camping on the pacific coast route

[danbraun]

my friend and i are setting out on ACA's pacific coast route on sept 13th.  i was wondering if anyone can give some general advice on camping and the legality of camping.  we plan to stay with friends and along the 'warm showers network' when our route coincides, but otherwise we will be pitching our twoperson tent.  i assume it's illegal simply to pitch a tent anywhere, but can anyone recommend ways to camp for free, i.e. w/out paying the absurd pitching fees at most campsite.

any and all camping advice is welcome. 

thanks so much, 
dan braun

[danbraun]

my friend and i are setting out on ACA's pacific coast route on sept 13th.  i was wondering if anyone can give some general advice on camping and the legality of camping.  we plan to stay with friends and along the 'warm showers network' when our route coincides, but otherwise we will be pitching our twoperson tent.  i assume it's illegal simply to pitch a tent anywhere, but can anyone recommend ways to camp for free, i.e. w/out paying the absurd pitching fees at most campsite.

any and all camping advice is welcome. 

thanks so much, 
dan braun

[staehpj1]

"Absurd pitching fees"?

Oregon hiker/biker sites were $4 per person when I last checked.  Cheap in California too.  No way that a shower isn't worth $4 at the end of the day, plus you get to hang out with other bike tourists.

[Westinghouse]

I agree. There is no better deal for camping in the USA, and no better route to cycle. Scroll this site. There are many discussions on this topic.

[tsteven4]

You are going to a place with some of the most beautiful and most economical camping for cyclists of any place I have visited in 30 years of cycle touring.  The hiker biker sites in Oregon and California are fantastic.  I believe the 2008 rates we paid were $4/person including showers in Oregon, and $3/person w/o showers in California for hiker bikes sites at state parks.  Another advantage is that no reservations are required, most of the sites are simply shared by the cyclists and hikers that show up.  This sites are often segregated from other campers which can result in a quieter experience.  The state parks in OR and CA along this route are quite plentiful, giving you considerable freedom to decide how far you want to ride most days.  The hiker/biker sites are a great place to meet other cyclists.  The WA state parks are not nearly as cheap.  I think it would be a shame to miss out on the exceptional camping experience offered by the hiker/biker sites at state parks.  I also think wild camping would be more difficult than other less populated places.

[jfitch]

Due to the imminent bankruptcy of the State of California, hiker/biker sites in the California State Parks will increase after Labor Day. According to the latest schedule I found at the California State Parks website, for the parks that listed hiker/biker sites (not all that actually have them), the rates were up to between $5.00 and $10.00. Still a bargain, though. There is also the possibility that some parks will be closed entirely. That list has not yet been announced. Whether or not you choose to take a chance to stealth camp in a closed park is up to you.

Jim

[johnsondasw]

Hopefully, the California fiscal mess is not a harbinger of things to come for the whole nation.  Did you know the highest tax bracket for the super rich  about 60 years ago was 90%?  That's how the interstate highway system and the great social advances of the time were funded.  And even in about 1980, it was around 70%.  Now it's in the 35% range.  This is an enormous loss to the US treasury.  The Reagan and Bush "starve the treasury" philosophy is, in my opinion, sick.  You cannot run a modern democracy that provides services for all on a "starve the treasury" system.  The Euros know this, and don't mind paying more so all can benefit from the largess of the the nation's productivity.   

[JHamelman]

Let's please keep this discussion on the original poster's question: where to find camping on the Pacific Coast Route. It's fine to note that come state campgrounds may be closing or fees may be increasing, these are general knowledge pieces of information, but please keep the political commentary to Forums more suited to the topic.

Thank you,
.Jennifer.

[johnsondasw]

Just when I was getting warmed up.  I thought this might happen. 

I get it, and will respect the topic.  No problem.

[MrBent]

Any idea when "the list" will come out?  I might be riding part of the coast this summer.  I might stealth camp in closed campgrounds, however, if necessary.  What else are cyclists to do?  Wide spread closures of coastal parks would be a huge hit to local economies.  No politics here, just worry!

Mr. Bent

[johnsondasw]

No politics here, just worry!

Mr. Bent

And justified worry, I think.  I would not want to be stealth camping in parts of that route.  In fact, There were places in Southern
Cal that I felt were a little sketchy in the campground.  My partner and I took turns watching the bikes and stuff so we could take showers, etc.

I sure hope Califonia figures it out so riders can continue to enjoy one of the world's best long rides and have cheap, safe camping!

[JHamelman]

Any idea when "the list" will come out?

From what I can tell, it isnt' clear when "the list" will come out. We're keeping an eye on the situation though. Watch the following site for developments and ways to communicate to California. They even have opportunities for out-of-staters to share their thoughts.

http://www.calparks.org/

.Jennifer.

[bikepak]

I agree with the majority here....pay the price.  it's relatively cheap and it will be the ride of your life.
The Pacific Coast is probably the most beautiful ride in the entire country.
And Calif. is such a fantastic state...I would gladly pay more to help them keep the camp sites open.
Enjoy the ride.

PK

[jfitch]

Faced with the prospect that the expenses and potential liabilities involved with closing parks would probably exceed the savings, the latest word is that all California State Parks will stay open. However, they may be open only seasonally, and may have reduced hours, reduced maintenance, and reduced staffing. See http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2009/09/californias-state-parks-spared-from-closure-this-year-not-so-fast.html. What this means for the hiker/biker campsites remains to be seen. And an additional 22 million dollar cut is looming for next year.

Jim

[jfitch]

The latest on the California State Parks situation can be found at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/28/BA861ABBAK.DTL.

A more detailed list of the effects of cutbacks on specific state parks can be found at http://imgs.sfgate.com/g/acrobat/2009/10/27/CA_State_Parks_Svc.pdf

While not as detailed as one might like, this list does at least provide warning where problems may occur, and what they may consist of. Cutbacks may include reduced days open, reduced hours, closure of some campgrounds and other facilities (such as restrooms and showers). You might want to check ahead.

Jim