So we are visiting some family in Alpaugh (near Bakersfield..yuck) in June. I'm in Albany area of Oregon. We are taking our 3 boys, 5,7 and 10 and I want to hit a few places on the way or way back since Alpaugh sucks...make it fun for the kids (and me). I grew up in Grants Pass so we are stopping for the Jetboat tour, on to Oregon Caves and then on to the Redwoods. I'm stumped at this point. Is I580 TC friendly? Also...anything else interesting to stop and see or so on the way? Campground or boondock recommendation in or near Redwoods? We have 10 days for the trip and will spend 3-4 visiting....so, 5-6 days for travel/fun.

Kern River area above lake Isabella less than an hour from Bakersfield good fishing hiking and dispersed campingHwy 88 east of Kirkwood ski area, dispersed camping in hope valley on the west fork of the Carson riverRedwood State or National Park near Orick is goodYou can also go over 58 to the east side of the Sierras, tons of free camping, 14,000 foot peaks and drive all the way back up to the Oregon border avoiding the Central Valleys vast flat boredom

Thanks Buzz,I'll check it out and see if I can fit it in with my plans. I figure with enough planning I can make it "fun"!Moving in 23 days so I'm busy for the next few months, want to get this trip finalized so its out of the way.

If you are coming down in the summer, you have a choice of the coast range or the Sierra. Coming down 101 there is Humbolt Redwoods, a lot of coastline and beaches if you are willing to take the time on 1. Alternatively go south through Lassen, quite interesting miniature version of Yellowstone in many ways, then through Lake Tahoe to Lee Vining, over Tioga pass through Yosemite and onto Bakersfield. Probably more postcard type shots that way. If you do plan on Yosemite, check Tioga pass (it may not open until July this year). You would need reservations for sure to camp in Yosemite Valley proper, but some of the campgrounds coming over from the east have some first-come sites (Tuolemne Meadows for one), if you plan to arrive there early you can get one. I would avoid I5 from Redding to Bakersfield like the plague myself, unless speed was all important. Having said that, if you do go through Redding, the Sundial bridge is worth a stop for an hour. I have found nothing of interest between there and Magic Mountain :).

From Grass Pants to Bakersfield... hmmmLassen National Park is very cool. Take the hike to Bumpass Hell and there are plenty of others too. Chester, South of Lassen has a nice lake, Almanor. Tons of fish! There are several passes that may be open by June that cross the Sierras. I took a trip last year to cross every one and camp each night on the summit of each pass. With this much snow, might not be all open, but they are beautiful drives, every one. Lake Tahoe. Come down from Susanville from Chester and drive the Nevada side to South Shore Tahoe. Beaches, boating, camping, etc. Bodie Ghost town just North of Lee Vining is pretty cool to visit. It's amazing how well preserved it is. At Lee Vining, see Mono Lake. Then head West into Yosemite. Don't bother with the valley in June, it's a zoo. But the road from 395 to Maraposa is very nice with lots to see. Also, If you want to divert from Tahoe, take Hwy 49 through Sierra City all the way down through Placerville and to Yosemite. See all the historic gold rush towns like Coloma, where John Sutter discovered gold and set off the gold rush of 1849. South of Placerville is Plymouth, Ione, Jackson, Angels Camp (where Mark Twain wrote his story on the frog jumping). There are lots of gold rush towns with reenactments of everything from pioneer living to civil war battles. Do your homework to figure what events are taking place on what days so you plan the itinerary.

Buzzcut1 wrote:Kern River area above lake Isabella less than an hour from Bakersfield good fishing hiking and dispersed campingHwy 88 east of Kirkwood ski area, dispersed camping in hope valley on the west fork of the Carson riverRedwood State or National Park near Orick is goodYou can also go over 58 to the east side of the Sierras, tons of free camping, 14,000 foot peaks and drive all the way back up to the Oregon border avoiding the Central Valleys vast flat boredomThe river is a trickle at best.

Trip to CA..help me plan for TC camping | Good Sam Community

Vinsil
Explorer
Mar 26, 2016
bb_94401 wrote:
Depending on how far you come down the coast consider spending a day hike at Pinnacles National Park which is SE of Hollister on Hwy 25. The CG at the park isn't very nice, however continuing S on Hwy 25 and then SE on Colinga Rd will take you past four BLM campgrounds near Laguna Mtn, with the last at the Fresno Co line where the road becomes Los Gatos Rd. Surprisingly few people in this area.

