Camping in the Sierras

Jan-78FJ40 · 06-30-08, 03:31 PM

I am looking for advice about camping in the southern Sierras. Places with water, fishing, few people, good for a long weekend...any help would be appreciated. Hows the kern river?

thanks,
J

bogus one · 06-30-08, 04:15 PM

Monache Meadows was not open as of two weeks ago. Haven't checked since then.

Kennedy Meadows is nice.

There's a fire burning somewhere in that neck of the woods right now. I haven't been able to pinpoint exactly where.

Jan-78FJ40 · 06-30-08, 05:13 PM

Thank you!
j

No. 3 · 06-30-08, 07:35 PM

the Kern River is remarkable, crowded around the few towns along it but a topo map will put you onto fire roads where there are lots of places to camp. The topo gazettes that are available by state will get you close. I have camped along the Kern but never in anyplace I could find again w/o a trip to the maps and I am at work and they are home.... Pick up some maps and go to town, you'll enjoy it. (do check the fire status though, and if you intend to have a campfire or even a grill get a fire permit from the local Cal Forestry fire station- the penalty is not worth it, especially in this sort of fire climate.)

John McVicker · 06-30-08, 10:56 PM

Kennedy Meadows is nice, but last I heard you have to park your vehicle & then hike to the river & camping areas. Thats old info & maybe it has changed, been a while since I've been there. Plenty of good areas up to and in and around Bishop. But at this time of year in those areas you will almost always be around a lot of other campers.

I know you said southern Sierra's but if you have the xtra time, try north of Bishop. Great fishing & unbelievable scenery on the Walker River along 395. However it is about 3 hours north of Bishop. The good part is that the farther north you go along 395 the fewer the people & the better the views.

Have fun, I will be going myself 7/12, right after the PMC LandCruiser swap meet that same day.

John

Jan-78FJ40 · 07-01-08, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John McVicker

Kennedy Meadows is nice, but last I heard you have to park your vehicle & then hike to the river & camping areas. Thats old info & maybe it has changed, been a while since I've been there. Plenty of good areas up to and in and around Bishop. But at this time of year in those areas you will almost always be around a lot of other campers.

I know you said southern Sierra's but if you have the xtra time, try north of Bishop. Great fishing & unbelievable scenery on the Walker River along 395. However it is about 3 hours north of Bishop. The good part is that the farther north you go along 395 the fewer the people & the better the views.

Have fun, I will be going myself 7/12, right after the PMC LandCruiser swap meet that same day.

John

Thank you all!
Jan

MANUCHAO · 07-01-08, 10:46 AM

I have done some car camping in North lake... it is located north of Bishop about half to 1 hrs drive. Great camp sites with a creek just yards away. Its lush and plenty of fishing around the area !!!

Im going there in the fall !!

D'Animal · 07-01-08, 10:48 AM

What do you consider the South Sierras?

Sequoia National Forest has some good spots.

Jan-78FJ40 · 07-01-08, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D'Animal

What do you consider the South Sierras?

Sequoia National Forest has some good spots.

pretty much anything reachable within 6 to 8 hours drive of san diego.

thank you,
J

D'Animal · 07-01-08, 11:54 AM

You could go up to Idylwild area. Dark Canyon has a few spots that are kinda neat.

CaliCruiser · 07-01-08, 08:32 PM

Lemme know if you decide to come a little farther north.

Dylan

slickrock · 07-02-08, 11:59 AM

Bass lake / North fotk . Bass lake take beasore road or North frk take minneretts road. It ia a big loop, will take baout 7 hours to loop. Lots of camping both prebult and natural with mroe fishing than you can imagine.

Jan-78FJ40 · 07-02-08, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slickrock

Bass lake / North fotk . Bass lake take beasore road or North frk take minneretts road. It ia a big loop, will take baout 7 hours to loop. Lots of camping both prebult and natural with mroe fishing than you can imagine.

thank you!

