one of my Favorites is Kennedy Meadows, from LA take i5 to the 14
take 14 north to 395, take 395 until you see the sign for Chimney Peaks Rec area, take Nine Mile canyon rd and drive until you see the sign for Kennedy Meadows Rd (hwj41) and follow that to the Meadows
there is a campground, but there is dispersed camping in the meadows along the road just before the CG, the South fork of the Kern river runs thru there
but its just a creek, and there may not be any water in it now ? because of the drought, normally water there year round
my son caught his first trout in that water, saw his first rattler eating a squirrel and his first wild native Bobcat
and at one time there was a small beaver damn and lodge
the dispersed area attracts a few bare skin nature lovers, so don't camp the creek if your OFFENDED by nudity , usually way out from everybody else, but they like to bask on the sand bars in the creek
used to take the high top van camper up there every july
have not taken the DP up there,
oh there are several more CG's further up the mountain
The nine mile canyon road section is a really twisty logging road
sat viewi forgot to mention the Los Angelos aqueduct runs through nine mile canyon