CA -ID and back.. Recommend some Camping sites?

[Ninety]

So the FamBam and I will be traveling up to southern Idaho and back ... anyone have any recommendations for nor cal or OR? or places to AVOID?

So Far my plan is to stop up at Washoe lake just east of lake Tahoe.. stay a nite and then continue on to ID.. On the way home I was thinking about taking the 395 thru Oregon crossing into CA just east of Goose Lake... I have the misses and two youngsters with me under 5

Looking to break the trip home up to maybe 3 or 4 days.. no real set plans

Any input would be great.. No rig.. just tents and cots..

ETA:

Washoe has been struck.. she said it looks like too many snakes... the place does look pretty baron .. so I think we will stop at Topaz lake.. There are some fires up around Yosemite but I think we will be far enough away as to not be affected by it .. hopefully..

[scootergmc]

When? What are you driving? City destination to/from? CA to ID and back doesn't really narrow it down.

[Ninety]

4wd Suburban.. street tires so no real off roading.. Leaving tomorrow morning or evening..

I think we have decided on staying at Topaz lake on the way up... looks like a nice little lake with plenty of dry camping available.. 14-395-95 .. on the way home I haven't decided what I want to do.. I was thinking about coming down near goose lake.. but I'm not sure where else to stay in Nor cal.. Won't be coming back for a week or two .. .at least

Looks like I have the route home taking the 395 thru OR and meeting up with the 99 .. I'm not sure about the roads.. what ones to avoid. what ones to take.. any input from those of you familiar with the area would be great..

I just want the family to experience something new.. and break up the drive home and try to enjoy the drive..

[pterrell]

Lake Shasta is really nice. Depending on how far into Oregon you want to go, Mt Hood is great for camping. If you want to go into central Idaho before dropping back into the Treasure Valley, I'd highly recommend McCall Idaho. Great fishing and camping up there. Another bonus to leaving tomorrow is that Watershed is going on at the Gorge so the camp grounds should be a little lighter this weekend then most others during the summer.

[Ninety]

Thanks for the reply.
We were going to stop at lake shasta on the way there and meet up with family that is on vacation up that way but decided against it... Might have to stop by there on the way home. I've been to Hood river at the base of my hood , and your right beautiful country... Tons of waterfalls.. in sure the kids would love to check out some of those.. decisions decisions...

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[82fb]

395 to 20 is a really pretty drive. 80 to 95 is not so interesting, unless you like wide open desert.

Shasta is darn near empty. I would not bother stopping.

[scootergmc]

What's your destination in ID? By 14-395-95 I'm assuming your crossing the border at McDermitt, NV and heading up to the Boise area? If so, here's how I would come back:

http://goo.gl/maps/jAFau

That's the way I would go based on what I know. 395 through Southeast Oregon is nothing to write home about. I'd motor through there as quickly as possible. You'll see Lassen Natl. Park, alpine valleys, creeks, streams, rivers, lakes, Tahoe, etc. and there are tons of areas to camp- take your pick and take mosquito repellent. I would avoid Hwy 89 on the western edge of Lake Tahoe on the weekends. Tourists can make it quite a pain as they literally stop on the road to take pictures. I also took you back into Nevada on 6/264 because there's a fun (and free) hot springs just north of Dyer, NV with a concrete pool. You can camp there, but it might be dusty and you will most likely have neighbors. But it gets dark as crap and the stargazing is amazing. Even with the moon set to be over half-full in a week, it's still worth it.

If your family gets carsick, ignore my post.

[highpower790]

Wild Plum campground off hwy49 in the Tahoe National is nice.Just a short drive to the alpine lakes of Plumas County of off hwy 89(Gold Lake Rd)and 49.

[82fb]

What's your destination in ID? By 14-395-95 I'm assuming your crossing the border at McDermitt, NV and heading up to the Boise area? If so, here's how I would come back:

http://goo.gl/maps/jAFau

That's the way I would go based on what I know. 395 through Southeast Oregon is nothing to write home about. I'd motor through there as quickly as possible. You'll see Lassen Natl. Park, alpine valleys, creeks, streams, rivers, lakes, Tahoe, etc. and there are tons of areas to camp- take your pick and take mosquito repellent. I would avoid Hwy 89 on the western edge of Lake Tahoe on the weekends. Tourists can make it quite a pain as they literally stop on the road to take pictures. I also took you back into Nevada on 6/264 because there's a fun (and free) hot springs just north of Dyer, NV with a concrete pool. You can camp there, but it might be dusty and you will most likely have neighbors. But it gets dark as crap and the stargazing is amazing. Even with the moon set to be over half-full in a week, it's still worth it.

If your family gets carsick, ignore my post.

If you have the time, this would be a great route.

[Ninety]

If you have the time, this would be a great route.

Right on. Thank you all for the input. I haven't looked at that route yet as I am now mobile the broken ac has delayed us long enough. We will make do without and fix up there.

Wish us luck. Brought the hams along and programmed repeaters along the way.

Will check back in on this thread along the way.


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[Ninety]

Thanks scooter.. How is that drive on the 89? Twisty Turny mountain roads?

This is what I had figured out.https://goo.gl/maps/rdwV9. was told to stop east of Visalia in the Mts to spend a nite or two

Topaz Lake Park was nothing to write home about but it wasn't bad either.. nice big beach.. but pretty rocky for a boat.. lake wasn't busy at all.. looked to be decent size.. there were some other beaches on the site that I didn't have a chance to check out.. didn't realize they were there.. but they were in the day use are..

[FatCity67]

Lake Almanor
Stampede Lake
Jackson Meadows Reservior
Lake Tahoe
Lassen National Volcanic Park


Take the 299 from 395 and drop down thru Burney to Lassen Park. Then from there you can plot your way to some of the other areas I mentioned. All have paved roads.

If it were me I'd spend all my time in NorCal and once I hit the 80 I'd be hauling *** for home based on your trip map.

The Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento is a great place for kids and adults alike since your going thru Sactown.

To bad your not going back down 395 as I would have made a stop at Bodie for the kids as well as the June Lake Loop.

Have fun.

[scootergmc]

Thanks scooter.. How is that drive on the 89? Twisty Turny mountain roads?

This is what I had figured out.https://goo.gl/maps/rdwV9. was told to stop east of Visalia in the Mts to spend a nite or two

Well, 89 can be everything. Straights, narrow twisties, slow and fast.