Lake Cachuma North of Santa Barbara used to be first come. With nearly 400 sites it was generally not a problem. We have gone every year since 2007 in the summer for a weekend. Show up early afternoon Friday and have plenty of options. This year is the first year we will not be able to go. They have placed 90% of the sites on a reservation system, and nearly everything was sold out every weekend in June, July, and August. Only a few parking space sized hook up sites left which do not work for my 3 kids. So now, like the Refugio and El Capitan, it is nearly impossible to get in during the summer. We used to be able to pick our weekend, show up and have our pick of sites. Not any more.

Amen,Just went to the Jalama site, same thing. I know they were talking about it for a few years, but everyome I talked with said NO way.They were handing out cards at the gate asking you to fill out.Ranger said everyone was saying NO when they turned in. I guess Jalama is history for us. To bad it was the only beach in So Cal we went to.

I hate the reservation system also, maybe we should all quit going to any campground that has the reservation system then maybe they will get the message

I feel the same way... there are a few CG's that would really benefit... Faria would be one. I have driven up there a dopzen times on a weds or thursday... and no space avail. Ill ask a camper to give me a ring when they pull out...no courtesy anymore... lol

The problems began happening when the reservations system emerged, all over the country in any areas that are easily accessible for a weekend.Most often, sites are booked longer than used, and the computer system cannot overlap from one open site to another if you're willing to move in the middle of a two week stay, or willing to vary the site location in some way. I'll never figure out why the NP, SP, COE services don't mak the reservations, just like a vendor does it ... I've been in plenty of walk-in CGs and seen two or three employees sitting around waiting to check people in, and could be taking reservations easily enough. It's not like each park is taking reservations for 'all parks' only for the park they work in, and know that park better than a clown sitting at a PC somewhere.And, the worst part is the ratio of walk-in to reserve sites - that percent should be at least 50/50 ...I've never heard one good thing about a reserve system - and plenty of complaints. I agree with above - we never make reservations, we plan our time to get first-come sites as best we can, and we figure out an alternative if we can't that specific day. We've almost never been without a site when and where we need it.I do agree with a vacation/family reservations - but that isn't always true, and if it means that same family reserving every weekend thru a summer, it's not a good thing for anyone.

I miss the old Lake Cachuma | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

bedrocker
Explorer
Aug 06, 2013
Being a local of Santa Barbara county
all I can say is LA GO HOME !!!!
I hate what has happened here :(
KFS
Explorer
Aug 06, 2013
I see. Makes sense.

The COE we frequent has a mix of both. They reserve a certain amount for walk-up only.

They also have a rule that says you MUST take possession of your site and be ON it the night you check in. If you show up at the window they flat out ask if your equipment is with you - and it better be. Holding a lot out of use is not acceptable.

I didn't understood why until this thread so thanks for illuminating this.
kohldad
Explorer III
Aug 06, 2013
Just curious why you hate reservations?

I can't imagine not having them. I'd worry about being loaded at the ready and arriving to find they were all full.

The problem with reservation systems is you need to plan your trip, sometimes months or even almost a year in advance to get a site. For a lot of folks who also must plan their vacation out 6 months in advance due to company policy, this isn't a problem.

However, I like to be spontaneous and not have a schedule. My work allows me to take up to a week vacation on short notice, a couple of days without any notice. So I can decide on Wednesday I need a vacation and be on the road that night. If I arrive at a campground that's full, I'll just travel down to another campground which most times turns out better because it's an unexepected find.

On longer trips, I hate reservation because it removes flexibility. You can't love this place and stay a couple extra days or hate this place and leave a few days early. You can't see something along your route that was unexpected and decide to spend the day there because you have reservations up the road.

Just means you miss a lot of wonderful thing that are of interest.
Garry_Gayle
Explorer
Aug 06, 2013
I do not like the fact that I need to plan my weekends or vacation months in advance, Silver Lake in the Eastern Sierras (our favorite) went to a about 50% reservations after that it was a******shoot on getting a site, seeing all the reserved sites sitting there vacant. When it was first come first served never had a problem in over 30 yrs. but it's all about the money for the concessionairs.
KFS
Explorer
Aug 06, 2013
Just curious why you hate reservations?

I can't imagine not having them. I'd worry about being loaded at the ready and arriving to find they were all full.
tuna_fisher
Explorer
Aug 06, 2013
I don't know about other SB county parks but Jalama doesn't enforce that you stay the day you rent a site. We stayed there for 9 days and the site across from us had a 5er sitting there for all 9 days and un occupied. They had paid up front so they could have it over the 4th of July.We left on the 2nd. Also I've come over the hill, looked down and said look at all the empty spaces only to find cones at most all of them and un occupied. Good for them, they got $$ and nobody staying there. Pisses me off!!!
clubhouse
Explorer
Aug 06, 2013
I appreciate the ability to make reservations, and applaud Santa Barbara County for making the change. With kids and work schedules the way they are we won't risk precious our time away with potential disappointment of showing up not to have any sites available. Those that have the ability to get away spur of the moment and want sites to be available "first come first serve" I understand your disappointment, but for me and hoards of other camping families reservable sites are appreciated.

Plus, the CG gets my money months before I get there...very useful for th CG.
PUCampin
Explorer
Aug 06, 2013
Both sides have valid points, there is no easy solution. I certainly appreciate not wanting to drive many hours and get turned away. I have also noticed less available facilities over the years. My camping style has also changed. When I was a kid we had a VW Westfalia, and after I grew up I camped out of the back of my truck for many years. No need to worry about site length or being level like I do now, even with a 22ft trailer.

I just am not sure why they felt the need for it at Cachuma. There was no mass of campers at the gates Friday trying to get a site, and we often saw several empty sites around us the whole weekend. But now that they can be reserved, they fill up, and I am not willing to chance the remaining handful of walk in sites (10% is not an exaduration). And Cachuma is a county park at that! I recently stayed at a Ventura County park and was pleased.
TOOBOLD
Explorer
Aug 06, 2013
I'm in the minority. I know how popular beach camping is in California and I'm not driving 3+ hours just to find out there are no sites. It's bad enough getting DH to take a day off with reservations can't imagine telling him to drive without a guarantee. We also like arriving on Sat. guaranteed to have no sites available.
Not_a_Clue
Explorer
Aug 05, 2013
I have pretty much given up on beach camping in state parks in the summer. I have moved to county parks and if I want to be at the beach I stay at a private campground.