Where is Middle Lion Campground

Middle Lion Campground is located in the Los Padres National Forest. Although the campground feels remote it is only 20 miles outside of Ojai. To get there, follow Highway 33 North for 14 miles to Rose Valley Road turnoff. Turn right and follow the paved road for 4.8 miles. Turn right and drive 0.8 miles and the campground is at the end of the road. The last 0.8 mile is full of giant potholes, be very careful you plan to arrive at night. 

Reservations for Middle Lion Campground

There are only 8 spots at Middle Lion Campground 6 are reservable at Recreation.Gov and two are first come first serve. The fee is $20 a night. 

Middle Lion Campground

Sites number #1 and #2 have the most privacy. We had site #3 and it is right next to the creek with some shade. If site #’s 1, 2, & 3 are taken then I would possibly choose #8, but under no circumstances would I want to camp at 4, 5, 6, or 7. #’s 5, 6 & 7 are squished in the middle of the road to drive in and the road that circles through the camp. They don’t have any privacy at all! Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring with a metal grate to cook on. There is only one pit toilet and it is located closest to site #8. 

Hiking From Middle Lion Campground

The Lion Canyon Trail starts at the back of campsite #1. We headed up the canyon after breakfast. There’s not a lot of shade in the morning, so be prepared if it’s warm. After a mile and a half we took a side trail to East Fork Lion camp. This part of the trail is flat and it was only a little over half a mile to the camp. When we got to the camp there were many tents set up so we turned around and found a spot along the creek to have lunch. 

Rose Valley Falls 

Rose Valley Falls is only 3 miles from Middle Lion Campground. The trailhead starts at Rose Valley Campground. If you are not staying at the campground there are not any parking spots, so we parked further out on the side of the road and walked in. The hike is an easy 1 mile to the falls. Parts of the trail were burned in a forest fire. Luckily our visit to the falls was after recent rain and the falls were so pretty. It reminded me of a waterfall that I would see in Hawaii. 

Piedra Blanca Formations 

The trail to Piedra Blanca Formations is also close to Middle Lion Campground and it is an easy 2.6 out and back hike. This hike is best to do on a cooler day because there is little to no shade on the trail. 

Sespe Wilderness

There are many different trails in the Sespe Wilderness. You can pick your own adventure by either meandering along the creek or heading off to Willet Hot Springs. The hot springs hike is 20 miles round trip and is better suited for an overnight backpacking trip. 

Should You Camp at Middle Lion?

Middle Lion Campground is a good place for a quick get-away, especially if it’s mid-week and not in the middle of summer. There are lots of hiking trails and you are close to Ojai in case you forget something or want to stop in town for a beer. 

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Camping in The Desert

Our plan was to camp in Death Valley, however, only 1 campground takes reservations and because it was a holiday weekend we decided to stay outside of the park. I made reservations on The Dyrt.com. Basically, we paid money to stay on a person’s private land in the middle of the desert with zero amenities. Sally and I left the Los Angeles area early on Saturday and drove to the Tecopa area in about 3 1/2 hours. We followed the directions from our host and found our patch of dirt. We pitched our tents, let the dogs run around while we ate a sandwich and we were ready to go explore.

Shoshone, CA (Just Outside of Death Valley)

I looked on Alltrails for a nearby hike. We decided to visit Dublin Gulch Cave Homes in Shoshone. The town of Shoshone is located at the intersection of 127 N and 178 which heads towards Pahrump, Nevada.

Modern Day Flintstones

The hike to the cave homes starts from the gravel parking lot and I’m using the word hike very loosely. It is really just a walk. First, we walked past an old cemetery that had more wooden crosses than actual gravestones. Next, we headed to the cave homes. The history of these cave homes is a little vague, but it seems that in the 1920s there was a silver boom in the area and Miners carved these houses into the solidified volcanic ash. The silver boom didn’t last long and when those miners moved out Borax miners moved in.

Miners Lived Here Until the 1970s

Miners and vagabonds lived in these cave homes until the 1970s. There is also a rumor that members of Mason’s Clan even took refuge in the caves. There are doors on the cave homes and some have stovepipes popping out of the roofs. Today the doors are locked and the area is maintained by the Shoshone Historical Society. One industrious miner even carved a garage for a car. We were thankful for the garage because we had to hide out inside it when we got caught in an unexpected rainstorm.

The Orginal Tiny Homes

Most of the cave homes are just one room, although the doors are locked we could still peek through the cracks and see inside. The caves helped to keep the occupants warm in the winter and a little cooler in summer. Privacy might have been a problem. The caves share walls and there was only one outhouse, however, it was a double-seater so you could sit with a friend. After the caves, we were going to continue on the trail for 3 miles as part of the Shoshone Historical Trail, but since it was raining we had to turn around.

