Camping on the coast
It goes without saying that California offers some of the country’s top beaches and coastline. Travelers worldwide come to play “spot the migrating whales” as they drive along Highway 1’s rocky bluffs. Camping on the coast or near the beach is one of the best ways to take in beautiful coastal wildlife.
Beach camping in California is a little different from beach camping in other locations. The rugged cliffs that line much of the state’s coastline make it difficult. Some locations don’t allow camping right on the beach, but most are a short distance away. Other locations are more like a remote outpost on a coastal cliff than a picture-perfect expanse of white sand.
Don’t forget to pack your beanie, it can be chilly and windy at night all year, especially north of LA.
Gold Bluffs Campground
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is located close to California’s northernmost national park (Redwoods National Park) and about an hour from the Oregon border. A serene 10 mile stretch of coastline is home to this park, and a number of campgrounds, the most well liked of which is Gold Bluffs Campground.
The 4.5-mile Miners Ridge Trail, the Ossagon Trail, or a 6-mile gravel route off Highway 101 are the three options for campers to get here. This campground is conveniently located, yet it’s also far enough away from busy roads to preserve the peace. Instead of passing trucks, campers might actually fall asleep to the sounds of the waves. Visit this site for campsite reservations
Shipman Creek Campsite
The Lost Coast Trail in Northern California, which traverses one of the state’s roughest stretches of coastline, is a great option for anyone seeking pure adventure. The terrain is too rocky and steep for a road to be constructed, so the only way to reach the beaches is on foot.
This is not for the weak of heart. This 25.3-mile trail requires an average of four days to finish. You’ll be hiking over challenging terrain while bringing all of your supplies for food, clothes, and shelter with you. The King Range mountains, which the trail skirts, plunge directly into the ocean, terminating in black-sand beaches. The panorama is insanely stunning. You might even see the gigantic Roosevelt elk that live here.
Mendocino Grove
Reserve a place at Mendocino Grove if roughing it on the North Coast is not your idea of relaxation. Forget the sleeping bag; this upscale glamping location boasts sixty spacious tents with comfortable beds, sheets, and blankets. If you’d like to prepare food at home instead of hunting for a restaurant, communal gas barbecues are available. You may need to bring your own cookware and grilling tools though.
Although Mendocino Grove is not situated exactly on the coast, it is close to the coast and accessible by car to many of Mendocino’s beaches. Or you can take a short hike down a trail to Catch-a-Canoe, where you can rent a wonderfully constructed outrigger, and enjoy the day paddling down the Big River, which runs from the campground into the ocean.