So-Cal State Beach

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Bluetribal

Bluetribal

Joined
Mar 14, 2006
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www.markkuz.com
So which of our lovely crowded state beaches would you pick for camping. I have only been to a couple but San Clemente is the only one I can think of at the moment. I am thinking it would be nice to do a little beach camping one of these weekends. Just to walk on the beach, ride the bikes around the camp grounds, & sit around a fire. for a couple of nights while saving some $$ on gas by staying in SoCal.
 
San Onofre is ok. You need reservations pretty far out though and it gets crowded at the actual campsites on top of the cliff, but the beach is awesome.

Leo Carrillo is out past Malibu in LA county, some tide pools and stuff, but can be crowded.

Further north you have El Capitan past Santa Barbara. Very cool, hot springs up behind it above Santa Barbara.

Just past El Cap is Gaviota where I will be camping with a big group next weekend. Never camped there before, but I'm hoping its as fun as El Cap. Will be making an easy drive up to Santa Ynez Peak for what I hope will be awesome views of the northern Channel Islands.

And past that you come to Pismo Dunes where I look forward to meeting a bunch of you this year!
 
bpenn1980 said:
snip

Just past El Cap is Gaviota where I will be camping with a big group next weekend. Never camped there before, but I'm hoping its as fun as El Cap. Will be making an easy drive up to Santa Ynez Peak for what I hope will be awesome views of the northern Channel Islands.

And past that you come to Pismo Dunes where I look forward to meeting a bunch of you this year!
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you may also want to go to Point Conception nearby. Nice drive, a little campground (I think, not sure, maybe just a Park?), and good surfin' I'm told.

Load up on food etc in Santa Barbara or Goleta on the way cuz Gaviota is about a 20 mins drive out. Buellton up North something like 15 or 20 mins too.
 
Mark, all i have to say is you better start your reservations now. If there's anything left. Or go during the week. Beach campgrounds book up fast and already most likely are for the next few months.

Brad, Gaviota isn't bad (nothing like El Cap)... but you camp literally in a parking lot. It's not "on" the beach. But the the train trestle is cool and the pier is neat. We camped there one night last year on the way back from Pismo.

Gaviota ..

 
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Red Beach

Google this in camp pendleton you can stay there. Not sure when but it is the place where they practice there amphibious landings. I went there to drive around and it is COOL. You drive on the same tracks as the AAV's. I went there during the 4th of July weekend and there were tons of campers and RVs rolling. Right on the beach 50 feet away from the surf!
 
Giulitto said:
Google this in camp pendleton you can stay there. Not sure when but it is the place where they practice there amphibious landings. I went there to drive around and it is COOL. You drive on the same tracks as the AAV's. I went there during the 4th of July weekend and there were tons of campers and RVs rolling. Right on the beach 50 feet away from the surf!
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Can a civilian do this? I know there's a place that Boston Mangler goes to , but i thought it was closed to the general public?
 
Giulitto said:
Google this in camp pendleton you can stay there. Not sure when but it is the place where they practice there amphibious landings. I went there to drive around and it is COOL. You drive on the same tracks as the AAV's. I went there during the 4th of July weekend and there were tons of campers and RVs rolling. Right on the beach 50 feet away from the surf!
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I have always seen the RV's in that area on the weekends and always wondered how you camp in that spot.
 
yes, Gaviota is not the prettiest beach campground in the area. El Capitan and Refugio are nicer IIRC.
 
SOCALFJ said:
Can a civilian do this? I know there's a place that Boston Mangler goes to , but i thought it was closed to the general public?
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Yes you can, you just call and get info and I believe a pass. Nothing to hard, camp pendleton is pretty much open to the public. You can drive on base and they will direct you to the correct people to get info and a base pass for those occasions.
Pendleton Sportsman's Club
Try this link really informative it seems really restrictive, but the way I had seen it, it was a good time to be had out there.
 
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That Leo Carrillo looks really nice but it's all booked-up till Sept. But Crystal Cove is totally available so I will probably take the :princess: to that one.


WHOAH! Just noticed this, no wonder it's totally available!

*Alerts and Important Information*

These are hike-in Tent sites. After registering at El Moro Canyon Park office, you will hike 3 strenuous miles to the campground.
 
The campground on Pendleton (can't remember the name or lake) isn't all that great. They let our scout district hold our camporee there last May.
 
Search for Jalama State Beach if you are willing to drive a bit...near Lompoc.
 
Bluetribal said:
Yeah, doesn't seem like much you could do there. Just sit and look at the waves and walk the beach....
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That's not the one. They have a developed campground inland at a small lake about 10 miles in from the Oceanside gate.

I know you're talking about the few RV's you'll see right there at the beach on I-5, but that's not an 'official' military campground. Don't know how to camp there.
 
Brentbba said:
That's not the one. They have a developed campground inland at a small lake about 10 miles in from the Oceanside gate.

I know you're talking about the few RV's you'll see right there at the beach on I-5, but that's not an 'official' military campground. Don't know how to camp there.
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I believe what your talking about is Lake Oneal. never camped there and wouldn't want to either.



try san onofre camp grounds. there's campsites ON the beach.
 
cruiserruf said:
I believe what your talking about is Lake Oneal. never camped there and wouldn't want to either.



try san onofre camp grounds. there's campsites ON the beach.
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Yep - that's the name. It's a basic campground on a lake. Hot inland tho! Good luck getting a campsite at a state beach for this summer. They book fast the second the 6 month (I think that's what it still is) window opens up for reservations.
 
You should also look into Point Magu. Its just north off Malibu about 10 miles, and its right on the beach. You need to make reservations at reserveamerica.com

Ive been there many times and always had a good time. The sites include your basic firepit, tables, etc..

If you go early, you can request a corner/end site, that way you have much more space and privacy.



Harry
 
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