Community Corner
Summer Camping Destinations
Campers can bask in nature at these six local spots, all within two hours of South City.
Summer is here, and while many of us have had the vacation itch since February, not everyone has had that week in the sun yet. For those who want to enjoy a few peaceful days in Mother Nature, there are plenty of options within just a couple hours' drive. Yosemite and Big Sur are idyllic getaways, but each tends to fill up early. Here some local spots for this year’s summer trip.
About an hour north from the upper peninsula, this Marin County park has tent and RV camping, and offers extensive hiking and biking trails and picnic spots. Bordered by giant redwoods and grassy meadows, it also provides a scenic and peaceful place to spend the night between visits to nearby Muir Woods, one of the most renowned and beautiful stands of old-growth coastal redwoods in the state.
Drive a little more than an hour south to enjoy ancient redwoods at the oldest state park in California. A hiker’s delight, more than 80 trails wind through this park, connecting campers to coast and mountains. Some campsites are also a short hike from some of the park’s many waterfalls. Click here for information on reserving campsites, which include many walk-in sites and tent cabins.
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Perfect for big groups, this area has a little something for everyone and is less than two hours' drive from San Francisco. Campgrounds stretch from Guerneville to Forestville, and feature sites along the river and amid redwoods. Visitors can canoe or inner tube along the river, hike in the forest, golf, visit the nearby wineries and Russian River Brewing Company, or just relax on the shore.
For those who miss real summer heat, this huge state park (the largest in northern California) offers warm to very hot temperatures and plenty of hiking and biking trails. Horseback riding and backpacking among canyons and expansive meadows are among the park’s featured activities, as well as birdwatching. Coe Park lies a maximum two hours' drive southeast of San Francisco, and campsites are available for both hike-in and car campers.
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Just past Walnut Creek, this East Bay park offers camping, hiking and horseback riding, along with stunning views of the Bay Area from the summit of Mount Diablo. Learn about the history of the area at the Visitor Center, then hike up the mountain during the day’s cooler hours, as this area can get very warm in mid-summer. The park’s observation deck is currently closed for repairs.
Explore this giant reservoir by taking advantage of one of the many nearby campgrounds. The warm water in this lake make it ideal for fishing, boating and swimming – a welcome break for those who love to dip their toes, but want to avoid going numb at Bay Area beaches. Lying just north of Napa, this site takes just under two hours to drive to, and is about 40 minutes away from Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, where adventurous campers can enjoy challenging terrain and hikes up St. Helena.
