New and looking for some lakeside camping SF BAY AREA

Hi guys,

I'm new here, and new to overlanding. I live in SF Bay area and I've gone to some pretty mild off-road camping spots and reservoirs this year (Stanislaus, El Dorado), but I'm trying to find some lakeside spots, and honestly any cool spots in general. The few reservoirs I've been to are nice, but they're always down the road a bit from where I've been able to camp. As a backpacker, I miss being right on the water, and as a newbie, I don't know where to go anyways.

Any good beginner spots or just cool places to check out would be much appreciated!

 

National forest website, check the omes that are nearby

 

Welcome to TW
Check out the Nor Cal forum Under regional for some good tips on places to off road or camp

 

The camping around lake Merced in SF is killer. You can go over some land to get there. Right next to some sweet dunes and the best part is you Can get some crackhead to give you a zj while you sip a white claw in your rtt above your camp kitchen drawer slides rear bumper light bar thingy. It’s soooo offgrid man.

oh yeah, don’t forget to post up your trip To IG.

 

The sierras are loaded with small lakes with lakeside camp spots. Honestly, I’ve just gotten on Google earth or Gaia maps and found small lakes and scrolled around till I found some along forest roads. I won’t mention any by name, that’s how spots get blown out and overcrowded. (think what happened to Bowman/sawmill/lake faucherie/etc). I’ve got a list of 10-15 small lakes with drive up camping on my phone now in the Gaia app. Just gotta take an hour or two to plan it out.