Need some input on Campgrounds in CA! :)

Hey there!  I know it's been a while - and some of you might think - who the heck is this one, but I have a favor to ask.  I'm narrowing down camping/fishing/hiking trips for the season, and I've narrowed it down to 22 - any input you can provide on the following places would be GREATLY appreciated - this includes, best sites, advice, things to do, etc

Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Cold Springs Campground
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Kirk Creek Campground
Leo Carrillo State Park
Minaret Falls Campground
Refugio State Beach
Russian Gulch State Park
Saddlebag Lake Campground
Summerdale Campground
Summit Lake South Campground
Big Lagoon County Park
Gerstle Cove Campground
Henry W. Coe State Park
Highland Lakes Campground
Mattole Campground
Pinnacles National Monument
Woods Lake
Wrights Lake Campground
Boulder Basin Camp
Doheny State Beach
Serrano Campground

Thanks

I strongly suggest checking out the June Lake Loop area in the Eastern Sierras. Many many lakes and rivers, beautiful  area. Check out the Walker Rivers in the area too. EXCELLENT FISHING!!

Gerstle Cove would be killer after rockfish season opens. Easy launch plus lots of hiking trails in the area. Several other campgrounds in the area. Stillwater Cove county park also takes reservations and Ocean Cove campground doesn't but usually has room except holiday weekends and the ab-opener and re-opener weekends. Both also have easy launches and hiking trails. Ocean Cove also has a store to buy beer, bait, ice, & food.

Are you going to try some free-diving?

If you're going to the Pinnacles I suggest going now or later in the fall unless you like it really hot.

Refugio is a good campground. Not sure about the fishing but there is some fun surfing waves there.

Stienstra just rated Big Basin as his favorite hiking waterfall destination.  But even an ox like Brian G would have a tough time humping your boats that far on the trail, so it would be hiking only.  You guys should do a multiday hike from Big Basin and end up on the San Mateo coast.  Start Friday, finish sunday morning.  I'd be happy to shuttle you back to your trailhead origin. 

Jed Smith - Northeast of Crescent City - right along the world class beautiful Smith River - oldgrowth redwoods in camp and all around - awesome creek to explore across the river - could be cool and foggy, could be 80 degrees and perfect for swimming in the emerald river water...

Big Lagoon - beachcombing for agates/shells - trout fishing in the lagoons - not far from nice oldgrowth in Redwood Nat'l Park - often cold, foggy and windy

Mattole - remote beach camping at the north end of the Lost Coast - short drive inland for summertime swimming on the Mattole - great beachcombing and rockfishing within 30 minute walk from camp - often cold and windy

Have fun.   

Looks like I have only been to Big Basin on your list, and I don't really recommend it.  Very crowded, Rangers are @#&$'s, hard to get a reservation, etc. 

But, your list has inspired me to look up a bunch of these and give them a try 

I saw you have a lot of state Parks, I highly recommending you go to your local AAA (if you are a member and getting the Northern California Camping Map.  It is a free bee if you are a member.  Check out some of the BLM Campgrounds.  GF and I stayed at Indian Springs outside of Markleeville.  It has a small lake and river close by.  On July 4, 2008 we rode our motorcycles ina nd got a camping spot 100 feet from the water (we were on our motorcycles and I prefer to be closer to the parking lot.  Cost was $14 a night, a better deal you won't find.  BLM is an underused gold mine some times.

I've visited a few of these places:

Kirk Creek Campground - stopped in while driving down Hwy in December. Spectacular vista over the Pacific. Grassy sites with few trees. It looked like shore access would be difficult with a yak, but you could drive down to Mill Creek to launch. I'd like to try camping here some day.

Minaret Falls Campground - Classic Sierra riverside camping. Fish in the San Joaquin are reputed to like flies of various types.

Saddlebag Lake Campground - Very high altitude, ~10,200ft, so right at treeline. I love it up there. The lake has lots of willing trout, especially across the lake by the inlet. Yak on over. July-August, maybe September if you like it cold at night. Bring a heater.

Big Lagoon County Park - This is a really unique place, worth a visit. We kayaked there while staying in Trinidad last summer. Trolled around for a couple hours but didn't catch anything. Be careful about what you catch, though. Some of the trout are protected.

Pinnacles National Monument - Great hiking in the spring. Don't go after mid-May unless you really like to sweat. The pool at the campground is nice. No water for the yaks.

After all this, we all expect a trip report afterward!

Andy

Hi Yakers:

    My fav. is Van Damme in Littlle River, Mendocino Co.
                                                       Ernie

http://www.mendocino.org/html/parks.html

 

  Although I've never camped in Henry Coe, I have been in it and it'f FULL of poison oak!  Theres not much kayaking to do there either unles you want to hit Santa Cruz / Capitola maybe 10min down the road.

