Linda Hamilton - Camping Northern California: A Comprehensive Guide to Public Tent and RV Campgrounds

Camping Northern California

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Middle McCloud Falls near Fowlers Campground in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Photo by Bubba Seuss

Contents

Acknowledgments

Many people assisted me in the writing of this book. They are too numerous to mention individually, but I would be remiss if I did not at least acknowledge the organizations they represented. I am indebted to the many rangers and administrative personnel of the national, state, and county parks of California who provided information and offered me assistance, as well as the folks at PG&E Recreation, BLM, and more.

I would like to tip my hat to the many volunteers who are donating their time and energy in our national, state, and county parks and forests. Staffing information desks, assisting with outdoor programs, building and maintaining trails, protecting and adding space to our parklands, serving as campground hosts, and performing other tasks, these dedicated folks, many of them senior citizens and young people, provide many services and perform many jobs that would not otherwise get done. Much gratitude goes to fellow Falcon author Bubba Seuss ( Hiking Californias Mount Shasta Region and Hiking Californias Wine Country ) for his thoughtful fact-checking and suggestions. The book is more beautiful thanks to the folks who contributed photos from their outdoor adventures. And a big thank-you to Imee Curiel and Katie Benoit Cardoso and the rest of the staff at Falcon for their encouragement, patience, and great assistance in getting this book into your hands.

Introduction

Welcome to California

Welcome to California, the Golden State, the most populous state in the Union and the third largest geographically. By far the richest state in terms of gross product, California is more appropriately compared to nations than to other states. In this context, California is the seventh-largest nation in the world, its gross product exceeded only by that of the United States, Great Britain, Russia, Germany, France, and Japan.

Driving this economic dynamo is agriculture, where Californias output far exceeds that of any other state. If the Midwest is the breadbasket of the United States, California is its fruit and vegetable basket, leading the nation in production of grapes, tomatoes, lettuce, and a host of other orchard and vegetable crops. In manufacturing, mineral extraction, and fishing, California ranks among the top four states. With Hollywood and Silicon Valley, California sets trends in entertainment and leads the way in technology.

Geographically, the state resembles a giant water trough. The coast ranges on the west and the Sierra Nevada to the east serve as sides to the trough, while the Central Valley runs northsouth through its bottom. Both the highest and lowest points in the contiguous forty-eight states are found in California less than 100 miles apart. Mount Whitney soars to 14,495 feet, while Death Valley plunges to 282 feet below sea level.

The climate of California is as diverse as its landscape. The high reaches of the Sierra Nevada experience arctic winter temperatures, while the southeastern deserts bake in summers heat. However, in the main, the state has dry summers and rainy winters, with regional variations. The coast from the Oregon border to just north of Los Angeles has cool summers and mild winters. South of Los Angeles, coastal residents enjoy some of the most pleasant year-round temperatures found anywhere. In the Central Valley a continental climate prevails, with hot summers and cool winters, and the mountainous regions are noted for short summers and cold winters.

The 500-some tribes of indigenous people in California, speaking around one hundred distinct languages, thrived for nearly 20,000 years on the abundant resources of the land. Spanish navigator Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was the first known European to sight California, in 1542. But it was not until 1769 that Franciscan friar Junpero Serra established the first mission at San Diego. Additional missions and the opening of an overland supply route from Mexico spurred colonization from the south, and following Mexicos independence from Spain in 1821, American settlers began to arrive from the east. In 1846 a group of American settlers proclaimed the establishment of the California Republic, and in May of that year the United States declared war on Mexico. In the peace treaty that followed, Mexico ceded California to the United States, paving the way for California to become the thirty-first state in 1850.

With its diverse landscape, its relatively mild climate, and its magnificent scenery, California is a paradise for outdoor and sports enthusiasts. The state contains 27 national parks and monuments, over 500 state and county parks, 20 million acres of national forests, and numerous other recreational lands under federal, state, and local jurisdiction. There are more than 1,200 public campgrounds accessible by car. Stretching from the northern mountains to the southern deserts, they range from primitive sites for tents or self-contained RVs to plush resorts with pools, spas, tennis courts, and even golf courses. What they have in common is that they all provide a memorable outdoor experience.