Beginner camping

So what are some easy beginner camping spots I can hit up in socal. Looking for a two day trip. 2wd friendly. Looking to go the second week of October. First time camping....need to start gathering supplies lol.

 

What extra curricular camping activities will you be doing, other than the drive there? Fishing, boating, hiking, etc?

If you just what to 4x4 on some easy stuff and camp then:

Hungry Valley (Gorman) OHV, Ballinger Canyon OHV.

 

Mainly hiking with the dogs. Something easy that I won't get stuck in my 2wd stock offroad tacoma. I seen a lot of recommendation for Anza borrego

 

Depending on your location and what weather you don't mind, there are a bunch of different areas to camp, choose your climate. There is camping from the border up to the mountains and down in to the desert. You can start easy and camp at Lakes in the mountains and take easy fire access roads for the scenery or go down to the desert and explore mines and old railroads.

Basically pick an area and let us know.

 

I’m in Rancho Cucamonga so near Joshua tree big bear....I checked Joshua tree for camp site and not a lot were available for the second week of October

 

Check out skyline trail in big bear if you want to disperse camp or pine knot campground is my favorite development campground up there. Holocomb valley in big bear has endless dispersed camping too

 

yeah my buddy told me about Holcomb valley. Looks pretty fun, does the campgrounds there get pretty packed? I was trying to see if they make reservations but the closest campground I found that took reservations was green valley.

 

Hi, if you want to camp in the forest, just park right off the dirt roads not any closer than 1/2 mile from the established campgrounds or highways (its called dispersed camping and no reservations are meeded). You can also do it on BLM lands, and in Anza Borrego, too. Joshua Tree NP doesnt have dispersed car camping though, they just allow it in the established camp sites.

Also check out this thread:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/camping-sites.527242/

 

I think Joshua tree has dispersed camping on the north side of the park.
BLM land, if I recall correctly

 

Yeah, but he’s 2wd, and its not technically in Joshua Tree NP. You are right, BLM is fair game. You can get to the northern border of the park with a stock 2wd heading south off 62 easy enough though, but going North on Old Dale or Gold Crown from Pinto Basin is a bit tougher these days. However, I did make it up there in 1979 with my high school buddy in his dads’ Vista Cruiser station waggon. I think he sold it after our trip though...

 

I like the scenery off of skyline more than holocomb. There’s some pretty sweet spots with epic views. There isn’t any developed camp sites in holocomb valley. The areas near the rock climbing areas get pretty packed by campers

 

thanks everyone! I think big bear going to be the first spot.

 

Check out Heartbar and Wild Horse Meadow!! Both are off Hwy 38.

https://www.recreation.gov/camping/...oundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70603

https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/2800-2n93-wildhorse-meadow

 

Thank you! Will do

 

http://www.dirtopia.com/wiki/Main_Page

Best information for trails you can find

 

Yeah, I dented my pie tin on my OR there last spring, have Mobtown skids now. The hill leading past the mines was the worst part.

I’m sure it was graded when I drove up it almost 40 years ago in a family station wagon, we bottomed out quite a bit there too, but never damaged anything.

The road going through Pinto Basin was deep gravel like now, too. Just a lot more level to the surrounding area back then- they’ve since graded it into a trench! We had to fly through there to not get stuck in the wagon. I have wide tires on my OR so I didnt need 4wd much there last visit except when we stopped in the sand. A 2wd can make it, as long as they dont stop on the soft stuff.

 

Do they still have the 4x4 recommended signs? Its funny how many holes were dug with rocks placed in them on that road. People never heed the signs.

 

Rowher Flats is a good offroad park with a variety of trails and obstacles (easy - moderately difficult) with a few large staging areas designated for camping, campfires and restrooms. Good place to get your feet wet with camping and wheeling if you're just starting out

 

Thanks for the suggestion everyone. Kinda wish I opted for the 4wd lol.

 

Non-sense. Sure there are places you can go, but sometimes it takes a little more speed on that skinny pedal. Oh hell the Class 11 bugs in the SCORE 250-500-1000 races go through more 4x4 stuff then you could believe and they're stock with 29-30" tires and no clearance. Seen it myself.