In a four-part series, Managing Editor Danny Crichton tells the story of RapidSOS, the company that processes more than half of all 911 calls made each year in the U.S....

Summary List Placement I've lived in northern California for the last eight years, and hands down, my favorite aspect of living here is access to outdoor recreation. From the Sierra Nevada mountains where I live to the deserts of Southern California to the coastal beaches along the Oregon border, California is loaded with stunning outdoor landscapes. And what's the best way to immerse yourself in those unique destinations? By camping, of course. There's a lot of variety between the best campsites in California, but what they all have in common is that you won't find sites like these anywhere else. And you don't have to be a wilderness expert to find the perfect place to pitch your tent: many of California's best campsites have amenities like hot showers, cell service and Wi-Fi, and even coffee shops and restaurants. The list below covers some of the best public campsites in California bound to create happy campers, whether you want to car camp (drive right to your campsite) or backpack (carry everything on foot into a more remote campsite.) Remember that reservations may be required, and you may or may not be allowed to make campfires based on wildfire and drought conditions. The best campsites in California were chosen based on the following criteria: These sites are available for anyone to book with numerous tent campsites available at each, as opposed to being more "Airbnb-style" sites on private land. Though if you prefer that, start with our list of the best Airbnb campsites. I've camped at many of these sites myself, and for those I haven't, I asked my fellow West Coast campers and experts to make recommendations. These campgrounds are near the most beautiful sites in California and convenient to amenities like famous hiking trails, great beaches, or walkable small towns. These campsites are all affordable; only two cost more than $40 per night. For backcountry campsites, I considered both how beautiful the locations are as well as whether or not someone who's never been there could easily find the sites and secure permits online. Browse all of the best campsites in California below, or jump to a specific area here: The best campsites in California The best backcountry campsites in California FAQ: Camping vacations More great camping ideas Here are the best campsites in California, sorted by price from low to high.Joshua Tree National Park Indian Cove Campground Book the Joshua Tree National Park Indian Cove Campground Location: Joshua Tree National Park Price: $25/night Reservations: Required For an otherworldly, desert experience, camp in Joshua Tree National Park for a long weekend. The national park has several campgrounds, and while the Jumbo Rocks Campground is the closest to the park's most popular hikes, I prefer pitching a tent against the dramatic rock formations at the Indian Cove campground. Locations 75 to 95 are the primo spots. There's no running water in any of Joshua Tree's campgrounds, so bring in plenty before you park – you are in the desert, after all. Reds Meadow Campground View Reds Meadow Campground Location: Mammoth Lakes Price: $25/night Reservations: First-come, first-served Mammoth Lakes is an undoubtedly awesome city for summer fun, filled with epic hiking trails through the eastern sierra, breweries and distilleries, and the year-round Mammoth Mountain resort. If you can get to town early, try to snag a spot at Reds Meadow Campground, which doesn't take reservations. But because it's about 20 minutes outside of the city limits, it tends to not get as crowded as downtown campgrounds (though it still gets crowded.) Red's Meadow has a campground lake, a general store and cafe within walking distance, indoor bathrooms and showers, and best of all, access to amazing hikes. Campers can walk to the trailheads for Devil's Postpile, rainbow falls, hot springs, and much more. Yosemite National Park Pines Campgrounds Book the Yosemite National Park Pines Campgrounds Location: Yosemite National Park Price: $26/night (plus park entry fee) Reservations: Required Yes, Yosemite gets crowded: but there's a reason for that. It's one of the most beautiful places in the U.S. and nothing will make you feel more in awe of our amazing planet than standing under a 1,000-year-old sequoia tree or straining your neck to look up at the rocky cliff of world-famous El Capitan. Yosemite has more than a dozen campgrounds, but the most convenient are the three campgrounds on the west end of the Yosemite Valley: North Pines Campground, Lower Pines Campground, and Upper Pines Campground (they're all in the same area.) Lower Pines sites probably have the best views, but they're all winners. All