The wife & I along with our 100lb dog are looking for a cool location close to L.A. to go camping during thanksgiving.Don't want anything crowded & crazy like we did last year at the Glamis Sand dunes.We would prefer something quite, maybe in the mountains?Was thinking maybe somewhere up Angeles Crest?Or maybe somewhere up around Frazier Park up on top of the Grape Vine?Open to ideas, don't wanna go too far considering we have an out of state trip plan next month.

If you consider glamis close then anza borrego will be a fine choice. You could camp up a wash and probably see 1 or 2 jeeps all weekend. That is if you have 4wd. Also, if you are into riding atv's there some Blm land near ocotillo wells that is pretty uncrowded. Pm me if you want any more info.

anutami wrote:If you consider glamis close then anza borrego will be a fine choice. You could camp up a wash and probably see 1 or 2 jeeps all weekend. That is if you have 4wd. Also, if you are into riding atv's there some Blm land near ocotillo wells that is pretty uncrowded. Pm me if you want any more info.Actually yes I consider Glamis farther than I had in mind.I don't mind something around San Diego just straight down the 5 fwy Or something north towards Bakersfield? I just learned today after talking to the Angeles forest rangers that there are NO campgrounds at all in that area that currently allow Camp fires & for me thats a BIG part of the fun..SO Thats out. :(Might have to start considering a actual privately run camp ground so I can have my Camp fires?Still looking for ideas?Just hoping to find a nice new place that won't be too busy?

Pretty much all the National Forests will have fire restrictions in place unless we get a good wetting rain before Thanksgiving. Closest for you would be Frazier Park/ Chuchupate area. There are some c.g. out thru the Hungry Valley OHV area towards Alamo Mtn that would be truck camper accessable, but might be impacted for the holiday. For a real quiet out of the way place, hit Miranda Pine c.g. on the Sierra Madre/ Macpherson Pk. road off of Hwy 166 west of Cuyama by Rock Front Ranch. Inside the San Rafael Wilderness. Can pretty much guarantee there will be nobody there. If it rains as scheduled this Sunday, you may want to call the Los Padres Forest to see if they shut the gate at Hwy 166 for the winter. It was open 2 days ago.

Camorhino wrote:Pretty much all the National Forests will have fire restrictions in place unless we get a good wetting rain before Thanksgiving. Closest for you would be Frazier Park/ Chuchupate area. There are some c.g. out thru the Hungry Valley OHV area towards Alamo Mtn that would be truck camper accessable, but might be impacted for the holiday. For a real quiet out of the way place, hit Miranda Pine c.g. on the Sierra Madre/ Macpherson Pk. road off of Hwy 166 west of Cuyama by Rock Front Ranch. Inside the San Rafael Wilderness. Can pretty much guarantee there will be nobody there. If it rains as scheduled this Sunday, you may want to call the Los Padres Forest to see if they shut the gate at Hwy 166 for the winter. It was open 2 days ago.You sound like you know what your talking about & will call them tomorrow while at work if I can..I don't care to camp in the Hungry valley play ground because I'll get upset I did not bring my 4X4.

Anza Borrego or Joshua Tree, Red Rock Canyon State park on 14

Looking for a So Cal Thanksgiving uncrowned camp spot

profdant139
Explorer II
Nov 20, 2016
Wild idea -- Davy Brown Campground, way up in the Los Padres, above Los Olivos. Quiet, shady, lots of trees.

Here is the link to the Forestcamping description:

Davy Brown
slickrock_steve
Explorer
Nov 19, 2016
I would still vote for Red Rock Cyn State park. Can have your fires, and it is surprisingly very quiet! Yes, there is a lot of off road stuff nearby, but you won't see it or hear it from the Campground. We go there frequently, but is getting pretty expensive with the state raising fees so much. Now $24 a nite!!
we will be going to the pinnacles at Trona pinnacles, and it is quite nice.
whazoo
Explorer
Nov 19, 2016
Cuddeback Dry Lake. Very TC friendly roads, old mines incl some very nice horizontal hard rock openings that go back a ways. An old (may still be used) arial bombing range and more. Some history there with the X15 as well.
http://forums.woodalls.com/Index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/24774471.cfm
Blanco1
Explorer
Nov 19, 2016
Valley of Fire maybe?
Blanco1
Explorer
Nov 19, 2016
D.E.Bishop wrote:
I'm pretty sure you'll possibly, maybe, find a spot, but, with about 15 million folks living in LA, BS, SD and Ven counties, many of whom are looking for the same thing... well, Good Luck.

Thanks.
D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Nov 18, 2016
I'm pretty sure you'll possibly, maybe, find a spot, but, with about 15 million folks living in LA, BS, SD and Ven counties, many of whom are looking for the same thing... well, Good Luck.
tuna_fisher
Explorer
Nov 18, 2016
Buzzcut1 wrote:
Anza Borrego or Joshua Tree, Red Rock Canyon State park on 14
Joshua Tree is busy, was up there Wed. and every camp spot at hidden Valley CG was taken, I'm sure Jumbo Rocks is the same. You probably could hit one of the others and find something, but it is busy, Tis the season for JTNP. Yes campfires are allowed in fire rings only, BYOW, Bring your own wood.It's 34 this morning, right now at my house probably 30 or less up in the park
Buzzcut1
Nomad II
Nov 18, 2016
Blanco1 wrote:
Buzzcut1 wrote:
Anza Borrego or Joshua Tree, Red Rock Canyon State park on 14
Anza & Red Rock are pretty much Off road play grounds are they not?

Like I said I don't wanna go to crowds playing off road & bumming me out that I did not bring mine. :(
Whats out at Joshua Tree?
I've always heard about that area & assume this time of year has a better Climate?
But would Camp fires be allowed?

The Wonderland and OZ are great places to hike as are the old mines. There really is nothing to burn in the campgrounds

call them
https://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm
Blanco1
Explorer
Nov 18, 2016
Buzzcut1 wrote:
Anza Borrego or Joshua Tree, Red Rock Canyon State park on 14
Anza & Red Rock are pretty much Off road play grounds are they not?

Like I said I don't wanna go to crowds playing off road & bumming me out that I did not bring mine. :(
Whats out at Joshua Tree?
I've always heard about that area & assume this time of year has a better Climate?
But would Camp fires be allowed?
Buzzcut1
Nomad II
Nov 18, 2016
Anza Borrego or Joshua Tree, Red Rock Canyon State park on 14