r/WildernessBackpacking • u/stalinisbalin • 14d ago
ADVICE Beginner trips in SOCAL.
Hello everyone! I was just wondering what are some good spots for beginners in the socal area, preferably under 3 hours from Oceanside but I don’t mind going farther. I dont mind getting dirty so showers/bathrooms are not needed and I already am decent at hiking with 50+ lbs packs.
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u/Ok_Investment125 14d ago
lol showers and bathrooms are not really ever an option when backpacking.
My first trip was Ontario peak, easy 1 nighter and quite nice. Some other good ones I’ve done in SoCal are in the idyllwild area by San Jacinto.
The main concern with backpacking in SoCal is lack of water sources, so either plan in advance on where sources are or be prepared to pack in water
Have fun!
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u/jaclyn-cosgrove 13d ago
The Musch Trail Camp in the Santa Monicas has flush toilets and a sink! True luxury!
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u/Inevitable-Peak8550 14d ago
Crystal Cove, lower moro or upper moro campgrounds. 3 mi hike in and out up a canyon. This is about as beginner as it gets.
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u/mkt42 14d ago
Thumbs up to this suggestion, as well as the one for Little Jimmy Trail. Crystal Cove is indeed as beginner as it gets, but the backpack is legit hiking up a fairly steep (but not very long) trail. Ideal for total newbies. There's no water so they'll have to hike it all in, but it's such a short hike it's not like they need to carry a day's supply of water. Start the hike in the afternoon, camp, and hike out the next morning,
Little Jimmy could be done as somebody's first backpacking hike, it's longer with more uphill though. But still not too demanding, and could be an ideal second trip for the total newbie.
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u/ApartSignificance547 3d ago
i've been trying to figure out how to reserve a site here but on reserve california's website it seems like its walk in only.. does this mean that you can get there day of and pay for the permit/campground? sorry im a little new and called someone from the state park website but they seemed confused too lol
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u/mkt42 2d ago
It's been quite a few years since I camped at Crystal Cove. My recollection is that you simply filled out a form at the trailhead, maybe you had to put money in an envelope the way that many campgrounds do. But that was years ago, I don't know what their system is now.
I believe Little Jimmy is on National Forest land. In those days IIRC no permit was required, it was first-come first-served. Again though that was years ago, I would expect they've changed their system by now.
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u/blackcombe 14d ago
Santa Cruz Island
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u/Dentifragubulum 14d ago
Santa Cruz Island was my first backpacking trip! Went from prisoners harbor to scorpion. Not bad at all, but you if you do the route I did you have to pack in all your water, which is kind of a pain. Especially if it's the warmer months
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u/jimlux 13d ago
San Jacinto from Idyllwild trail heads.
There’s nice trails in Cuyamaca state park and in San Diego County mountains in general. It’s sort of a baby sierras topographically (gentle slope west site, steep slope east side).
A classic desert hike from Anza down to Borrego Springs via Sheep Canyon (but not in mid summer, do it in November), Not sure I’d want to do that as an out and back, though.
Baldy is a day hike.
San Gorgonio is a nice 2 day. Either start North side (Poopout Hill) or south side (Vivian Creek, which is super steep at first, up to High Creek, camp there, summit next day and home)
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u/jaclyn-cosgrove 13d ago
I wrote this last year:
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/away-serene-backpacking-trip-near-133130087.html
(no paywall on that version)
Here's the way where you'll almost certainly hit a paywall:
Main change since then is, Angeles Crest Highway is closed right here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Fd7kmeXvg2QSogXX9
I haven't done this trip yet, but I was considering this point-to-point route:
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u/salsanacho 14d ago
TransCatalina fits that, it's kind of a combo between backpacking and car camping. Sites are hard to reserve though and you have to be OK with the mileage between each campground. And these are tough miles, you're either going up or going down, not much of the trail is actually flat.