If you come down the west side of the Sierra, consider bypassing the crowded Yosemite area and check out the area east of Oakhurst in the Sierra NF. Lots of granite domes and scenery for hiking and camping north of the Mammoth Pool Reservoir.

Depending on how far you go north on 395, NW out of Alturas heading towards Klamath Falls on SR 139 is the Lava Beds National Monument.

If you go further north on 395 above Lakeview is Hwy 31 which goes to LaPine. If it is not too snowy, a side trip up to the Newberrry Volcanic National Monument (Paulina Lakes) and a hike up the large obsidian field is always impressive. If some snow up there, it is possible to find spots at the CGs around the lakes. We like "Little Crater CG" on the east side of Paulina lake.

Thank you! Exactly what I was looking for.
bb_94401
Explorer
Mar 26, 2016
Depending on how far you come down the coast consider spending a day hike at Pinnacles National Park which is SE of Hollister on Hwy 25. The CG at the park isn't very nice, however continuing S on Hwy 25 and then SE on Colinga Rd will take you past four BLM campgrounds near Laguna Mtn, with the last at the Fresno Co line where the road becomes Los Gatos Rd. Surprisingly few people in this area.

If you come down the west side of the Sierra, consider bypassing the crowded Yosemite area and check out the area east of Oakhurst in the Sierra NF. Lots of granite domes and scenery for hiking and camping north of the Mammoth Pool Reservoir.

Depending on how far you go north on 395, NW out of Alturas heading towards Klamath Falls on SR 139 is the Lava Beds National Monument.

If you go further north on 395 above Lakeview is Hwy 31 which goes to LaPine. If it is not too snowy, a side trip up to the Newberrry Volcanic National Monument (Paulina Lakes) and a hike up the large obsidian field is always impressive. If some snow up there, it is possible to find spots at the CGs around the lakes. We like "Little Crater CG" on the east side of Paulina lake.
jimh406
Explorer III
Mar 26, 2016
Naio wrote:
I spent 9 months camping in California last year and didn't see a single meth head.

Must have had your eyes shut or stayed out of the larger cities. ;) In case you are thinking I meant only in CA, that's not the case. All of the larger cities on the West coast have the same issue.
Naio
Explorer II
Mar 26, 2016
Oh, for goodness' sake. I spent 9 months camping in California last year and didn't see a single meth head. I saw a lot more of them in Oregon (but none of them hassled me there either).
jimh406
Explorer III
Mar 26, 2016
California is a big place. Hasn't Bakersfield got more than their fair share of discussion in this thread. ;)

Seriously though, if I was bringing an RV to California, I'd stay away from the large cities. The meth heads are out of control, and I wouldn't want them to have any excuse to break in on a trip when I'm out of town due to the inconvenience that would result.

I'd probably do some some state/national parks and loop back through Nevada and/or Utah.
HMS_Beagle
Explorer
Mar 26, 2016
Bakersfield has the distinction (along with New York City) as one of only two American cities mentioned in a Rolling Stones song.
anutami
Explorer III
Mar 26, 2016
For whats it worth, I work in Bakersfield quite often and even the people living there bad mouth it all the time :), that said it does have great people and is a very close knit community.
Buzzcut1
Nomad II
Mar 26, 2016
Having been to Bakersfield many times, it is not a place that I would ever choose as a destination ( being polite here). For me the only reason to go there is to pass on though heading up into the Southern Sierras or Tehachipi
ryoung
Explorer
Mar 25, 2016
I don't see any reason to badmouth / put down these places.

Why not stay in Oregon if in your opinion "Bakersfield...yuck and Alpaugh sucks"?

There's obviously other places in California that don't suck, and he want's to see them. Nothing wrong with that.

ryoung

I no longer own the truck and TC in my signature.
Vinsil
Explorer
Mar 25, 2016
HMS Beagle wrote:
arto_wa wrote:

I don't see any reason to badmouth / put down these places.

Why not stay in Oregon if in your opinion "Bakersfield...yuck and Alpaugh sucks"?

Have you ever been there? :B

I would bet the answer is NO. :B

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