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dangit 
Group: Members
Posts: 8
Joined: Jan. 2004
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Posted on: Sep. 19 2012, 4:51 pm |
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After years of big backpacking trips, my friends and I went car-camping in the Gaudalupe Mtns (NW TX) this spring and liked it. Rest rooms. Potable water. Someplace to hang a SunShower. No need to pack up every morning. And a variety of very different day hikes.
We want to try it again and I'd like advice about good destinations in the SW (including CA). What we'd like:
Decent campground with a group site that can hold ~10 tents
Restrooms and water would be great
Good variety of day hikes accessible from the campground - easy/hard, interesting/scenic, mountain/canyon, etc
Thanks for your advice and recommendations.
Dan
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tarol
Well I never!
Group: Members
Posts: 10300
Joined: Mar. 2003
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Posted on: Sep. 20 2012, 5:53 am |
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Five suggestions for Group Campgrounds with which I am very familiar
San Bernardino NF -
Coon Creek Cabin - great scenic out of the way locale for group camping, off a remote dirt road, make reservations at recreation.gov, has vault toilets but no water, located along the PCT near a very dramatic view, also San Gorgonio Trails nearby
Skyline Group Campground - located on the Santa Ana River Trail, also San Gorgonio Trails nearby, water and toilets, easy to get to (off paved road), make reservations @ recreation.gov
Sequoia NF -
Quaking Aspen - Slate Mtn and Nelson trails start in the campground, also Freeman Creek trail nearby (goes through the largest sequoia grove in wilderness condition in the NF), vault toilets and water, campsites are conveniently located off of paved highway, campsites near scenic meadow at the headwaters of the Tule River, Ponderosa Lodge is nearby for food/snacks, make reservations @ recreation.gov
Long Meadow or Holey Meadow groiup campgrounds - don't think they have water, but they have toilets, both near the Trail of 100 Giants (family friendly trail through giant sequoia grove), other trails nearby, make reservations @ recreation.gov
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Got elevation? www.tarol.com
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High_Sierra_Fan
Group: Members
Posts: 39589
Joined: Aug. 2005
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Posted on: Sep. 20 2012, 1:14 pm |
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IIRC it may even be possible to do a filtered search at recreation.gov for "group campsites".
That might pop up some choices that the group might find intriguing.
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Serpicorabbit
If I pee on it, it's mine!
Group: Members
Posts: 4112
Joined: Oct. 2008
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Posted on: Sep. 20 2012, 8:21 pm |
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Hole In The Wall in Mojave National Preserve. Or Joshua Tree.
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No problem! ~ ALF
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Serpicorabbit's blog
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toejam
the high road is hard to find
Group: Members
Posts: 1462
Joined: Mar. 2002
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Posted on: Sep. 23 2012, 11:50 am |
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There was a pretty good thread a few months back about great places to car camp. I can't find it.
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| Post Number: 6
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ogg
Group: Members
Posts: 470
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Sep. 30 2012, 4:59 pm |
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Joshua Tree NP has three nice, inexpensive group camping areas, though you need to bring your own water. I've led group car camping trips there twice. The best hiking would probably be out of Indian Cove, you can do the Gunsight Loop or Rattlesnake Canyon. Those are cross country/scrambling routes in the Wonderland of Rocks. Nearby is the Boy Scout Trail, more of a maintained trail though you'd have to drive a short distance to the trail head (I guess you could walk to it) In the middle of the park is Sheep Pass group camp, you can climb Ryan Mtn. right of the campground. A short drive with a high clearance vehicle will take you to trailheads for the Eagle Cliff Mine and Desert Queen mine wash. At the south end of the park is Cottonwood group camp, the trail for Lost Palms Oasis is right of the of the camp area.
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Rics
Group: Members
Posts: 172
Joined: Mar. 2006
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Posted on: Oct. 21 2012, 5:54 pm |
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Gilbert Ray County Park near the Tucson Desert Museum has a great group site but it must be reserved in advance. BUT....it's only for educational groups so write your request on your group's letterhead to make it look official. If you're not an educational group call yourself one like: "Wilderness Adventurers and Educators" or "Association of Amateur Archaeologists of Dallas" Whatever.
Contact me if you want more info.
There's lots of great day hikes in the Tucson Mts, Rincons, Santa Ritas and within Saguaro National Park east unit and west unit.
Contact the Pima County Department of Parks and Recreation or whatever it's called. Look on the net.
Ric
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Rics
www.trekkerman.com
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skinewmexico
Group: Members
Posts: 1878
Joined: Sep. 2008
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Posted on: Oct. 22 2012, 11:39 am |
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Big Bend Ranch State Park. Dead Horse Point State Park in Moab.
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Con men understand that their job is not to use facts to convince skeptics but to use words to help the gullible to believe what they want to believe. - Thomas Sowell
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