Outdoor Adventure USA

Looking for some ideas on where to take the kiddos camping this summer. Any one have family friendly recommendations?

Monache Meadows in the Southern Sierras is a great place for families.
Fly Fishing, Hiking, Camping, Wheeling

The Inyo/White Mountains have some great places to camp and wheel.
Santa Rita Flat, Badger Flat, Papoose Flat, Harkless Flat...and as was already said...the Eastern Sierras are full of great places to camp!

For somewhere closer to home, Idyllwild has some great spots with town nearby. Hemet Lake is pretty cool too. The nice thing about up there is that, supposedly, bears are very rare in that area. So there are less chances of your wife and kids bumping into one so early on in their outdoor adventure experience.

OLLIE wrote:For somewhere closer to home, Idyllwild has some great spots with town nearby. Hemet Lake is pretty cool too. The nice thing about up there is that, supposedly, bears are very rare in that area. So there are less chances of your wife and kids bumping into one so early on in their outdoor adventure experience.

Got a spot in Idyllwild? Bec and I were talking about making a spontaneous camp out tomorrow. Current thought is to call Laguna or Burnt Rancheria in the morning to see if they have any walk in spots available but it'd be nice to see some place new.

Personally, I'd like to get the bear sighting over and done with so they can move on.

I would recommend several on Black Mountain Road. Great drive and views in a heavily forested area. Driving passed Black Mountain Group Campground you end up out on a point at high elevation looking out across Hemet and to the coast.

There are several campsites to choose from on Black Mountain Road

1. Black Mountain Group Campground
2. Fuller Ridge Campground
3. Camp Lackey

Santa Rosa Mountain.

Joshua Tree National Park, about 130 miles east of Los Angeles, is spectacular and is very nice for kids. There are several "kid-sized" hiking trails that pass by some impressive rock formations. Most of the park's campgrounds are located right in amongst awesome monzogranite rock formations that kids love to scramble over. The rocks are huge, but kid-friendly and easily climbed. It is safe enough that parents usually sit in camp chairs drinking what appears to be Kool Aid while watching the kids have fun. Check temps for the time of year you'll be there. Most of the park is 'high desert' so it doesn't get too hot in early summer.

http://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/camping.htm

There are some excellent off-road adventures in the park as well. Check out Pinkham Canyon, Old Dale Road and Crown Road, Geology Trail, Berdoo Canyon, etc.

Thanks Michael. Would love to get out to Joshua Tree but work has me on the road right now until July. It'll have to wait until this fall/winter. Idyllwild will probably be the spot for a few long weekends in July and Aug.

Anyone ever camped at Stone Creek in Idyllwild?