Camping Places
The following is a list of places that I camp.
Oceano Dunes State Vehicle Recreation Area
ODSVRA is commonly referred to as Pismo Dunes, or just plane Pismo by those who recreate there. ODSVRA (as with all of California S.V.R.A.s) are owned by the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division of the State of California Dept. of Parks and Recreation.
ODSVRA comprises of approximately 1,500 acres of "open riding" area for All Terain Vehicles ("quads"), Dune Buggies, Motor Cycles, 4x4s (Jeeps, Trucks, SUVs, etc.) and any other street-legal or registered OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle) along a few miles of coast in Central California. Annual attendance is in excess of some 3 million visitors.
Camping is very primitive (as long as you don't count the RVs, Toy Haulers and $40,000 trucks that inhabit the beach each day). Pit toilets are pretty much the only "ammenity" that is provided. Unfortunately on very busy weekends, which now run from Memorial Day through Labor Day, the condition of the restrooms can be described as anything but an ammenity.
Pricing is the standard California State Parks fee of $10 per night for one street-legal and one legally towed (street) vehicle. There are no per-person or per registered OHV (i.e. Green or Red sticker) fees. Day passes (6am to 10pm, or something like that) are $6 (same rules apply per vehicle.)
Please see the Friends of Oceano Duneswebsite.
Hollister Hills State Vehicle Recreation Area
Hollister Hills is yet another of California's SVRAs that rather than be an open riding area consists of well marked trails. There are no reservations, unlike Pismo which offers, and pretty much requires them for big holidays and the summer months. Camping is in several camps with overflow on Radio Ridge.
My favorite campground is Walnut, as the showers are located there. I've also stayed in Lodge (where the parts shop is located), Bee (the next campground on the south side of the main road) which is geared more towards tent camping. You can get toy haulers and other trailers in there, it's just not that easy. The final campground is Madrone and is located in the very back. It's a nice mostly level campground with lower traffic than Bee or Lodge.
Hungry Valley State Vehicle Recreation Area
Another SVRA is Hungry Valley located alongside Interstate 5 on the southside of the Grapevine, north of Pyramid Lake. It is one of the largest OHV parks in California at some 19,000 acres. There's a mixture of trails and open riding. There are several campgrounds spread out along the parks main roads.
Unlike Hollister, many of the trails are two-way and require one to be on guard for oncomming traffic (not that you shouldn't be at Hollister.)
Carnegie State Vehicle Recreation Area
A bit smaller, and at a more difficult level than the other parks is Carnegie which is located west of Interstate 5 on Corral Hollow Road in San Joaquin County (south of Livermore, Tracy, etc.) The park is actually located where Corral Hollow turns into Tesla as it transitions to the next county.
Miami Motorcycle Trails
Miami as most riders call it, is located in the Sierra National Forest between 7 and 10 miles north of Highway 49 in Oakhurst along Highway 41 to Yosemite National Park. Camping space is limited in this OHV area with most taking place along 6S41 at Miami Creek as well as Lone Seqouia along 6S24.
Trail ratings are misleading here due to low amounts of maintenance provided by the Forest Service. Riding for the first time is best done with a rider familiar with the terrain, trails, etc.
There are currently no fees to use this area of forest.
Chilkoot Lake
Chilkoot Lake is located about 1 to 1.5 miles east of Beyesore Road summit at approximately 7500'. Beautiful place to camp!