J

NxNWLAHAR · 07-02-08, 01:40 PM

Jan,did alot of camping/fishing/hiking in the sequoia and inyo national forests as kid and thru my late twenties. I live in wa state now,and have spent the last 13yrs exploring the pac nw.amoung my favorite spots in those areas was "peppermint flat"just north of johnsondale and kernville. There are many natural waterslides to be found, and some deep little trout pools all along the small rivers/creeks in that area, that drop off into the kern river, (for those willing to go off the beaten track.) the most direct route fr s.d. Is "i-5 north to bakersfield" then "ne on hwy-178" toward lake isabella. (i would personally take i-15 out of s.d. And skirt around the backside of l.a.) maybe someone else on here has more recent info. Good luck.

FJ40_owner · 07-05-08, 01:14 PM

I like Lake Sabrina out of Bishop, Dusy Basin, South Lake etc.

Twin Lakes out of Bridgeport.

Oh and its Sierra not Sierra's anything.

Have fun.

JB

Pin_Head · 07-05-08, 03:31 PM

Jan,
If you want to fish and minimize contact with other people, you might try Ershim, Coyote and Swamp lakes off the Dusy Ershim train and Shaver, Huntington lakes area on the west side. You could even do the entire Dusy Ershim trail. That is what you have Land Cruisers for.

knoll0351 · 07-06-08, 01:31 PM

Are you lookin' to drive in or is hiking an option?

06-30-08, 03:31 PM	#1
Jan-78FJ40 IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 1,439	Camping in the Sierras I am looking for advice about camping in the southern Sierras. Places with water, fishing, few people, good for a long weekend...any help would be appreciated. Hows the kern river? thanks, J __________________ turboed 84HJ60, in San Diego.

06-30-08, 04:15 PM	#2
bogus one High Desert Hillbilly Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Knee deep in meteor sh** TLCA# 4778 Posts: 241	Monache Meadows was not open as of two weeks ago. Haven't checked since then. Kennedy Meadows is nice. There's a fire burning somewhere in that neck of the woods right now. I haven't been able to pinpoint exactly where. __________________ Bogus One - '78 Pig with some gadgets, the usual rust & rock rash. '65 FJ-40- Father/Son project in boxes. maybe you should stick to donuts and stop waffling -- Decavo to Johnny4Ever Fear Calico. He's scary You'd be suprised what this fat fireman is interested in besides LC's -- Calstyl2 http://www.lukefisher.com/bogus.wav

06-30-08, 05:13 PM	#3
Jan-78FJ40 IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 1,439	Thank you! j __________________ turboed 84HJ60, in San Diego.

06-30-08, 07:35 PM	#4
No. 3 IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Francisco Posts: 28	the Kern River is remarkable, crowded around the few towns along it but a topo map will put you onto fire roads where there are lots of places to camp. The topo gazettes that are available by state will get you close. I have camped along the Kern but never in anyplace I could find again w/o a trip to the maps and I am at work and they are home.... Pick up some maps and go to town, you'll enjoy it. (do check the fire status though, and if you intend to have a campfire or even a grill get a fire permit from the local Cal Forestry fire station- the penalty is not worth it, especially in this sort of fire climate.) __________________ HJ60 with lots of surfboards....

06-30-08, 10:56 PM	#5
John McVicker IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Yreka, CA TLCA# 11554 Posts: 455	Kennedy Meadows is nice, but last I heard you have to park your vehicle & then hike to the river & camping areas. Thats old info & maybe it has changed, been a while since I've been there. Plenty of good areas up to and in and around Bishop. But at this time of year in those areas you will almost always be around a lot of other campers. I know you said southern Sierra's but if you have the xtra time, try north of Bishop. Great fishing & unbelievable scenery on the Walker River along 395. However it is about 3 hours north of Bishop. The good part is that the farther north you go along 395 the fewer the people & the better the views. Have fun, I will be going myself 7/12, right after the PMC LandCruiser swap meet that same day. John __________________ FJx3 75 FJ40 purchased new basically stock 85 FJ60 complete OME 33x10.50 muds 260K still daily driver 89 FJ62 just turn 100K completely stock

07-01-08, 10:46 AM	#7
MANUCHAO No way Eh !!! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: c0vina, CA TLCA# N0PE Posts: 568	I have done some car camping in North lake... it is located north of Bishop about half to 1 hrs drive. Great camp sites with a creek just yards away. Its lush and plenty of fishing around the area !!! Im going there in the fall !! __________________ MaNu !!! '85--FJ60-L59 E-mail: viviendo.de.mar.a.cordillera@gmail.com manamana tút turút too manamana !!!!

