Boondock camping sights

Whats up guys. My fiance and I bought a camping trailer this past summer. We have taken it out a few times, only to established camp grounds(scotts flat, rollins lake).....which are f**king awful. Long story short i'm looking for some cool places to camp that we wont be surrounded by drunken idiots or have leash restrictions on my dogs. Let me know if you have any suggestions that are within a couple hours of Sac! Thanks

 

Any national forest. My favorite spots in Southern Mendocino National Forest are now toast.

 

yeah, get gaia and learn to explore. sounds harsh buts my best recommendation.

the best spots are the ones found and not shared

 

Meadow Lake is good for trailers. That's where Cal4Wheel has their Sierra Trek. Can't promise there won't be drunken idiots, but it's way better than Scotts Flat and Rollins.

 

Well your thread title is "sights". You got to see quite a few annoying things at the established camp grounds...

Yes. I don't share my spots with non-friends. I spend too much time picking up trash from other people on my vacations, so I don't want more people out there.

 

Isn't that the truth. Moreso these days with the whole "overlanding" movement. Never really needed to carry extra fuel on my trips, but now I'm thinking that's going to change soon.

 

Woah some of you taking this a little to serious. Lol. Not trying to invade your super secret spot that only you and one other know of. Also not looking to spend a day driving around burning $70 in gas exploring in the wrong spot for a camping "sight".

Simply asking, if anyone knows of a cool little dirt road with a turnout to park a trailer for a night or two that is localish to Sacramento I would appreciate the heads up, or direction to start.

 

Pulling a trailer, I wouldn't recommend any spot that is down a 'little dirt road'.

That said, you should go on a scouting trip (NOT pulling the trailer) in the MET area.
Go south on North-South road, and check out some of the dozens of little side roads.
You might find a spot that fits your style of camping.
Most of those likely will be occupied on a summer weekend, but maybe not in the fall.

Avoid Bonetti road, thats where shooters have taken over those kind of spots.

Good luck.

 

Thanks for the input!

Yea I think thats where alot of these guys got confused, I should have been more clear. I'm not looking to go 4 wheeling for a spot. Just looking for a somewhat quiet spot to camp a couple nights. If its anything more than a fire road i don't wanna go down it with a 21 foot travel trailer lol.

 

oh its not a wheeling trailer. i have nothing for you then.

 

You might check out Crystal Basin area (Ice House Res, Union Valley res, and other nearby forest service campgrounds).

 

I love travel trailers but in reality you are quite limited where you can take them.The boondocks is not a place you go with them. You are pretty much restricted to public camp grounds and rv parks and thus crowds and noise and of course drunks. However September through April are probably the best times to go places in them because the crowds are significantly diminished. Also if you can avoid weekends you’ll find less people. I don’t know any places close to the Sac area but I can say the further north you go the fewer people you’ll find. Also East into the Sierras up Hwy 80, 50, 88, 4 and others you’ll find great places with few people this time of year to take your trailer to. As already mentioned the Chrystal Basin area is nice. Loon lake up there is especially beautiful and probably not many people there. But the road to Loon is narrow, winding and steep. Part of it would be a strain for your Taco with a trailer behind. But the area is drop dead gorgeous.
At least during the summer stay away from lakes where they waterski. Those places are always crowded and loud.
Your dogs - I am a dog owner too and he goes everywhere with me. But all public camp grounds have leash restrictions. When you are out in the more remote places you need to be especially careful . An untethered dog can wander off in a minute and become lost. If a deer comes around and they chase it you’ll probably never see your dogs again. Then you have wild animals like coyotes, mountain lion, bear, rattle snakes that can kill a dog in a second. I know about all of these things well as I am an avid outdoorsman, hunter and fisherman and spend a lot of time in remote places. My dog is a highly hunting dog who obeys my commands instantly and sticks close to me so I have few worries about him getting into a dangerous situation. I’m just telling you this because I know people who have lost their dogs or they’ve been seriously injured while out in the boondocks. Be careful and use common sense and never let your dogs out of your sight.
I hope some of what I’ve said is helpful.Now and in the Spring is a great time to explore and find great places. Good luck.

 

I’ll tell you about all of my secret spots if you let me have Ellie bean. Deal or naw?

 

One other option, given the 21’ trailer, is to check out Hipcamp.com - I hate the name, but since they are on private property with the owners, often farms or vineyards, you don’t get the drunk rowdy crowds. I’ve used hipcamp a few times when traveling through unfamiliar areas and no time to explore boondocks sites. One downside is that some are pricey.

 

Check out Bowman and Saw Mill Lake man. Its a easy 2 hour drive from Sacto. Here's a few spots. Basically pre download all your maps on google maps for the area, put in directions for Washington, CA and put a dot on the map in one of those 4 spots. There's some awesome camping up there. I have a stock Tacoma 4x4 and I didn't need to put it in 4wd once. Enjoy! Go before the snow.

 

It is quite rocky up there, so just gotta go slow the last 3-4 miles. Total from Washington its only a 15 miles drive.

 

and I take all that back lol. I didn't realize you were talking about like a travel trailer, thought you meant like a off road trailer. but you should totally grab a tent and drive up there.

 

How did you find that site near sawmill out of curiosity?

 

I was given a vague location by a friend and basically did a lot of satellite scanning on google maps and it looked like an opening. Drove out there.

 

Washington is a cool area. went down that way a few times this summer to hit the Yuba. Just gotta get a spot early before all of the dumbasses come out, take up all the spots and leave all of their fucking trash everywhere. Some really cool history in that area. going down Washington ridge and hitting up the old hotel for lunch and beer, and then taking the road up into Graniteville, Alleghany and those other old gold mining towns.