Tecopa Hot Springs

The whole area of Tecopa is known for its natural hot springs. These springs are geothermal and are being heated from magma below the earth’s surface. There are hot springs right off of 127 and also hot springs located at the Tecopa Hot Springs Resorts. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to explore the hot springs because we had our dogs with us. FYI: it looks like clothing might be optional in a few of these locations. People were wandering around in bathrobes.

Tecopa Brewing Company

We stopped at Tecopa Brewing Company for a beer, however, our visit was during COVID and we had to sit outside. Our server warned us that the rain was coming. She served our beer in plastic glasses and we drank quickly. The wind picked up dramatically and when it blew Sally’s beer away we knew it was time to go.

Death Valley Brewing

Miles and miles of nothing and then there are two breweries and two restaurants within 2 miles of each other. Our next stop was Death Valley Brewing. Again because of COVID restrictions we had to sit outside, but this time the building provided a little break from the wind. Sally ordered a Pecan Porter that she liked. I ordered the Habanero Wheat which was amazing. It has a kick from the habanero, but it is smooth and not bitter. We spent the afternoon chatting with people on the patio and we ordered a veggie pizza that was also great. I highly recommend stopping at this brewery if you are ever in the area.

A Failed Camping Trip

After the breweries, we went back to camp, and as soon as we stepped out of the car we knew we had a huge problem. The wind was gale force. Our tents were completely flattened. With about 15 minutes of daylight left, we decided to pack up everything and head home. I have never been in such strong wind before and we couldn’t get our tents to stand up. Last year we camped in the Anza Borenga Desert and we had no problems with the wind, however, when Sally took the tent stakes out, her tent became airborne, thankfully it got caught on the host’s yurt and she was able to wrangle it back to the car. With everything loaded up, I made the long drive back home.

One Good Day

We packed a lot of fun and laughs into one day, unfortunately, we didn’t get to see Death Valley. Of course, that means we need to plan another trip. Our next trip will probably not involve tents and we will leave the dogs at home. Jinx and Arlo had lots of fun running around and exploring, but Death Valley National Park isn’t very pet-friendly. Maybe next Spring, that will give us plenty of time to plan the perfect getaway.

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Anza-Borrego State Park

Anza-Borrego State Park is located about 2 hours away from both San Diego and Los Angeles. The park is open 7 days a week and there is a $10 fee for day use. After paying the entrance fee your first stop should be the visitor’s center. Inside volunteers and rangers have a wealth of information about the wildflowers, cacti, palm groves, and wildlife you might encounter in the park. They can also provide maps and current conditions for hikes. There are a small gift shop and restrooms located outside the doors.

The Best Season to Camp at Anza-Borrego

Winter and Spring are the preferred seasons to camp at Anza-Borrego. Reservations can be made through Reserve California. Weekends in February book up far in advance. A regular site is $25 a night. Each site includes a picnic table, a shade awning, and a fire ring. There are a variety of bathrooms spread amongst the campsites including some pit toilets, some flushing toilets, and a few you just have to see to believe.

Tamarisk Grove in Anza-Borrego State Park

I have camped in Anza-Borrego State Park two times. The first time the only reservation I could find was at Tamarisk Grove for a cabin. I was leery about the definition of a cabin, but I made the reservations. The cabins cost $60 a night and are basically a large shed with a door and two windows. There is room for 8 to sleep and inside are bunk beds and a loft, however, there are no mattresses provided. You need to bring an inflatable or you will be sleeping on plywood. There are a table and two chairs, no electricity or running water, and the door locks. Overall, the cabin provided protection from the howling wind and it was a cozy place to spend the night.

A Cabin in The Desert

We were able to hang our hammocks outside in between the poles of the shade awning. The hammocks were a perfect place to relax and read a book. When it was time for dinner we set up my jet boil on the picnic table and cooked on top. After dinner, we made a fire in the fire ring and made s’ mores. The bathrooms at Tamarisk were nice, clean, and flushed. Because we only stayed one night we didn’t try the coin-operated showers. There are two easy hikes that start across the street from Tamarisk. They are the Yaqui Well Nature Trail and the Cactus Loop Trail.

Desert Camping

For our second overnight, we stayed in the main campground for Anza-Borrego State Park. We stayed in February during the rainy season and we didn’t make reservations, because we thought it was going to rain and we would have to cancel. When we arrived at the main gate they told us that they were completely booked for the night. We asked them lots of questions about the group site or the hike-in site and the ranger decided to let us camp in a hike-in site. Again at this site, we had a picnic table, a shade awning, and a fire pit. The bathroom by our site did not have a roof and it had two toilets with a wall in between, but no doors. Not a toilet for the modest. We decided it was best to go to the bathroom in pairs and use one person as a lookout.