sites have a picnic table and fire pit, plus potable water and clean restrooms, and hot showers. But the best part is the location: many sites have views of Half Dome, and you can walk to the Mist Trail and stops for the free Yosemite Valley shuttle, which stops at all the Yosemite Valley's best sites and trailheads. Lassen National Park Manzanita Lake Campground Book the Lassen National Park Manzanita Lake Campground Location: Lassen National Park Price: $26/night (plus park entry fee) Reservations: Required Love national parks but hate the crowds? Then head north to Lassen National Park, one of the country's least-visited national parks. That makes it one of the best campgrounds in California if you want to snag a lakefront campground at the last minute. While reservations are usually the best bet, the park's Manzanita Lake Campground is walk-in only from early October to the park's closing. Get there early (before 9 a.m.) to snag spot at the southern end of the campground for the best views of 10,463-foot-high Lassen Peak. Prairie Creek State Redwoods State Park Book the Prairie Creek State Redwoods State Park Location: Humboldt County Price: $35/night + $7.99 reservation fee Reservations: Required One of the coolest places to camp in California (both literally and figuratively) is Prairie Creek State Redwoods State Park. There are more than two dozen trails in the park, including the famous "Fern Canyon" trail, where scenes from the "Jurassic Park" movies were filmed. Through the park and its campsites are hundreds of coastal redwoods – the tallest trees on earth. I prefer sleeping in the shade and seclusion of the redwood trees at the park's Elk Prairie Campground, but guests who prefer coastal views will like the sites built on the dunes at the park's Gold Bluffs campground, which look out over a stunning stretch of Pacific coastline. Limekiln State Park Book the Limekiln State Park Location: Big Sur Price: $35/night + $7.99 reservation fee Reservations: Required Big Sur is one of the most stunning stretches of coastline in the United States, but the hotels in towns to the north like Carmel-by-the-Sea and Monterey get very, very busy. That's why I usually recommend campers head south instead to Limekiln State Park. Campers can pitch their tent in the Coast campground or the Redwood camp, each with running water, restrooms, and hot showers. It's an easy drive north to the popular parks in Big Sur, and on your way home, you can swing by Esalen Hot Springs, where you can reserve a sunset soak in their oceanview hot springs. Morro Bay State Park Book the Morro Bay State Park Location: San Luis Obispo Area Price: $35/night + $7.99 reservation fee Reservations: Required One of central California's most recognizable features is Morro Rock, a monolith rising from the surf near the cool surfer town of San Luis Obispo. While most private campsites are on the inland side of Morro Bay, Morro Bay State Park is on the ocean side, giving campers ocean views to the west and access to paddling, boating, and kayaking on Morro Bay to the east. Campgrounds have all the amenities you'd expect, but you can also walk to the Morro Bay State Park Museum of Natural History, Morro Rock Natural Preserve, and a waterfront cafe in case you get sick or roasting hot dogs. San Elijo State Beach Campground Book the San Elijo State Beach Campground Location: Encinitas Price: $35/night + $7.99 reservation fee Reservations: Required The campground at San Elijo State Beach Campground is beach camping at its finest. Campsites are perched on a bluff above the sand to make sure you have epic sunset views, but it's just a few stairs to get down to the shoreline when it's time to surf or go for a swim. Encinitas is one of the coolest surf towns in California, and San Elijo Beach is squarely in the center of it all. Sites 1 through 39 are closest to the beach. Big Bear Lake Book the Big Bear Lake Location: Fawnskin (Big Bear) Price: $37/night Reservations: Required Big Bear is the closest mountain town to Los Angeles and camping in its hills is one of the best ways to beat the heat and relax in cooler climates for a long weekend. One of the best campsites in California is the Serrano Campground on the north shore of Big Bear Lake. Wake up in the morning and grab a coffee from the marina store before swimming out to one of the lake's boulder piles, perfect for cliff jumping. Emerald Bay State Park Book the Emerald Bay State Park Location: South Lake Tahoe Price: $35/night + $7.99 reservation fee Reservations: Required Lake Tahoe is just as gorgeous as any national park on the West Coast, and fortunately, there are more than a dozen campgrounds around the lake's 72 miles of shoreline. But in terms of pure beauty, it's hard to find a campground more epic than Lower Eagle Point. Perched on a