Happy campers explore happy trails

During the spring and summer months, California becomes one of the most popular camping destinations in the United States. Parks such as Yosemite and Sequoia attract tens of thousands of campers every year.

While these parks are unquestionably beautiful, they also are crowded, making it difficult to get a spot during most of the year. But there are many lesser-known incredible parks and campgrounds throughout the state, many of them offering scenery and activities comparable to the popular parks.

These areas have a lower profile and are not as crowded. Campers need not worry about reservations at most of these places. For a wonderful camping experience without lines, crowds, beaten paths and shoulder-to-shoulder fishing, these parks are where the smart camper wants to be. Following is a run-down of great places to camp.

Beginning close to home, the Angeles and Los Padres national forests offer a scenic getaway within an hour or two of Los Angeles. The Lake Pyramid area, located just off Interstate 5 in the Angeles National Forest, contains a small number of hiking and biking trails with a low degree of difficulty.

This is an excellent choice if one is traveling with young children or for inexperienced hikers and bikers. Camping rates run about $8 a night. An extra vehicle costs $4. The lake itself offers great striped bass fishing during much of the year. Winter seems to be the only slow period.

San Rafael Mountain is located approximately 20 miles north of Santa Barbara, accessible by state Route 154 past Lake Cachuma and a turn off Los Olivos.

Signs are posted from there. This mountain is home to a tremendous variety of plants and animals. During the spring months, many people consider the mountain area to be one of the most scenic locales in California. There is camping near the mountain and it is as reasonable as one can find. Some camping areas are free. For those who don't find the free ones, the pay-to-camp grounds are inexpensive. This is another area offering hiking and mountain bike trails.

Due to the rarity of many forms of local plant life, hikers and bikers are encourated to stay on the marked trails. Heading farther from home is the area north of San Luis Obispo. In this part of the state, one will find a gorgeous coastline, miles of hiking, biking and horseback trails as well as great fishing spots.

Leaving San Luis Obispo along Pacific Coast Highway provides magnificent views of the rocky coast below. From here one has a number of options for camping and horseback riding.

There is also excellent scuba diving along this section of the California coast. Going north, travelers will find Atascadero State Beach, Morro Strand State Beach and Park, Cayucos State Beach and finally San Simeon State Beach.

Most or all of these beaches and parks offer camping. Many offer coastal horseback excursions for rates of $20 per hour or less. A few cost a bit more.

Leaving San Luis Obispo along a another route, Interstate 101, takes travelers in a different direction. The scenery and climate are very different just a few miles inland. Where the coast is very rocky, steep and intimidating, the hills and forests along I-101 are just the opposite. Only a few miles north of San Luis Obispo is the small town of Santa Margarita, known primarily as an antique-collector's heaven. Just outside of town, along Highway 58, sits Santa Margarita Reservoir.

The lake probably holds a greater variety of game fish than any other lake in the state. Here an angler may catch three types of bass and a few types of catfish, panfish and trout, sometimes all on the same day. There are also hiking trails to be found.

Traveling farther still, once north of San Francisco there are endless possibilities. A book could be written about all the gorgeous campground and state parks between Frisco and the Oregon border. Since there is little space to write about even a handful of these beautiful areas, Northern California camping may be summed up by detailing one campground.

The Tree of Heaven Campground is located along the Klamath River, off of Highway 96 just below the Oregon border. It is almost totally secluded and nearly impossible to find, even during the peak seasons in late spring and early fall. Visiting during the first weekend of June, at peak time, one may find the campground completely empty.

Set in the river valley, the campsites are just steps from the water. There are ample hiking, biking and fishing opportunities here. There is also a chance to get away from everything and possibly not see another person all day.

To get to the campground, one takes Highway 96 west from Interstate 5. Then there is a small sign that says ÒTree of Heaven.Ó It looks like nothing more than a small turnout in the road. If one looks closely, there is a dirt road leading down the hill and to the campground. It will be difficult to impossible to find at night.

There are many other places that deserve to be covered. California has the most diverse scenery of any state in the union.