Show me your campsites...

[GSequoia]

I'm looking for some camp sites in the area between Northern Sequoia and Southern Yosemite for a week long camping trip with the woman. Goal here is drive in, dirt road okay, up to moderate trail okay; I don't want any trail to be nasty as this isn't specifically a Jeeping trip and we'll be the only vehicle.

My goal is seclusion, I don't much like developed camp sites full of morons who don't know they're supposed to put their fires out (ever spent an hour walking around a big campsite on a Sunday putting out campfires, I have!)! I am fine with no facilities and no water (I plan to stock my M416) but a proximity to a creek or lake would be awesome!

This will be a summertime trip, probably in August.

Anybody whose suggestions I use will get one free imaginary gold star.

Thanks,
Sequoia

 

[GSequoia]

One more thing: If there is a KILLER site that has a moderate and preferably short trail to it let me know. My Jeep is on 35's and I do have a winch.

 

[Ben H]

Brewer Lake is beautiful and fairly easy to get to (short trail that leads to a rock garden that can be difficult), with only one spot to really camp on the lake, it is past Shaver Lake. Any of the 4x Trails included in the Sierra Fest would be good to camp on. The camping is virtually endless up around Shaver. Not too many rivers, but some killer lakes/ponds. Along the Kings River is nice, but you will see some traffic and rafters. If you follow Dinky Creek all the way down past the camp site there are nice secluded spots to camp along the creek once you get out of the high mountains heading towards Seqouia. Also along the North Fork Kings River, which is beautiful with loads of water falls, and steep rapids. I have no specific favorite other than endless eddie on the Kings River, and Brewer Lake. I usually drive around until we find a spot.


http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sierra/

 

[4xSanta]

Why don't you just join us for sierra fest?

 

[GSequoia]

Why don't you just join us for sierra fest?

this isn't specifically a Jeeping trip

I'd like to go but Holly would have my head after a week of a Jeeping trip (Not from the Jeeping, from the boredom of being around guys talking Jeep crap).

 

[Matt S.]

I'd like to go but Holly would have my head after a week of a Jeeping trip (Not from the Jeeping, from the boredom of being around guys talking Jeep crap).

Well if you go on the dusy part of the trip (which i recomend if you looking for the best camping in the Sierras) you can camp away from everything, and join us for food and the day hike. I dont plan on being smothered myself.

Tell your woman you HAVE to do this trip.

 

[GSequoia]

Okay, what about water falls?

Anybody know any good locations where there is camping within close proximity of water falls? How 'bout around the whole Shaver / Swamp area? If there is enough there I may extend our tour of that area and hit up a few places in the area.

I have forest service maps of the area as well as Topo (so yes, I see a lot of springs and creeks) so if you have USFS trail numbers that would be helpful.

Sequoia

 

[Handlebars]

How about Lake Thomas A. Edison? It is at the very end of the Kaiser Pass Road, past the Dusy trailhead. I stayed here: http://www.edisonlake.com/ when I did the John Muir Trail. They call it a resort but it is very rustic and easy on the budget. A ferry runs across the lake, giving you the opportunity to do the Mono Recess in the John Muir Wilderness as a dayhike.

They have an AWESOME cafe, which is amazing considering just how long, windey and narrow the road is to get there.

You can also camp in the forest or in some of the smaller camp areas nearby. There is the Onion Springs OHV route nearby, which is a corridor into the Ansel Adams Wilderness. This was also the first place I ever saw a bear closeup. Florence Lake has the Hooper OHV route but you could do it in a Subaru the last time I was there (2002). Mono Hot Springs is just down the road, with several natural, secluded soaking pools scattered about. This one is called Little Eden:

Lake Doris is a spring-fed lake a short hike from there.Like cliff diving?

Mono Meadow:

Pick up the Tom Harrison Maps "Mono Divide High Country Trail Map", it has all of these places and trails.

 

[karstic]

Seqouia are you looking specifically or the west side of the Sierra's?

If not check out Coyote Flat above Bishop or Sherwin Creek in the Mammoth area.