Vasquez Rocks Park is just a quick drive up the 14 from Los Angeles, and certainly worth the trip. I had never even heard of it until my buddy Chaz found it on Google Maps when looking for return directions from our recent camping trip to Saddleback Butte State Park. On the way home from that trip, we pulled off Highway 14 in Agua Dulce and did a bit of …Read More
Saddleback Butte State Park is essentially like a mini version of Joshua Tree National Park, but with far less variety (in terms of rock formations), and far fewer foot traffic. Though we only stayed two nights, I got a great feel for the place and I’d love to return sometime. For those in search of desert solitude, or Joshua Tree sightings, this place is tough to beat, especially since it’s …Read More
It’s hard to believe some of the imagery in this post, but I promise that every bit of it is 100% accurate and true. My trip to Boulder Basin Campground turned out to be a lot more exciting than I had originally planned for. What was supposed to be a casual camping trip in 70 degree weather turned into a 20-degree white-out snowstorm that I had no idea was coming. …Read More
Point Mugu State Park Directions: Head 21 miles north from Malibu along the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway1), or South 15 miles from Oxnard along the same. The official address of the Point Mugu State Park is 9000 West Pacific Coast Highway, but you’ll see the signs along the road once you make it to the campground. Point Mugu Campground Details: There are three different campgrounds in Point Mugu State Park, …Read More
Backpacking in Joshua Tree National Park has been a personal dream of mine for some time now. Though I’ve camped and hiked there a couple times in the previous year, I had never been able to work out the logistics for a real backpacking trip- mostly because I couldn’t find a specific destination that seemed worthy of the extra effort required for desert backpacking. It’s no easy task to carry all …Read More
Sandy Flat Campground Directions: From Highway 99 take Highway 178 east to 4 miles west of Lake Isabella. Turn right on Borel Road then right on to the Old Canyon Road. Approximately two miles turn right into Sandy Flats Campground. Sandy Flats Campground Details: Campground reservations must be made 3 days in advance, though sites are also available for first come first serve- don’t expect to be able to find …Read More
Out of all the National Parks camping trips I’ve taken this past year, including visits to some of the nation’s absolute best (Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequioa, Death Valley, Saguaro, The Grand Canyon, and Bryce Canyon), my recent camping trip in Joshua Tree National Park was by far my favorite. While each of the National Parks offers something unique, Joshua Tree stands a cut above the rest as the most outlandish, …Read More
Immediately after Thanksgiving dinner I wrote up one of my favorite posts yet, called “Taking an Inventory“, which you should check out before continuing through this one. I was forced to race through the post because I had to meet up with Sean in Santa Monica by a reasonable hour so we could get to Death Valley at a reasonable time the next morning. By reasonable hour and reasonable time, …Read More