I miss the old Lake Cachuma

90 percent is way too much I agree, but with the demand, I guess something had to be done to reserve. We have not gone to Bolsa Chica in years, sitting down six month in advance and hammering the computer or phone is nuts. We do a Halloween camp at San Clemente and fortunately this year a friend called to remind me that I needed to hammer for a spot the next day. I got the last spot I think. Sad.

Fortunately, most of the camping we do is dry/boondock on BLM land like Johnson valley with bikes and ATV's. No beach, no hookups, and no reservations needed.

Let me put a little different spin on this. I think we'd all agree that the increase in the number of campsites, public especially, has not kept up with the increase in the number of people that desire to use them, especially in California. Almost 40 years ago, I was a broke college kid tenting it in a park in Pismo Beach when a well dressed guy in a very nice RV pulled in to get a site. When he was told none was available, he cussed out the office worker like it was their fault. Can you imagine what it would be like to be working a campground on a Friday these days when a deluge of RV'ers pull in expecting a site when none are available? Years later, I was the guy in the nice RV with family in tow at Craters of the Moon in Idaho. We pull in to the last available site as it was getting dark. I'd seen the small car racing us for it, but we were legitimately there first. Two college age guys got out of the car and 'suggested' I give the site to them. I resolved the situation peacefully. Disappointed campers acting inappropriately can be a problem for both park employees and guests. I don't disagree that the system is flawed, but I think it does serve an important purpose. There are insufficient facilities available, and the reservation system is one way to address that.

But it is California. Little or no thought is given to the needs of the public, rather I am willing to bet major contributions were made by the computer network and the monitoring company to establish the current contracts.
JMHO

I love the reservation, as I know that after driving 2-8 hours, I'll have a site, in many cases the site that I want, not what somebody else thinks I need.
I do think that 90% is way over the top, should be more like 60 or even 50%.

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 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

Why did they make the change?

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

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.