  Although I've never camped in Henry Coe, I have been in it and it'f FULL of poison oak!  Theres not much kayaking to do there either unles you want to hit Santa Cruz / Capitola maybe 10min down the road.

its important to distinguish Henry Cowell SP (Santa Cruz Mts) from Henry Coe State Park (Gilroy Hills).  At Coe, even Brian would protest about hauling a yak in there.  Its a "pleasant" 11 mi hump from the Gilroy Gate to Mosquito Lake.  Just ask Agarcia   

But I'd pay good money to see somebody haul a kayak just to dump it in China Hole and sit there.  That would be awesome

Big Basin Redwoods State Park = tough to get reservations and the rangers take their job very seriously...prob from dealing w/SC Co hippies year-round lol.
Kirk Creek Campground = Yes, this campground is on the west side of 1 in Big Sur. BUT it's up on a flat bluff that can get really windy. Coastal access is down a steep trail and somewhat difficult. I'd suggest Plaskett Ck instead, about 5 miles to the south. Kirk Ck is pretty popular now that Limekiln state park is closed, so make online reservations in advance.
Saddlebag Lake Campground = I think this is the highest campground you can drive to in CA. Haven't been there for years but it was always one of my favorites. You can take a ferry across Saddlebag and hike-in to any of the 10+ lakes that are loaded w/beautiful native trout.
Henry W. Coe State Park = Always hot. If you go in from the main gate above Anderson Res, the best fishing is in the middle fork of Coyote Ck. Otherwise, frog lake etc kinda suck for fishing. Go in from the Coyote Ck/Hot Springs gate above Coyote Lake and head towards Kelly Cabin Canyon Res and Coit Res. It's day-hikable if your in shape and start early. Also accessible on a MTB, but most of the trail to the lake is uphill (though, downhill on the way back). Both of these lakes have good fishing. The best fishing is at Mississippi Lake but that is a long hike from any of the trailheads--I've only been there during the annual Backcountry event (they let a limited # of people drive-in to Orestimba ranch via Pacheco Pass, and from there it is only ~5 miles to Mississippi).
Pinnacles National Monument = StupidHot weather. I don't understand why anybody goes there, ever. Unless you want to take photos of wildflowers in April? There is a lake but it doesn't have fish--supposedly has lots of leeches though lol.
Wrights Lake Campground = Have only camped here overnight prior to backpacking into the Desolation Wilderness from the nearby trailhead. The facilities were clean and close to the water. And I've heard there are some lunker browns in the lake. But we always hiked in to Twin Lakes or Island Laek to make basecamp, then do dayhikes to other lakes from there. The brook trout in that area are very easy to catch lol.

Hello stranger...  missed u @ GS4 even though we haven't met personally...  

Just 22 locations for the 2 of you???

I can tell you about matolle, was there bout 3 weeks ago...did a couple of home shows up north Or/Wa than hit the coast in Or @ newport and slowly camped my way down 101...man was it beautiful...

only thing is don't camp at matolle on a weekend...got there fri... i think it was $8.00 fee...hard to get to and oh so specaial, got up sat and didn't have my yak or my new wheelez so i could'nt do the portage like BlackAb...packed about 50lbs of gear 2 miles south of camp to some good looking rocks to ab...by myself, not a good tide, no viz...but dove anyway...didn't push it though , didn't see any abs but, talking to Eric I know I was close to those 10" abs...

realized i wasn't going to get a 10" ab or any ab for that matter, started walking back...out of shape...2nd dive of the yr...made 3/4's of the way back sat down and fell asleep.... be 50 in 2 months don't laugh....LOL...got back to camp...cooked up some steaks had a few beers went to sleep bout 6;30 7ish....woke up @ 1am to screaming and hollering look out my camper window and there's about 20 peeps partying, music blaring, redneck "YEHAAWWA" which woke me up!!! Get my pants on shoes on, stride right into to the middle of this party and say "What THE HELL ARE YOU FREAKING DOING"  "DO YOU KNOW THIS IS A STATE CAMP GROUND AND THERE'S PEOPLE SLEEPING???" bunch or them duck their heads and two of them, the one's doing all the yelling say "were having a party" "this is our party spot" I said "I don't care what the HELL, THIS IS A FREAKING CAMP SPOT!!!"  kid says "its my buddy's b-day and were partying u want a beer???"  drunk all of um beyond words...I realize there is no talking to these people...so I say "ya know what, enjoy your youth"

surprised i didn't get into a fight!!! I started packing up camp @1:30am and the b-day boy comes over and starts asking why im leaving LOL...and saying how he was sorry...I said "enjoy your youth" to him again...and he says "man, that sucks we kind of like ya" lol....crazy...

so i left and drove down the rd a ways and parked for the night...kept hearing honks till i fell asleep from peeps leaving the party.....   on the receipt for camping it says have any comments... I wrote "YES a BIG ONE GET a CAMP HOST, I want a refund my address is &^*&^&

Man u just got to laugh...

that's the trail head for a 29 mile 3 day hike down to shelter cove...met a bunch of groups that were doing it...that would be cool if your into hiking...google it "lost coast"

Now I've fished Russian Gulch, and I'm going to camp it this coming tus-thur than head to albion for memorial weekend fri-mon

gristle cove is sweet havn't camped there but did 3 1/2 months in 08 @ Ocean Cove (private) cool spot great access for yaks...and there's Stillwater cove (state) just below OC....all that area is fishy and once in a lifetime if u haven't been there....but matolle is by far the hardest and remotest I've done...worth the trip...

So Safe journy's and I want a report if u do all those or some of those spots...got to be the life...that we live....laters  NCK....

LOL!! ^^