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Northern Calif in October - wildfires, COVID, etc

rvshrinker
Explorer III
Explorer III
Wanting to spend about a week seeing Lassen, Shasta, Castle Crags SP, Lava Beds, etc. In mid October. Weโ€™re mostly into hiking, and we can mix dry camping for up to 3-4 days with full hook ups.

However that is potentially wildfire season, so any tips to deal with that? I thought weโ€™d split our trip in two, so 3-4 nights in each of 2 different places, so if one gets closed due to fire, the other would be open. Even now Lava Beds NM has been closed for four days due to fire.

Also, COVID. California SP only reopened for camping July 12 and as of July 21, Castle Crags closed again due to a โ€˜surge in visitation.โ€™ It sounds very unpredictable whether weโ€™d be able to count on a camping reservation.

And I supposed California could order all campgrounds closed at any point. Who can say what October will look like?

Any insider viewpoints? If we do go, are there any other must see sites in the area?
7 REPLIES 7

profdant139
Explorer II
Explorer II
We use this map during fire season -- one year, we were in Idaho. Wanted to go to Montana. Nope -- the map showed too much smoke -- changed plans and headed for Mt. Rainier instead. Clear skies for a week! And then more smoke. ๐Ÿ˜‰

NOAA Smoke Map
2012 Fun Finder X-139 "Boondock Style" (axle-flipped and extra insulation)
2013 Toyota Tacoma Off-Road (semi-beefy tires and components)
Our trips -- pix and text
About our trailer
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single list."

cptqueeg
Explorer II
Explorer II
Stay up w the national fire situation on inciweb.


https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
2024 Chev 3500 CCLB Diesel
Four Wheel Camper Granby Shell

rvshrinker
Explorer III
Explorer III
Northern oregon is my backyard ๐Ÿ™‚

We could alternatively go to Hellโ€™s Canyon and Eastern Oregon.

jdc1
Explorer II
Explorer II
We had to leave NorCal to go camping. We're in northern Oregon right now.

ppine
Explorer II
Explorer II
I just spent some time on the Stanislaus Nat For in California and on route 49. It was surprisingly normal. People were polite and friendly.

By October the weather cools in the mountains and there can be some rain. It is much better than the summer and not as crowded either.

MarkTwain
Explorer
Explorer
rvshrinker wrote:
Wanting to spend about a week seeing Lassen, Shasta, Castle Crags SP, Lava Beds, etc. In mid October. Weโ€™re mostly into hiking, and we can mix dry camping for up to 3-4 days with full hook ups.

However that is potentially wildfire season, so any tips to deal with that? I thought weโ€™d split our trip in two, so 3-4 nights in each of 2 different places, so if one gets closed due to fire, the other would be open. Even now Lava Beds NM has been closed for four days due to fire.

Also, COVID. California SP only reopened for camping July 12 and as of July 21, Castle Crags closed again due to a โ€˜surge in visitation.โ€™ It sounds very unpredictable whether weโ€™d be able to count on a camping reservation.

And I supposed California could order all campgrounds closed at any point. Who can say what October will look like?

Any insider viewpoints? If we do go, are there any other must see sites in the area?


At best I would make tenative plans:( Call all the local fire service agencies for conditions of fires a week before you will be in the areas and which hwys. are open. Bottom line, wait until the virus count numbers are under control. Today there are fire conditions in most of the areas you want to visit.

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Explorer II
All bets are off for California camping options in October. Situation is too fluid.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad