewhere in that area.

[ninja_o]

looks like a pretty nice spot

[Turkus]

Mark ~

Nice to see another Canuck here on the forum, welcome !!

I suggest you send a PM to Daryl Makk (daddymakk here on Pashnit), he's up in your neck of the woods (Calgary).
He came down the coast with some friends back in '09 and did some camping along the way.
You may benefit from his experiences..

Good luck and have fun !!

[yamaguzzi]

I rode down the West Coast from Canada last summer after touring the Canadian Rockies on a cross country trip from NY. I found some real nice camp sites .I took the ferry from Victoria to Port Angles Wa,USA and rode down the west of the Olympic Peninsula. There was real good camping in the National forest campgrounds for cheap.In Oregan I found a real gem on the coast1/4 mile in the woods with 14 sites called Rock Creek.Another US government campground also cheap to the tune of about 14 bucks a night .It's about 15 miles north of Florence.The Cresent City Ca area has 2 county parks that are good and also cheap.The state parks in Ca are nice but a rip off 37 dollars a night to sleep on the ground in a tent,I don't think so. The BLM land out at the end of Lighthouse Rd in Petrolia on the Lost coast is exceptional! GO THERE! I spent 2 weeks camping there and met the most incredible people .At 8 bucks a night you can't go wrong. When you are ready for a motel head to Ft Bragg and on Oak St you'll find another gem with a parking garage between each unit and a kitcken ! The Columbi Motel.They are inexpensive,very clean and motorcycle friendly.I stayed there for 5 nights for 300 bucks and could cook 3 hot ones a day,shower,have internet,and tour the area on an unloaded bike.What a deal! South of there you are on your own but I do know of a lighthouse hostel just south of San Francisco that I scoped out in a car on a scouting trip I took before the real ride. Good luck and have a safe ride. Bring lots of memory sticks!