Alm
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Cheap camps without hookups on I-5 from Redding to Red Bluff?
I can and very much prefer sleeping in a car with night temps from low 40s to low 80s. Stopped a few times in Shasta Lake a the dam, affordable, very
nice when there are no dirt bike races. When there is a race, the camp fills beyond capacity. Day use area, overflow parking, every spot where you
can put a trailer or toy hauler gets 2 or 3, sticking halfway in the driveway. Most are running generators until 10pm, they are not into solar or
lithium, they race. This may happen any weekend, probably less likely when there is heavy rain or snow in a forecast or it's really cold.
Is there anything else in this area up to, say $20-30?
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mtgoat666
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try whiskeytown national recreation area, several camp sites and RV sites. reserve a spot thru recreation.gov also a private RV park in that area.
about 10 miles west of redding
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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wilderone
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Reading Island info says BLM, group site, RV resort - not sure.
https://www.hikercentral.com/campmaps/133316map.html
Otherwise, https://www.hikercentral.com/campdetails/133316.html
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Alm
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Thanks, it's good to have a choice.
Wiskeytown sites are indeed reservable, $20, online only.
Reading Island and nearby sites look like BLM, Google shows closed gate to Massacre Flats primitive site, need to check other. A little sketchy
info, coordinates by hikerscentral is a point on the road with no campsites in view, but with BLM you just camp where you like. Fine with me, my car
is an apocalipsemobile with a sleeping space, compressor fridge, propane stove and enough fresh water.
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mtgoat666
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Blm land at sac river is pretty small area, here’s the blm map,
https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/medi...
Massacre flat may be related to the sacramento river massacre. Gringos killed 1000 indians. May be lots of ghosts in that area…
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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Alm
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Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  |
Massacre flat may be related to the sacramento river massacre. Gringos killed 1000 indians. May be lots of ghosts in that area…
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Makes sense closing it, campers must've complained 
Thanks for the map. It says that camping is allowed only on Reading Island - by permit only. And on Massacre Flats that is apparently closed. Oh
well...
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thebajarunner
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Look up the term "Disbursed Camping"
Basically it says that BLM, National Forest lands, and many other US owned land is open and free for camping
Unless posted!!
And there may be fire retractions
Otherwise, that land belongs to us, and make good use of it
Here in Arrizon our open country is dotted with motor homes, trailers and campers all winter long with free campers.
Up near Lake Pleasant, by our home, there are at least 200 camped in the desert as I write this. I think there is a two week limit, but I doubt if
it is enforced.
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AKgringo
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Walmart, the RV park of last resort....
In Anchorage, RVs commonly spend a day or more in the Walmart parking lot, and security patrols kind of watch over them.
I travel with a big dog, and rather than deal with the hassle and expense of finding "Dog friendly" lodging, I usually sleep in my car somewhere away
from civilization. I am not going to leave her alone in my car in a strange place.
I have slept in a couple of Walmart lots in the lower 48 after checking in with their security with no problems. They let me know where to park, and
that they will be by a few times over the night.
Like I said, last resort, but a possibility.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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bajaric
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A bit to the south is a place I found called Eastman Lake. (east of Madera) This is a nice place to break up the drive without paying $100 to stay in
some flea bag motel along the 99. Lots of space, well maintained, paved parking and water and restrooms are only $20 for non-electric, but you have
to make a reservation online before you get there. This is on the southern end of the mother lode country.
Reservations are made on recreation.gov but this is actually a Corps of Engineers-owned property. They have quite a few other properties including to
the north that you can see on their website:
https://www.spk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/
Maybe a similar place could be found up north.
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AKgringo
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Grass Valley
I am in G.V. which is about 2 hours south of Redding, and a bit out of your way, but you can stay at my place for free and have plumbing and
electricity if you like. I even have a dump station if you have a holding tank in your rig.
I don't know what your time frame is, but I am trying to get my stuff together and head to Baja within the next week.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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thebajarunner
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Elks Lodge
Well, since we seem to grasping at all the straws in the bale, might as well toss this one in also.
My partner loves to RV with quick and easy stops
He joined the local Elks Lodge and tells me that you can stay at a long list of Elks lodge parking lots as part of membership
Not sure about the annual dues, but when he did it the tab was not much over a hundred bucks a year
Many casinos offer the same privilege
Frankly, I prefer the disbursed camping alternative where my only neighbors are pine trees or cactus
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AKgringo
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I forgot about the Elks Lodge. My Dad was a long time Elks Club member and used his connection a few times.
I was working in Cordova Alaska one season and met a couple of travelers that were staying at the local lodge. Cordova can only be reached by air or
the sea, and has almost no tourist accommodations, so the were fortunate to be members.
I also prefer to have non-human neighbors when possible.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner | Look up the term "Disbursed Camping"
Basically it says that BLM, National Forest lands, and many other US owned land is open and free for camping
Unless posted!! |
‘dirtbag camping’ is the term for my minimal style (but I don’t dirtbag it when wife and kids are along…)
The budget snowbirds disbursed camping in desert in winter are quite the site to see, often looks like a low density refugee camp  sometimes i see their RVs parked in some pretty undesirable spots that look like
old gravel pits and dump sites…
[Edited on 3-9-2024 by mtgoat666]
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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AKgringo
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I actually look for old gravel pits in Baja. Far less chance of problems with thorns, mosquitos and gnats or critters for me and my dog. In my case
it is never to set up camp, but to get a few hours sleep and get on to the next actual campsite, or destination.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
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I don't understand why "dispersed" camping is poo-pooed here. It is a skill. It takes some research and maps and self-reliance and the result is that
you are not annoyed by other people - their dogs, their generators, having to see them 20 feet away in the morning. Rather, you have the whole place
to yourself, it's free, it's quiet. I don't set up camp in a gravel yard. Why would you make this choice? Well, actually, I did make this choice
once when I was in Axe, Yucatan peninsula. I had just put up my tent after dark, was settled inside and I heard a large truck pull up fast, two doors
slam -- I though oh sh t, I'm going to be robbed. Turns out it was policia - what are you doing here they ask - and tell us in Spanish. I did.
Privado propriadad they say, it's not safe here, you must leave. They told me go to Isamal and get a hotel. It was after dark now, so I did and
Isamal was great - stayed for 2 nights. Good times.
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Cancamo
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U.S National Forest......free camping everywhere for 2 weeks, only permit required is for a campfire if you need one.
Northern California has countless options on USFS, public land.
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BoenBaja
Junior Nomad
Posts: 76
Registered: 12-24-2023
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Check out Harvest Hosts and Passport America.
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