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Diminished by drought and tarnished by wildfire, Crystal Lake is not the glistening destination it once was. Crystal Lake is the only naturally occurring lake in the San Gabriel Mountains, cradled by granite summits north of the San Gabriel River Valley above the city of Azusa at 5,500 feet. It is a 1 1/3-mile round trip paved hike to Crystal Lake with 150 feet of elevation gain. ...Read more.

Coldbrook Campground is a small 20-site campground on Coldbrook Creek, which feeds into the North Fork of San Gabriel River. From Azusa, it is an 18-mile, roughly half hour drive up Route 39 to the campground in Angeles National Forest in San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. At Coldbrook Campground, all sites are first-come first-serve for $12 per night (price as of 2018). ...Read more.

If you are planning to stay overnight at Craters of the Moon National Monument, you are in luck. A 51-site campground is located near the park entrance. Accommodations are scarce around Craters of the Moon, so it's a good thing the campground is there. If your flashlight runs out of batteries, you'll have to drive 18 miles to the small town of Arco to pick up supplies. ...Read more.

Mount Rainier National Park has three main campgrounds with over 450 campsites. The campgrounds are located in the southwest, southeast, and northeast corners of the park near the most popular hiking areas. Backcountry camping is also an option, by permit only. Visit the official Mount Rainier National Park camping page for more information.   Campgrounds in Mount Rainier National Park Courgar Rock Campground | 173 sites (plus 5 group) | open late May to late September | reservations accepted | $20 per night | potable water, picnic tables, fire grates, dump station, and flush toilets | elevation 3,180 feet Mowich Lake Campground | 10 primitive walk-in tent sites | open early July to early October | first-come first-serve | free | no potable water, no fires, vault toilets | elevation 4,929 feet Ohanapecosh Campground | 188 sites (plus 2 group) | open late May to late September | reservations accepted | $20 per night | potable water, picnic tables, fire grates, dump station, and flush toilets | elevation 1,900 feet White River Campground | 112 sites | open late June to late September | reservations accepted | $20 per night | potable water, picnic tables, fire grates, and flush toilets | elevation 4,400 feet Mount Rainier from White River Campground What do I do if the national park campgrounds are full? ...Read more.

Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument may not have any campgrounds, but you'll find plenty of places to camp in the surrounding Gifford Pinchot National Forest and other parks. Here are two campgrounds consider: Beaver Bay Campground This campground, which is not operated by the national forest, is conveniently located near trails like Ape Caves, Trail of Two Forests, June Lake, and Lava Canyon. ...Read more.

Despite being one of the biggest metropolitan areas in the world, Los Angeles is surrounded by great camping. Below is a list of some, but certainly not all, of the campgrounds around LA. For additional information about camping in the area's biggest mountain ranges visit: The official camping webpage of the Santa Monica Mountains The official camping webpage of the Angeles National Forest If you have a specific spot in mind, you can also search for campgrounds by location on hikespeak's campgrounds map. ...Read more.

Yosemite National Park is one of the premier areas for outdoor recreation in America and a great place to camp. While you can choose from over 1,600 sites (once all the snow clears), park campgrounds often fill completely. Planning ahead is essential. Many campgrounds in Yosemite National Park take reservations, and in peak summer months, these sites are typically booked far in advance. ...Read more.

There is absolutely no shortage of camping in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Four developed campgrounds with 175 total sites and eight primitive campgrounds with even more places to camp are located throughout the park. Primitive campgrounds are free, and sites at developed campgrounds range from fifteen to thirty-five dollars per night (and $80 for a group site at Borrego Palm Canyon Campground). ...Read more.

Cottonwood Pass Trail and Cottonwood Lakes Trail provide great portals into Inyo National Forest and Sequoia National Park. Hiking begins at an elevation of 10,000 feet, providing a launch pad into the high sierra. Because you start so high up, acclimating is a key to avoiding altitude sickness. For this reason, a pair of first-come first-serve campgrounds offer a valuable resource for hikers. ...Read more.

Saddlehorn Campground is the only campground in Colorado National Monument, and is well located within the park. This 80-site campground is adjacent to the park visitor center and several hiking options are nearby, including Window Rock Trail, Alcove Nature Trail, and Canyon Rim Trail. Saddlehorn Campground is situated on a high bluff overlooking the cities of Fruita and Redlands to the north. ...Read more.