Leave cable cars and Alcatraz behind to access some of the finest camping available in the nation. Cross the Golden Gate Bridge and head north on California State Route 1, the serene coastal route that winds its always spectacular and sometimes scary way north from just above San Francisco to the wild beauty of the Mendocino beaches. You will find exceptional state campgrounds (parks.ca.gov) all the way to the Oregon border. You can access four of the most inspirational sites sequentially as you head north.
Chat with other campers at the Bullfrog Pond Campground in Sonoma County, and you may discover that many are repeat customers whose families have visited the secluded and relatively unknown jewel of a campground for decades. Only 23 campsites await you in this lovely spot, high above Guerneville -- take River Road to Armstrong Woods Road -- but the early camper is the happy one here, because it's first-come, first-served all year long. Given the steep, winding, narrow road that leads from Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve up to the camp area, you won't find any RV camping; vehicles over 20 feet and cars towing trailers are prohibited. Quiet hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. enable all to enjoy the beauty of the high country and the surprisingly touching song of the bullfrogs in the pond at the base of the campground. During the day, gaze over the long hills to the blue Pacific.
Steep canyons, narrow valleys and rough, forested terrain have protected the vast Mendocino coast from extensive development. In this vast and isolated area, mountain cliffs tumble into the freezing whitewater of the Pacific coastline, creating natural beaches and rocky coves of rare beauty. Summer fog creates the magic necessary for tall redwoods to thrive. Few camping sites will mark you more than Russian Gulch State Park, with its dense forests and 7,630 feet of rugged coastline reminiscent of Point Lobos. Only 2 miles north of the village of Mendocino, Russian Gulch provides 30 campsites that create an ideal home base to explore the exciting trails in the more than 1,000 acres of the park. Those with tents or campers up to 24 feet can make reservations through Reserve America (reserveamerica.com); try to reserve well in advance of your trip.
Patrick's Point State Park, just minutes north of the charming port of Trinidad in Humboldt County and some 30 miles north of Eureka, is among the most popular state campgrounds in California. The park offers 121 spaces, including some with room for campers up to 31 feet, but because the camping areas are divided into sections on Abalone, Penn Creek and Agate loops, campers still get a feeling of isolation, especially in the Agate area. The Patrick's Point forests mix spruce, hemlock and pine on an ocean headland. From the cliffs, you can admire the drama of the Pacific Ocean pounding the sandy beaches below. Spring is an especially lovely time to visit the wildflower-filled meadows. Hike down from the Agate Loop camping area to look for agates on the beach below.
Finish your camping trip on a high note by sleeping under some of the tallest, oldest, most majestic trees remaining in the world at Jedediah Smith State Park, just minutes from the Pacific at the far northern end of California. Within the 10,000 acres of this largely undeveloped park, you'll find many of the remaining old-grove coastal redwoods that used to grace the California coast from San Francisco to Oregon; few can walk in wonder among them without a sense of awe and loss. Reserve one of the 89 campsites -- no hookups, and 36-foot RVs maximum -- through Reserve America if you are visiting between Memorial Day and Labor Day; the rest of the year, arrive early and take your chances. You can access the park by taking Highway 199 approximately 7 miles from Crescent City.
