Expert: Steve Summers - 10/3/2007

Question
Hi Steve,

I just discovered this site, and more specifically your camping knowledge, today. My husband and I live in Sherman Oaks and we're trying to find places close enough for a weekend trip (or mid-week). We don't have an RV and camp in a tent. I've read through and searched your answers for any references to camping at Lake Casitas. I saw a short mention and wanted to know if you have any opinions about their campgrounds for tent users. If you've stayed there which campground did you stay in? We're thinking based on the website pictures that Creekside, Deer or Grebe look okay.

Growing up in Fresno really spoiled me for great places to camp and I'm having a hard time finding anything within 2 hours of LA that are worth the trip. I know you recommend Carpinteria, but it's booked so far in advance and also a bit urban that I'm hoping for some alternatives. Any help is greatly appreciated! Do you know of any tent camping forums online? I'm finding lots of RV reviews, but it seems like people have abandoned tents.

Answer
Hi Amy,

If you're from Fresno, then it's easy to be spoiled in terms of camping. There's Sequoia to the east, Shaver and Huntington to the northeast, and Bass Lake and Yosemite to the north.

However, when you moved down here, they should have given you a mandatory geography lesson. The reason there's great camping in the Sierras and not-so-great camping in SoCal can be summed up in one word: rainfall. The Sierras get it, we don't. No rainfall means no lush pine forests, no abundance of lakes, etcetera, etcetera. So, if you're looking for something like the Sierras here, you won't find it anywhere. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

That being said, you know that the hills in SB and Ventura County are grassy with scrub oak, which can still be very nice. I've done a passthru at Casitas (I don't know if they even allow that any more) as well as Cachuma. Both are about the same, the main exception being that you can reserve a tent site at Casitas. The hills around Ojai are very nice for most of the year. If there's rain, however, it can be rather muddy, and in the summer it can get pretty hot. But overall, it's not bad. Since I'm really in love with Carpinteria, I haven't camped here. Carpinteria may be a bit "urban", but the sound of the waves makes up for a lot, and I'm a bit urban myself, growing up in L.A. You should have a nice time there.

Good luck,

Steve