Sunrise at Camp

Zion Sunrise Mesa

What kind of camper are you?

Determining the ideal tent location will vary on whether you are an ‘early riser’ or late night person, otherwise known as the “up-til-wee-hours ’round the campfire” kinda camper.

Night Owl
OK, all you wine-o’s and silly drunks, try to be a considerate camper and place your tent near the campfire if you plan to be up late. You and your partying cohorts will not disturb those who had planned to get ‘a good nights sleep’ and can stumble to your tent close by with ease. Make sure that you have a large bush, boulder or tree on the east side of your tent, as this is where the dreaded sunlight comes in.

Early Riser
If you are the kinda person who welcomes the sunrise, sitting on a boulder with a healthy cup of fresh brewed coffee, then you probably don’t wanna hear folks up late around the campfire discussing philosophy, right next to your pillow. Ear plugs can be good to pack if you plan to camp with more than a few folks. Setting up your tent well away (like 100 feet) from all communal areas will help you get a decent nights sleep, allowing others to do their normal thing without even bugging you.

Light Sleeper
If you wake at the slightest footsteps (or car alarm) you might wanna find a distant camp for your bedding spot. Camp outside of a developed campground for the most secluded and quiet of nature experiences. If you cannot stand anyone snoring, then kindly ask your neighbors ahead of time and position your tent accordingly.

Yosemite Lake View Camp Sites

Sunrise: Determining East & the North Star

determining your direction
If you fear the morning sunlight like a true vampire, make sure that your tent is not in the direct line of fire at 6 am, just in case you planned to sleep in until 9 am.

If you arrive at camp after dark & need to decipher where the sun comes up, just locate the North Star silly. Hmmm, sounds easy? Now where is that sucker. See the diagram below for gathering the astronomy part of the lesson.

Now, for all of you who didn’t get a decent high school education: Locating east can be easy if you always remember this small exercise. Standing up, point your face to the north, extend your right arm out sideways & this will be east . The same goes for left/west. South is right behind ya. The sun sit low in the winter months & follows more along the south horizon.

The familiar stars called the big dipper is a nice way to find the north star. Draw a line from the edge of cup — spilling out straight over to the brightest star.

north star polaris

 

Alder Camp


Crab Flats Campground

Crabflats

San Berdu National Forest: Crab Flats Campground National Forest Service

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MTS:
Big Bear Area Camping; Crabflats is on dirt road – Road# 3N16
elevation
North of Green Valley Lake, off Hwy 18. Between Big Bear Lake & Lake Arrowhead, California.

OHV trails abundant in this region, so expect some 4x4s, dirt bikes and engine noise. Looking for peaceful camp, try Heart Bar Camp.

Crab Flats Campground

• Elevation: 6,200′
• Number of Sites: 28
• Camping Reservations: Yes
• Sites Available: 3 first come
• Vehicle Accessibility: RV 15′ max
• Length of Stay: 14 Days
• Water: No Piped; seasonal creek iffy
• Toilet: Vault
• Season: Open APR-NOV
• Fee: YesNFSlogo
• Operated By: National Forest Service
• Closest Town: Lake Arrowhead, CA

San Bernardino National Forest
Big Bear Discovery Center
Big Bear Lake, CA
909-382-2790

Topo maps, wilderness hiking maps, Equestrian trails, OHV maps –

nearby mountain communities:

Green Valley Lake

Shasta RV Park

RV Parks Redding / Lake Shasta RV Parks

Mt Shasta RV Parks / Shasta RV Camping

Sacramento River Camping

Abrams Lake RV Park
2601 N. Old Stage Rd
Mount Shasta CA
530 926-2312

Antler’s RV Park & Campground
Lake Shasta
1145 Hartnell Ave
Redding, CA 96002
800 337-2767
916 222-5586

Bear Mountain RV Resort
14216 Bear Mountain Rd
Redding CA
530 275-4728

Best in the West Resort
26987 Sims Rd
Castella CA
530 235-2603
I-5 frwy close, near Castle Crags SP

Cave Springs Resort & RV Park
4727 Dunsmuir Ave
Dunsmuir CA
530 235-272

Chateau Shasta RV Park
704 S. Old Stage Rd
Mount Shasta CA
530 926-3279

Fawndale Oaks RV Park
15015 Fawndale Rd
Redding CA
530 275-0764

Friendly RV Park
1800 Black Butte Dr
Weed CA
800 830-0847
530 938-2805

Hi Lo Motel, Cafe & RV Park
88 S. Weed Blvd
Weed CA
530 938-2731

Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort & RV Park
4239 W. A. Barr Rd
Mount Shasta CA
530 926-2618

Marina RV Park
2615 Park Marina Dr
Redding CA
530 241-4396

McCloud RV Park
480 Hwy. 89
McCloud CA
530 964-2252

Mountain Gate RV Park
14161 Holiday Rd
Redding CA
530 275-4600

Railroad Park Resort & RV Park
100 Railroad Park Rd
Dunsmuir CA
530 235-0420
530 235-4440

Redding RV Park
11075 Campers Court
Redding CA
530 241-0707

Sacramento River Park & RV
6596 Riverland Dr
Redding CA
530 365-6402

Stewart Mineral Springs Resort
4617 Stewart Springs Rd
Weed, CA 96094
530 938-2222

Trailer Lane RV Park
27535 Edgwood Rd
Weed CA
530 938-4554

Wonderland RV Park
15203 Wonderland Blvd
Redding CA
530 275-1281

see more about these towns –