Great Hiking and Camping Locations

Now that you have a great idea of the attire necessary to enjoy memorable camping/hiking excursions, you should think about some great places to hike or camp out in the Southern California area. I’ll start with Southern California, and cover different locales each time. If you are curious about a particular area, let me know, and I’d be more than happy to look into it for you!

An absolutely essential place to check out for its unique hiking scenery with a wonderful beach twist is Carlsbad. This resort town is actually quite small extending over just a 7-mile stretch of coastland along the Pacific Ocean in San Diego County. Although the town is small the vibe is absolutely amazing. Think resort town with a less tropical feel to it. Carlsbad State Beach is home to avid boogie-boarders and bicycle riders.

Oceanside Cliffs of Carlsbad

The hiking scenery is great and challenging with rocky features throughout the coastline, ranging from mildly difficult to full-blown cliffs! It is a good idea to be prepared for more than just a beach outing though, if you plan on hiking up and down the coastline, because the tide here is legendary. It has been known to recede at an alarming rate, revealing an incredibly rocky coast. During my last adventure in Carlsbad, I finished my day off bird-watching and simply unwinding at a quiet lagoon. The scene couldn’t have been drawn up better!

The best part about Carlsbad is that there are plenty of things to do besides hike! There are literally thousands of activities ranging from kayaking to skate parks to village fairs, and even a gigantic flower park. This vibrant city literally has something for everyone. For those who aren’t into the pure camping experience, there are a plethora of hotels to choose from ranging in price, quality, and accommodations.

            

Joshua Tree National Park

            If you are looking for a little bit more of a hardcore hiking/camping experience, I recommend the Joshua Tree National Park in South Eastern California. This amazing park is an 800,000 acre area that sits precisely at the intersection of two distinct ecosystems: The Colorado Desert, and the Mojave Desert. Due to the special climate of the Mojave Desert, these rare, beautiful trees are able to thrive, and they are indeed a wonder to behold! If you are as enthralled by these specimens as I am you should plan your trip during trip during the early to late months of spring. Also, plan to bring a lot of water, as it technically is a desert.

The Palm Oases

                Apart from the amazing trees, I enjoyed seeing some of the most beautiful sunsets that I have personally ever laid eyes on! The combination of the lack of humidity, the relatively high elevation, and lack of city lights for hundreds of miles all create absolutely breath –taking views! Take an experienced person with you as the location is rather remote, to say the least. However, for all of the potential negatives, I think it is worth it. This is place is a complete masterpiece, with more flora and fauna then you ever could imagine in a “desert”.