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What exactly is dispersed camping? What exactly is boondocking? How are they similar and how are they different?
Well, I’m the author of Camp for Free: Dispersed Camping & Boondocking on America’s Public Lands, and as you can see, I put both terms in the title of my book. Let’s look at the two in detail…
Observing the stars and planets in the night sky when backpacking and boondocking is one of life's great pleasures. Here are 10 tips to help you make the most of your evenings in the wilderness.NOTE: this article is based in part on my book Camp … [Continue reading]
Crescent City's Pebble Beach Drive takes you along spectacular coastline with beach walking/hiking opportunities and beautiful vistas of rocky islands in the Pacific Ocean. Read on to find out how to access Pebble Beach Drive and where to stop to get … [Continue reading]
If you get lost hiking, can your dog help you get unlost? Maybe! Depends on the dog, depends on the situation.Here are two contrasting stories of me getting lost (or close to lost) while hiking in southern Utah. One time my two dogs -- golden … [Continue reading]
2023 will continue to see more rule changes for and restrictions on dispersed camping/boondocking in the United States. These changes and restrictions accelerated since 2020 as more and more people headed into the backcountry to camp, in part due to … [Continue reading]
There are five free-entrance days in 2023 for national parks and national monuments in Northern California. Hike your favorite trails, picnic, explore, and enjoy nature with your friends and family.2023 Free Entrance Days to Northern … [Continue reading]
Looking for the perfect gift for the outdoorsy people on your list, or the people you want to encourage to be outdoorsy?Then I humbly suggest buying your friends and family members one or more of my Northern California hiking guidebooks, or my … [Continue reading]
The walk/hike to beautiful Crystal Creek Falls is one of my favorites in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. The easy trail to the waterfall is flat, wide, paved, and short, and the falls never disappoint because the creek flows strong … [Continue reading]
I hiked the Trail Gulch Lake/Long Gulch Lake loop on July 8, 2022. Here's my report of trail conditions, lake conditions, and how the two drainages and other nearby Trinity Alps regions fared in the 2021 River Complex Fire.Overall, this is still … [Continue reading]
Here’s the complete list of gear you need for whenever and wherever you head out to do boondocking/dispersed camping. The list is also perfect for your campground adventures.Click Here to Download the PDF ChecklistThe checklist is from my … [Continue reading]
Burney Falls is one of America's most stunning waterfalls. This article has everything you need to make the most out of your visit: details of hiking trails with a trail map, plus info on camping and the human and natural history of McArthur-Burney … [Continue reading]
The Hedge Creek Falls Trail is easy and convenient: just pop off I-5 in Dunsmuir and quickly descend to the sweet little waterfall. You'll also get views of Mount Shasta and visit an inviting swimming hole on the Sacramento River. … [Continue reading]
Making your 2022 summer plans for backpacking and day hiking in California? I urge you to go earlier rather than later.Why? Two main reasons... … [Continue reading]
Do you love day hiking? Ever wish you had a cool notebook/journal so you could record all the important details of your day hikes, along with nature observations, your most vivid memories, and the main things you want to remember for next … [Continue reading]
2022 will continue to see more rule changes for and restrictions on dispersed camping/boondocking in the United States. These changes and restrictions accelerated in 2020 and 2021 as more and more people headed into the backcountry to camp, in part … [Continue reading]
There are six free-entrance days in 2022 for national parks and national monuments in Northern California. Hike your favorite trails, picnic, explore, and enjoy nature with your friends and family.2022 Free Entrance Days to Northern California … [Continue reading]
Looking for the perfect inexpensive gift for the outdoorsy people on your list, or the people you want to encourage to be outdoorsy?Then I humbly suggest buying your friends and family members one or more of my:Northern California hiking … [Continue reading]
The hike to Enderts Beach on the Coastal Trail packs a lot of beauty into its short length: sweeping vistas of ocean and cliff; lush, green forests; the canyon of Nickel Creek; and Enderts Beach itself, with its steep cliffs and opportunities for … [Continue reading]
Here are all the details on Myrtle Beach, a primo swimming hole on the Smith River just outside Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. … [Continue reading]
NEWER UPDATE: Most California national forests will reopen on September 16, 2021. Areas impacted by wildfires will still be closed, so check with the specific national forest ranger district before planning hiking and travel.Update: all national … [Continue reading]
Do you love day hiking? Ever wish you had a cool notebook/journal so you could record all the important details of your day hikes, along with nature observations, your most vivid memories, and the main things you want to remember for next … [Continue reading]
Hike the Shasta area's iconic Heart Lake Trail in 2023 on the recently rerouted path. This article has all the details of everything you need to know to enjoy this popular hike, including a detailed trail description, trailhead directions, and a … [Continue reading]
Walking the lower, middle, and upper falls of the McCloud River is one of the premier hikes in the Mount Shasta area. This post has everything you need, including a detailed description of the trail, directions to the trailhead, a map, and several … [Continue reading]
Making your summer plans for backpacking and day hiking in California? I urge you to go earlier rather than later.Why? Two main reasons... … [Continue reading]
Faery Falls on Ney Springs Creek is one of the most beautiful spots in the entire Mount Shasta area. The fifty-foot waterfall is just a short 0.8 mile hike, and the route also travels through the ruins of intriguing Ney Springs Resort. This article … [Continue reading]
Hike peaceful redwood groves and rugged coastline: more info.
All my favorite hikes in my home territory! Details here.
Check out the new fourth edition of 100 Classic Hikes in Northern California. Completely updated!
