AboutMike Expertise I can answer questions about backpacking a snowshoeing in the American West: Mountains, Canyons and Deserts.
Experience I've spent much of my life backpacking, hiking and snowshoeing in the Cascades, Rockies, high Sierras and the red rock canyons of the Southwest.
Publications Just letters to the editor in Backpacker and Outside and my Backpacking homepages
Question My husband and I are backpacking beginners; our only experience so far has been a trip to Angel Island (a 2 mile hike and potable water, picnic table, and food locker available at the campsite). We loved our trip, and now we are looking for somewhere else we could go in the San Francisco Bay Area for just a weekend trip. We'd like to get more adventurous with the next trip, and we'd be ok with a longer hike or more rustic campsite. Unfortunately, most of the state parks aren't accepting reservations because of the sad possibility that they may be shut down due to budget cuts. On Reserve America I'm primarily only finding car camping anyway. Is there somewhere we can show up without any kind of reservation, head on into the woods, and stay for a night?? Thank you for your help!!
Answer Hi,
My first suggestion would be to (if you haven't already) go to your local REI and see if you can find one of their free backpacking classes. At the same place you can pick up a hiking and backpacking guide that's local to San Francisco. I know they'll have them in their books section. "Backpacking One Step at a Time" is a great old (but updated) backpacking introduction. It's my Manning.
With a bit of driving you can be in the Desolation Wilderness by Lake Tahoe. There are some good beginner trails there. But I'm sure that there are places far nearer to San Franscisco. Perhaps in the redwoods or Point Reyes. I'm from Portland and have only done some hiking around your area. Tomorrow I'm headed down by Bishop, California for a week in your beautiful high Sierras.
Anyway, REI is a good resource and if you aren't a member it's $20 to join forever and with that you'll get 10% back on all your full-priced purchases and the no-receipt-needed lifetime guarantee on all the gear you buy there. It's a great deal.
Good luck to you two! Keep at it.