peninsula overlooking Emerald Bay, it's ideal if your idea of the perfect day is lazing away the hours at a sandy alpine beach with turquoise-blue waters. And you'll be near plenty of great restaurants and breweries in the town of South Lake Tahoe. Pianetta Ranch & Winery Camp Book the Pianetta Ranch & Winery Camp Location: Paso Robles Price: $80/night + $30 for each additional person Reservations: Required You don't have to be an avid hiker to love camping, as evidenced by Pianetta Ranch & Winery Camp. Tucked under a large oak tree are a few sites for tent camping, square in the middle of a working ranch and winery. Guests can cruise around the more than 300 wineries in Paso Robles, then return to camp for an afternoon wine-tasting and campfire under the stars. The Presidio Book The Presidio Location: San Francisco Price: $100 to $125/night Reservations: Required If you care more about gourmet cuisine, sightseeing, and sea lions than you breaking in your hiking boots, book the only campsite in California actually in San Francisco: the Rob Hill Campground at the Presidio. Once a military complex, the Presidio is now a sprawling park with nature walks, scenic overlooks, beaches, museums, and more. Campers get a fire ring, indoor bathrooms, bike racks, and BBQ grills. Unfortunately, there are no showers, so plan to jump in the ocean at Baker's Beach when you need to cool off. The best backcountry campsites in California Sometimes, the best thing about camping isn't camping itself – it's getting to wake up in beautiful and remote destinations miles away from traffic, people, and the stress of civilization. These California campsites below aren't accessible by car. Instead, you'll need to hike your way in, carrying everything you need on your back, including your food, tent and sleeping bag, and water or water filter. You'll need to have basic backcountry knowledge, some extra first-aid and emergency skills, and the fitness for hiking long distances with an additional 30 pounds on your back. Backcountry campsites have no amenities, no bathrooms, no potable water – if you didn't carry it in, it isn't there. But if you're ready to head into the backcountry, these are three of the most exceptional California campsites tucked away in the mountains across the state: Cathedral Lakes Book the Cathedral Lakes Location: Yosemite National Park Price: $5 wilderness permit plus $5 per person Reservations: Required Another campsite in Yosemite? You bet – Tuolumne (rhymes with "follow me") Meadows is high above the Yosemite Valley on the park's eastern side. Though it's snow-covered and inaccessible in winter, it's simply stunning in the summer, and the high-altitude weather makes it far more pleasant for hiking in the middle of July and August. If it's your first backpacking trip, head to Cathedral Lakes, which is also part of the beautiful John Muir Trail. You'll be able to camp near the shore of the still, bright-blue lakes that perfectly reflect the nearby giant rock formations and mountain peaks. You can go to Lower or Upper Cathedral Lake; I recommend Upper for fewer crowds (though campsites at Lower Cathedral Lake are closer to the water.) It's about a 3.5-mile trek to the upper lake and gains only around 1,000 feet, so it's a good route for beginner backcountry campers. Evolution Lake in Kings Canyon National Park Book the Evolution Lake in Kings Canyon National Park Location: Kings Canyon National Park Price: $6 wilderness permit, plus $5 per person Reservations: Required Kings Canyon National Park sits squarely in the middle of the Sierras, north of Sequoia National Park and south of Yosemite. The Evolution Valley is the most beautiful place to camp in the park, but it's a trek – it's nearly 16 miles from the nearest trailhead (the Florence Lake Trailhead.) You'll need to be very bear aware, and be sure to bring extra layers for the evening as forest fires are forbidden year-round. But if you put in the work to get there, you'll find campsites along a lake in a verdant valley surrounded by towering Sierra peaks – an alpine paradise for sure. The trailhead is outside the park, so you'll need a Sierra National Forest Backcountry Permit; it'll be honored once you've hiked into the park boundary. The Lost Coast Book The Lost Coast Location: King's Range Wilderness (Humboldt County) Price: $10 wilderness permit Reservations: Required There aren't too many places in the country where you can hike along the coast the whole time and still be in undeveloped wilderness. Fortunately, you'll find that in northern California in an area appropriately called "The Lost Coast." As you hike, the mist and fog from the ocean crash up against steep mountain peaks, creating an otherworldly (if sometimes damp) experience. You can camp anywhere along the trail, so consult the map to decide where