Camping in the Sierras

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J

Jan-78FJ40

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Sep 6, 2002
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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
 
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.
 
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.)
 
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
 
John McVicker said:
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
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Thank you all!
Jan
 
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 !!
 
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.
 
slickrock said:
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.
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thank you!

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