Kelsee V.

Long Beach, CA

Joined October 2018

Great camping near the Kern River

We decided to take last minute trip to Kernville and were able to find a campsite very easy here. Kernville is right along the Kern River which is absolutely beautiful. There are plenty of breweries in the town, hiking nearby and great food. Overall this was a really fun experience!

It was pretty hot when we went, however cooled off nicely in the evening.

Quaint Campground

This is a small quaint campground that allows you to get a feel for the state park. There are plenty of walking trails, rec areas and fishing available around the park which makes it for the perfect weekend getaway for the family.

Fires are allowed and you are able to drive to your campsite.

Beautiful Desert Experience

Camping at Joshua Tree exceeded all expectations. We did not have a permit before arriving, however a group was leaving their campsite for the weekend and offered us their permit for the remaining days. We shared the campsite with two other campers who were lovely!

Joshua Tree is full of boulders to climb and trails to explore. Expect warm days and cold evenings with some of the brightest stars you'll ever see.

Perfect campsite for stargazing!

My first visit to Chula Vista was a fantastic experience and perfect for viewing the Perseids Meteor Shower.

The campground itself is a short hike from the parking lot and is first come, first serve. Many of the campsites have fire pits, however due to the fire hazards we did not use ours. There is no trash or water, so it is necessary to pack in and pack out.

A permit is required to park in the parking lot and also if you enter the lot at night it is important to be respectful and do so with your headlights dimmed due to the area being a very popular place for stargazing.

Overall, my time at Chula Vista was fantastic. The hike to Mt. Pinos from there is short and well worth the views!