Where to go for last-minute camping near Berkeley this Memorial Day weekend

"California's several hundred parks feature some of the most beautiful wilderness in the country, many within a few hours drive of Berkeley. But reserving a campground can be unduly challenging. The state and national parks reservations websites are so popular that you often have to make reservations six months in advance, or more for holiday weekends or popular destinations. And you're competing with the San Francisco coders, who crawl the sites to notify them of cancellations and book open spots."

"When everything is booked, spending the night outside means relying on one of three systems: first-come, first-served campsites, dispersed camping in places like national forests, or backpacking in areas that don't require a reservation. If you get a first-come, first-served campsite, you will get all of the amenities of a typical campground in state parks, and national forests or parks, but you have to get lucky or come early. Have a back-up plan in case you don't get a site."

"The most reliable, last-minute option is dispersed camping, either in the state's 20 national forests or on land operated by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM land). Dispersed camping is camping without a campsite you won't get any amenities (bring your trowel!), but you will get solitude and, often, easy access to hiking trails or other natural features like swimming holes. Dispersed camping is allowed on most BLM land."

"According to the BLM website, there are some exceptions: you can't camp in an area if it harms wildlife or other natural resources; when it confli"

California parks near Berkeley offer wilderness but campground reservations can be difficult because popular state and national systems require booking months ahead and cancellations are quickly taken. When reservations are unavailable, camping options include first-come, first-served campsites, dispersed camping, and backpacking in areas without reservations. First-come sites provide typical campground amenities but require arriving early and having a backup plan. Planners can reserve through regional, state, and national park websites, and cancellations may create last-minute openings. Dispersed camping offers the most reliable last-minute access on state national forests and Bureau of Land Management land, with fewer or no amenities and the need to follow rules protecting wildlife and natural resources.

Read at www.berkeleyside.org