07-01-08, 10:48 AM	#8
D'Animal Beagles Rule! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Central California TLCA# 17104 Posts: 10,100	What do you consider the South Sierras? Sequoia National Forest has some good spots. __________________ Cruiser Dan at American Toyota Phone is 1-800-432-6668 ext. 8 (I am not cruiser Dan)

07-01-08, 11:54 AM	#10
D'Animal Beagles Rule! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Central California TLCA# 17104 Posts: 10,100	You could go up to Idylwild area. Dark Canyon has a few spots that are kinda neat. __________________ Cruiser Dan at American Toyota Phone is 1-800-432-6668 ext. 8 (I am not cruiser Dan)

07-01-08, 08:32 PM	#11
CaliCruiser IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pine Grove, Ca TLCA# 15987 Posts: 1,803	Lemme know if you decide to come a little farther north. Dylan __________________ ROTW '85 FJ60 \| SOA \| ARB \| M8274-50 \| Sliders \| Aussie'd \| H55F \| 4.7 Toybox \| 4.88s \| Custom Crap

07-02-08, 11:59 AM	#12
slickrock IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lemoore, CA (south of Fresno) TLCA# 18284 Posts: 1,858	Bass lake / North fotk . Bass lake take beasore road or North frk take minneretts road. It ia a big loop, will take baout 7 hours to loop. Lots of camping both prebult and natural with mroe fishing than you can imagine. __________________ 8/73 FJ40, 4" tweaked front flipped extended wheel base SUA, rear SOA, 35 Cooper STT Discoverers, fully locked, 1.5" Marlin wheel spacers, 60 series power steering, just under 100" wheel base, full cage, 60 series ignition, roof rack and custome awning, Syrius sat. radio, and a whole bunch of electrionic toys to get GPS directions and keep me in touch with other rigs in case something like the movie "Red Dawn" happens. www.centralvalleycrawlers.org

07-02-08, 01:40 PM	#14
NxNWLAHAR IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: WESTERN WASHINGTON Posts: 20	Re: Sierras Jan,did alot of camping/fishing/hiking in the sequoia and inyo national forests as kid and thru my late twenties. I live in wa state now,and have spent the last 13yrs exploring the pac nw.amoung my favorite spots in those areas was "peppermint flat"just north of johnsondale and kernville. There are many natural waterslides to be found, and some deep little trout pools all along the small rivers/creeks in that area, that drop off into the kern river, (for those willing to go off the beaten track.) the most direct route fr s.d. Is "i-5 north to bakersfield" then "ne on hwy-178" toward lake isabella. (i would personally take i-15 out of s.d. And skirt around the backside of l.a.) maybe someone else on here has more recent info. Good luck.

07-05-08, 01:14 PM	#15
FJ40_owner IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: El Dorado County CA TLCA# 16294 Posts: 546	I like Lake Sabrina out of Bishop, Dusy Basin, South Lake etc. Twin Lakes out of Bridgeport. Oh and its Sierra not Sierra's anything. Have fun. JB __________________ Third generation Californian! If you don't like it here, leave. And take your fat wife and screeming kids with you.

07-05-08, 03:31 PM	#16
Pin_Head IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: OC, CA Posts: 5,258	Jan, If you want to fish and minimize contact with other people, you might try Ershim, Coyote and Swamp lakes off the Dusy Ershim train and Shaver, Huntington lakes area on the west side. You could even do the entire Dusy Ershim trail. That is what you have Land Cruisers for.

07-06-08, 01:31 PM	#17
knoll0351 Salty Dog Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sourdough? TLCA# 17675 Posts: 446	Are you lookin' to drive in or is hiking an option? __________________ 07 FJC Voodoo Blue - 3" Sway Away - 33" Toyo M/Ts - Custom Skids by Knoll - On Board Air - AllPro Front Bumper/Light Bar - ARB Full Length Roof Rack - Warn M8000/Wireless Remote Wheel it or Park It!! Jefferson State Cruisers

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