El Capitan State Beach

El Capitan State Beach

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Friday, August 12, 2011

El Capitan is about 15 miles north of Santa Barbara, CA. There are 133 sites here, 119 tent/rv, 9 RV/Trailer only and 5 group sites. The tent/RV sites are your typical state beach spot with a table and fire ring. The RV spots have no table or fire ring, but you can bring your own. These sites have an AWESOME ocean view. The group sites are huge, they have tables, a large fire ring and a big food prep counter with a large sink and LOTS of parking. Their hike'n'bike site is great if you are hiking or biking, comes with tables, water and a fire ring. In the RV section, the even numbered spots have the unobstructed ocean views. But odds are longer. The RV section was the parking lot of a former group site, no hook-ups, but there are water faucets here. There is no dump station in this park. Ortega group is a long walk from parking. 107 & 108 views, can stay hooked up. It is site specific when reserving.

    They do have a small store here that had the usual, incl. ice and wood, even some very overpriced beer. The problem here is that it is not always open, so I never plan on it being open, but when it is, it's nice. El Capitan Canyon on the other side of the freeway has a very nice store and restaurant which is walking distance from here and is always open. Sometimes you can pickup their wi-fi all the way back at our campground.

 None of the camp sites here are beach front, they are all on top of the bluffs. The lower the number of the sites, the lower and closer to the beach you are. At the very top, there are stairs going down, but it seems like hundreds of 'em. The bike path that goes to Refugio is now closed and fenced off due to budget problems, but you can still use it, just go through the holes in the fence. 

Pros:

• Site specific when reserving
• Clean restrooms
• Great beach and views
• Store and self check in machine
• Roomy sites not too close to each other
• Good AT&T cell coverage
• Lots of wildlife (Dolphin, raccoon, reptilian, rodent, skunk)

Cons:

• Tough to get reservations
• Long walk to beach

	From RV section [Map]		Sunset from RV section [Map]
	On bike trail [Map]		Hidden little cove with beach on bike trail. [Map]
	Across the 101 in El Cap. Cyn. [Map]		An empty campground is a happy campground! [Map]
	Ortega group camp [Map]		Hike and bike with a view [Map]
	Raccoon?? [Map]		Cabrillo Group Camp [Map]
	Drake group camp [Map]		The RV only area [Map]
	View from the camper, NICE! [Map]		One of the channel islands. [Map]

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Bolsa Chica State Beach

Bolsa Chica State Beach

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Saturday, September 24, 2011

Bolsa Chica is located in northern Orange County, CA. just south of Seal Beach. This place is just another parking lot with water and electric hook-ups right across the bike path from the beach. Tough to get reservations, but nice when you can. It is site specific, so when you reserve, make sure to get a beach front spot. The back of your site is right off of the bike path separated by a short chain link fence. There are no tables or fire pits in the sites, but you can bring your own. There is no sewer hook-up, but there is a dump station in the next parking lot. I pulled my blue tank there by hand, so it's not far from the north end of the camp lot. I didn't stay in an inland spot, but they are much smaller and well, not beach front.

     There are large fire pits on the beach, but you need to camp out there early, because they are in demand from campers and non-campers alike. Also I think bringing beer out of the camp sites is illegal, not sure, but I would bet on it. There are single room, clean restrooms and showers. Also there is a store, beach cafes, rentals and much more. There is also free wi-fi near the lifeguard bldg.

   Huntington Beach is only a few miles south, there are lots of shops and restaurants, very nice town. Also just north of here are several places to eat and small markets as well. When you check in, they will give you a combo for a gate to get in after hours at the extreme north end of the beach near a jack in the box. Here's a tip, even during the day, use this gate as there are LONG lines of cars entering the beach parking lots. Odd # spots are beach front, inland spots are much smaller.

Pros:

• Right on the beach
• Nice restrooms and showers
• Site specific
• Dump station
• Wi-fi at the lifeguard bldg.
• Good AT&T cell coverage

Cons:

• Tough to get reservations
• Cramped quarters, really close to the next guy
• No sewer hook-up
• Windy

	Main lifeguard bldg. [Map]		All along the bike path, said the joker to the thief [Map]
	Fire pits [Map]		Store, cafe, rentals and RV lot. [Map]
	The back "porch". 12'x20' [Map]		Bike path and fire pits at night [Map]
	Beach front spot from the rear. [Map]		Heads [Map]
	Washing areas [Map]		Showers [Map]
	Beach front spots [Map]		Inland spots [Map]
	Photo 1 [Map]

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Lake Pyramid / Los Alamos

Los Alamos Campground
Lake Pyramid

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Saturday, October 22, 2011

Los Alamos is 1 hour north of Los Angeles, CA on the I-5  grapevine, halfway to Bakersfield. It is NOT on Lake Pyramid, but only a mile or so from it. When you camp here they give you a pass for the lake so you don't need to pay a day use fee.  You also get to enter the lake an hour earlier than the public. Standard Nonelectric sites cost $20/night for up to 6 people.

   The 93 sites here are pretty good size and most sites on the outside of the loops are fairly seperate from your neighbor. I was in site 26 which is at the top of loop 2 and was very pleased, I'll try for that one again. If you don't go to the lake, there isn't much to do here except, well, camp. There are no established trails, but I followed a game trail to the top of the ridge above loop 2, and the views were spectacular. See the pictures below.

 They say there is a store, but I didn't see even a bldg. for one. There are no hook-ups, but there are water spigots and a dump station free if you camp here. The bathrooms were a single room type and well maintained. I did see showers, but I didn't get a chance to see them. I'm sure it can get really hot in the summer and I know it gets very cold up here in the winter, but it seems that there are always spots available year round. There's not much more to say except if you need a place to boat, swim or just kick back, this will do nicely!

Loop 1 very dry and shadeless.
Loop 2 more shade but in different sites. Middle sites very hot and dry. Outer sites more shade and privacy.
Loop 3 closed now but get site 84, 76 or if open, pull thru with lots of shade.

Pros:

• Always available, and easy to get to
• Well maintained
• Clean restrooms
• Nice hosts
• Roomy sites
• Cheap
• Decent AT&T cell coverage

Cons:

• No hook-ups, so probably alot of generator use
• Not enough restrooms

	Middle loop from above [Map]		Spot 26 from above [Map]
	Spot 26 from below [Map]		First loop from above [Map]
	Wildfire starting [Map]		Loop 2 , host and wildfire. [Map]
	Dump station [Map]		Site 22, hookup site (host) [Map]
	Sign [Map]		Spot 8 [Map]
	Spot 84 [Map]		Nice clean single bathrooms [Map]
	26 [Map]		Photo 1 [Map]
	Photo 2 [Map]		Pine forest at the top [Map]
	Photo 3 [Map]		Loops 1 & 2 and the I-5 in the background [Map]
	Loop 3 [Map]		Emmigrant landing beach and picnic area. [Map]
	Photo 4 [Map]		Entrance [Map]

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