Martin answers:

US HWY 101 There is the avenue of the giants. The old 101 was washed out and the new higher hwy built. There are a lot of trails in this complex of state parks. Also Redwood Nat. Pk Around Crescent City you can find a lot. Also out along US199. Places you have to find. They are too good to publish in detail. Fern Canyon, Gold Bluffs Beach, The old stagecoach road that hooks off of 199 and goes up and over toward Crescent City. Use care there are bears and mountain lions running around. I have had close encounters with both in the last few years. Make noise. These are coastal redwoods so you get few mt views or lakes. Just south of Crescent City on 101 there is a stand of redwoods over looking the sea. They don’t go to the beach too much salt and wind. Along the Ave of the Giants you get streams and river. This is California where you need more money than brains. Last summer they wanted 30 a night for state park campsite. I haven’t seen what it will be this year. Nat. Forests are usually lower. (Out on hwy 199 for camp sites) Near the Red Wood Nat. Park is the lost coast and and the town of Ferndale. Lost coast is too rough for road building. In the park is the Newton Dury(SP) old hwy 101 it runs down the valley with lot and lots of trails most OK for bikes if dry. Remember to a mountain lion a mountain biker looks like a deer (LUNCH) I only ride the wide trails and old logging roads. This gives us both a second or less to recognize each other. So far, they, lion or bear, haven’t wanted to make a meal of me. They are by far faster in reflexes than us. By the time you think BEAR they can do a 180 and be 100 ft away.
All I saw of the lion was its rear as it climbed the bank. Elk moving through the mist at Gold Bluffs is a sight to be worth the rush of a bear run in. I try to get my redwood fix a couple of times a year. Just the basic Nature trail 1 hour loop at Elk Prairie is a rush. That and the visitor’s cabin nearby is a good start. Of course it is in the middle of the redwood park. Ave of Giants, Rockefeller grove had the tallest tree. It might be the one across the creek or one nearby. It can easily be loved to death, so the one on the far side of the creek is the official tallest.

Martin answers:

Good evening AJ,

I hope you are having a great day. AJ, it is very hard to pick out a good location if I do not know what type camping you mean? Do you like tent, cabin, or sleeping bags? I like rough areas with fly fishing and hiking. I made three (3) trips last year into the Mighty High Sierras Mountains. I usually hike over Kearsarge Pass, which is an old Indian trail, to Bull Frog at 10,000 feet. I have been camping and hiking the Sierras since 1958.

I remember as kids we would lie in our sleeping bags and count shooting stars all night. Your mind would run amok with the wonders and vastness of space. You could point out and view constellations which until then were part of chapters in a school text book. We would fall asleep viewing the heavens and our own Milky Way.

Http://www.naturalbornhikers.com/KearsargePass/KearsargePass.htm

Some of my best camping trips were with my family as a kid in Yosemite. We could not wait to see the fire falls at night (website below). I feel so sorry for people like you and your family, especially the kids. The fire falls stopped in 1968. Today, you must have an appointment for two years in advance to get a camping spot. The crowds are unbelievable, times change.

Http://blog.chaukhat.com/2010/07/yosemite-lava-falls-firefalls-fire.html

As for your question, I ready do not know how rough you want. Try Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon National Park. They should have some openings. I tried to give websites with phone numbers.

Http://www.nps.gov/archive/seki/cgvc.htm

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=yfp-t-701-s&va=cedar+grove+in+kings+canyon+national+park

http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/camp_region.htm

My favorite camping locations are along the Kern River. I can always find a good location because I know the area like the back of my hand. The camping can be mild to rough. I have included websites with phone numbers. On the first website, click on Hospital Flat and Camp 3. Both sites are right next to slow moving river….great areas for kids.

Http://www.kernvalley.com/news/kerncamp.htm

http://www.frandy.net/

http://www.totalescape.com/tripez/trips/cruiskern.html

http://www.sierrasouth.com/rafting.htm

I wish you were interested in coming south of Los Angeles. There are some great camping spots for families with kids. I know it may be too far.

Http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArePI2mjuF.kEApkz_.Ut53ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20100811214249AAu1Mri

Good luck. I hope these websites will help. Peace, from Los Angeles.

Martin answers:

Hi there,a little reading for you,just click on the highlights..have fun..

Http://redwoods.info/showrecord.asp?id=2796

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=campgrounds+in+the+Redwoods%3F&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7;

regards pops..

Martin answers:

Look into Memorial Park in San Mateo county. Pescadero beach is a short drive away. The creek in the park is cold but on a hot day it feels good.