Forum Discussion

jeff92804's avatar
jeff92804
Explorer
Apr 18, 2016

Looking for short vacation indeas SW area

Hi, We have a short vacation opportunity for June 1-June 5. Currently we have no ideas of where to go that is new to us. We only want to go 1 day drive...450-475 miles max from Anaheim. That will leave us 3 days to visit before a return trip. We have a dog and like to hike. We also have a car we tow. We love going to national and state parks. We have been to Yosemite, kings, sequoia and death valley already. State parks are preferred over national when we are taking the dog. Please share any nice ideas for locations that you may have. We want to try someplace new and are struggling to make up our minds. Obviously some places we would be too late to even book a campsite so that is a factor too. I wont get to check back on this thread until later today, so I wont reply right away. Please just make this a free for all of your location preferences or ides here.

Thanks
  • rexlion's avatar
    rexlion
    Explorer
    Apr 19, 2016
    Take a look at Cathedral Gorge SP, Panaca NV (north of Las Vegas). Very unique and interesting place.
  • 2gypsies1's avatar
    2gypsies1
    Explorer III
    Apr 18, 2016
    Off Pavement wrote:
    There is some good hiking and lots of scenery near Lone Pine. Boondocking is available at Alabama Hills just west of town, there is a pretty nice BLM campground Tuttle Creek Campground - Lone Pine, CA as well as commercial campgrounds Lone Pine RV Park Reviews. The US Forest service offers camping at Whitney Portal too... Whitney Portal Campground

    Many old movies and western TV shows were filmed in the Lone Pine area. Food, fuel, and RV supplies available in town.


    This was my first thought. Drive up Hwy 395. There are awesome places to explore.
  • PUCampin's avatar
    PUCampin
    Explorer
    Apr 18, 2016
    What have you seen up 395? Lots to see along the Eastern Sierras and White Mountains, and lots of camping at county campgrounds, Bishop Creek, Mammoth,

    Stay in or near Big Pine and take a day trip to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine forest in the White Mountains and visit trees over 5000 years old.

    Bishop creek is a beautiful area to camp and hike.

    Mammoth is a nice area to visit, and so much more than the skiing. Use any of the national forest campgrounds just East of town, in the lakes area, or in the Reds meadow area, or Mammoth Mountain RV. Visit Schat's Bakery. Go fishing on lake Mary, take the Red's meadow shuttle to Devil's Post Pile and Rainbow Falls, lots of hiking to do.

    June Lake loop is just past Mammoth

    Mono lake is just up the road, so it Lee Vining, the junction with 120 which goes to Tenaya Lake and Yosemite High county.

    Bodie ghost town is a little past Mono Lake.

    One could easily spend weeks exploring the Eastern Sierra, pick a couple things to see and come back for more later. It is easily one of my favorite places to visit. Mammoth is only 300mi from my home, about 380 from Anaheim, and the road is straight. There are some neat places along the way such as Red Rock Canyon, Fossil Falls, Manzanar, and once you pass Inyokern and the Sierras begin to rise to the West, the scenery is spectacular.

    Good luck wherever you decide to go, just GO!! We do not get to go near as often as I would like!
  • Off_Pavement's avatar
    Off_Pavement
    Explorer II
    Apr 18, 2016
    There is some good hiking and lots of scenery near Lone Pine. Boondocking is available at Alabama Hills just west of town, there is a pretty nice BLM campground Tuttle Creek Campground - Lone Pine, CA as well as commercial campgrounds Lone Pine RV Park Reviews. The US Forest service offers camping at Whitney Portal too... Whitney Portal Campground

    Many old movies and western TV shows were filmed in the Lone Pine area. Food, fuel, and RV supplies available in town.

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