A Hike That Leaves From The Campground

There are various hikes that start throughout the campground. One of the most popular hikes is Borrego Palm Canyon Trail. It is a moderate 2.9 miles roundtrip hike. There are signs warning you of the importance of bringing enough water with you for this hike. There is no drinkable water and you will not find any shade until you get to the palms. In the spring if it has been a rainy year there is a stream that runs down along the trail. It is possible to see a variety of animals on this hike including iguanas, Chuckwallas, and Bighorn Sheep. Once you get to the palms you will feel like you have made it to an oasis. The palms are huge and tower over you. They provide the much-needed shade from the scorching desert sun.

A Small Desert Town

The little town of Borrego Springs is right outside the entrance to Anza-Borrego State Park. In the center of town is Christmas Tree Circle. Here you can find a grassy common area, bathrooms, and free wi-fi. There are a few restaurants, gas stations, and little stores, however, be sure and check the hours, because some of the places close early.

Dragons in the Desert

During your camping trip make sure you leave time to visit some of the 130 life-size art sculptures that are located around the town of Borrego Springs. The Chamber of Commerce has a map that shows the locations of the sculptures and because they are spread out you will need to drive to see them all. If you are camping with kids, this should be on your list of fun things to do.

Free Dispersed Camping in Anza-Borrego

If you would like to camp in Anza-Borrego and are not able to get reservations you are allowed to camp for free as long as you follow the rules. Your car can’t be parked more than one car length off of the road, however, your tent can be further you just need to walk. Another rule to remember is that you need to be at least 100 yards away from a water source. Furthermore, if you plan on having a campfire you need to have it in a metal container. No ground fires are allowed and lastly, you are responsible for hauling out your trash.

Staying in Anza-Borrego

Anza-Borrego has a lot to offer. There are plenty of both hiking and 4 x 4 trails. If you plan your visit right you might see the desert wildflowers in full bloom and at nighttime, you will get an amazing view of the stars. The desert just might surprise you, so get out there and start exploring.

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Driving to Lone Pine

We left the Los Angeles area Saturday around 7 a.m. It only took us a little over 3 and a half hours to get to Lone Pine. Our first stop was the infamous Alabama Hills Cafe. The cafe was packed with hikers. Some obviously just finishing up long hikes and others that were out for the day. We sat at the counter and ordered omelets. While we were waiting for our breakfast we had time to look at the giant map on the wall detailing all the stops in the Alabama Hills. On the way out we got giant chocolate-chip oatmeal cookies to go. Their bakery goods looked amazing and they make them all in-house.

Lone Pine Campground

We drove to our campsite and we thought that we were going to be camping in the middle of the desert and that it would not be very pretty, however, we were dead wrong. Lone Pine Campground is pretty. We had a walk-in site. To the right of our site was a creek and trees and directly behind us was Mt. Whitney. The views were amazing. It was a beautiful morning, but there was an 80% chance of rain for the afternoon. We set up our tents and decided to go exploring.

Exploring Lone Pine

Our first stop was right down the road from our camp, Alabama Hills. The hills were named after a CSS warship. The area is BLM land and there were plenty of people camping in random locations. Alabama Hills has been used as a location for filming many old Westerns. We drove through and stopped at various points to get out and hike. Mobius Arch is just a short hike from the car. The arch forms a perfect peek-a-boo window looking at Mt. Whitney.

Manzanar Historical Site

The sky was getting dark and ugly and we decided to head indoors. We drove up 395 to Manzanar National Historic Site. I had driven past Manzanar many times but never stopped. There is a visitor center with rooms full of displays. In 1942 after the attack on Pearl Harbor, 10,000 Japanese Americans were forced to relocate to Manzanar. The displays explain their loss and experiences at Manzanar and other internment camps throughout the West. There is also a 3-mile driving loop around the grounds and you can get out and go inside buildings and see ponds and gardens. We were only able to go inside one building before the rainstorm hit.

A Storm in Lone Pine

We drove back to our campsite to see how our tents had held up. At one point there were gusts of 40mph and pouring rain. The good news is our tents were still standing, the bad news is the wind blew so hard that my rain fly ripped on both sides of my tent. The wind was so strong that it pulled all my tent stakes out of the ground. After readjusting our tents we decided that there was more rain coming and we did not want to try and cook in it. Sally and I got back in the car and drove to town. We found a Mexican Food restaurant and we drank beer and ate enchiladas while we watched the rain pour down outside the window.

Tent Camping

Not being avid campers, we were more than apprehensive about spending the night in our tents in the rain and the wind. By 7:30 p.m. it was so wet and windy outside that we said goodnight and crawled into our tents. We each had our backpacking sleeping bags inside our old-fashioned Coleman sleeping bags. The double bags kept us warm, but sleeping when the wind is howling is not easy. All night long it felt like there was something or someone coming into the tent. Somehow I finally fell asleep.

Day 2: We’re heading to Big Pine Lakes.

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