you want to base yourself. Spanish Flat and Shipman Creek are two of the most beautiful areas along the trail. If you start at the Black Sands Beach trailhead, you can easily do a quick overnight trip to camp near Shipman Creek. FAQs What should I pack on a camping trip? A solid camping checklist is imperative for a good camping trip. It's always best to overprepare since many campsites are remote and you can't just run down to the local store to pick up items you forget. Not to worry, start here for our essential camping packing list. And if you're not quite ready to invest in buying all your own gear, consider renting camping gear from companies like Arrive Outdoors. What should I look for in a campsite? Always consider what kind of camping you want to do and who you'll be camping with. If you're going with kids, you may want a campsite full of amenities, whether that's a pool or just hot showers. If you're a more seasoned camper and want to explore more remote areas, consider booking dispersed camping sites. They're available for free on most Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or United States Forest Service (USFS) land. For those who want to bring their dog along, check out our tips for camping with dogs, plus the best pet-friendly campsites. Where can I find a last-minute camping reservation? Due to increased demand, many campgrounds are booking up fast, especially for summer weekends. Try to book a campsite as far in advance as you can. However, if you're seeking last-minute reservations, consider alternative sites to book camping reservations that go beyond the usual federal campgrounds, such as Airbnb campsites or Tentrr, which connects private landowners with campers for more secluded stays. More camping vacation ideas The best glamping destinations in the US The best campsites in the US The best camper van rentals The ultimate camping packing list The best pet-friendly campsites in the US The best Airbnb campsites in the US...

Investment firm Forest Road Co. has enlisted Hollywood’s largest talent agencies CAA, UTA and WME to help launch the NFT sales venture Notables. Notables is designed to serve as both a creator of NFTs and as an online sales platform for the “non-fungible tokens” offered up for auction as unique digital items often aimed at […]...

Blaze rushes north-east from the Sierra Nevada forest region after doubling in size as heatwave blankets US westFirefighters struggled to contain an exploding northern California wildfire under blazing temperatures as another heatwave blanketed the west, prompting an excessive heat warning for inland and desert areas.Death Valley in south-eastern California’s Mojave Desert reached 128 F (53C) on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service’s reading at Furnace creek. The shockingly high temperature was actually lower than the previous day, when the location reached 130F (54C). Continue reading......

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At his New Forest home, the broadcaster and activist discusses autism, Extinction Rebellion and his Self-Isolating Bird ClubOver the years, the BBC has seeded and nurtured some singular specimens of presenter. Chris Packham, after a decade of Springwatch, has begun to grow into that space in the public mind once occupied by, say, John Noakes or Patrick Moore or John Peel. He’s blunt and lyrical and you know for sure that the camera is only eavesdropping on his authentic life – in much the same way that he peers in at nesting boxes and fox dens – and once it’s turned off, he goes on just the same.He’s invited me down to lunch in his natural habitat on the edge of the New Forest. He’s never strayed far from here for very long. He grew up on the other side of Southampton cycling to the woods, living an I-Spy childhood, scooping up tadpoles, examining beetles, for a while with a beloved kestrel as his closest friend. He went to university in Southampton and for many years he rented a thatched cottage a mile or two up the road from here; in between lockdowns, he traded those low beams and history for the clean lines of his new angular home – all decking and cladding and sheet glass – set in a couple of acres of wooded garden and bordered by a stream. Continue reading......

Cutting emissions more urgent than ever, say scientists, with forest producing more than a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a yearThe Amazon rainforest is now emitting more carbon dioxide than it is able to absorb, scientists have confirmed for the first time.The emissions amount to a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, according to a study. The giant forest had previously been a carbon sink, absorbing the emissions driving the climate crisis, but is now causing its acceleration, researchers said. Continue reading......