Charles Patterson, a Southern California native, daydreams about his next outdoor adventure every time he finds himself indoors, bound by some professional or otherwise mundane obligation. Naturally, he relishes the opportunity to explore further, pushing himself to greater lengths than most would tolerate. Writing Mountain Bike! Los Angeles County: A Wide-Grin Ride Guide forced Charles to spend many hours in the sticks, often alone, occasionally pondering the size of local mountain lion populations. It was a true adventure, and getting to write about it afterward and share his love for the outdoors was a blessing. Revising Best Tent Camping: Southern California is a natural progression because Charles’s banged-up body certainly can’t tolerate two-wheeled pursuits forever, and tent camping is an activity he’ll still be able to enjoy after his first walker, cane, or wheelchair purchase.

• Southern California Campground Locator MapMap LegendPrefaceBest CampgroundsIntroductionThe CoastCatalina Island: Two Harbors CampgroundEl Capitán State Beach CampgroundFremont Peak State Park CampgroundsKirk Creek and Plaskett Creek CampgroundsLa Jolla Valley Hike-In CampgroundLeo Carrillo State Park CampgroundMalibu Creek State Park CampgroundMontaña de Oro State Park: Islay Creek CampgroundPinnacles CampgroundPoint Mugu State Park: Sycamore Canyon CampgroundPoint Mugu State Park: Thornhill Broome CampgroundReyes Creek CampgroundTopanga State Park: Musch Trail CampThe DesertAnza-Borrego Desert State Park: Arroyo Salado Primitive CampgroundAnza-Borrego Desert State Park: Blair Valley Primitive CampgroundJoshua Tree National Park: White Tank CampgroundMid Hills CampgroundRed Rock Canyon State Park: Ricardo CampgroundSaddleback Butte State Park CampgroundVallecito County Park CampgroundThe Northern SierrasAtwell Mill CampgroundBuckeye CampgroundCold Springs CampgroundDorst Creek CampgroundEast Fork CampgroundFairview CampgroundFour Jeffrey and Sabrina CampgroundsHorse Meadow CampgroundKern Plateau Dispersed Camping AreaLower Peppermint CampgroundMinaret Falls CampgroundMoraine CampgroundPrincess CampgroundQuaking Aspen CampgroundRancheria CampgroundRedwood Meadow CampgroundSaddlebag Lake CampgroundTillie Creek CampgroundTrapper Springs CampgroundTrumbull Lake Campground Twin Lakes CampgroundVermillion CampgroundWhite Wolf CampgroundThe Southern SierrasDark Canyon CampgroundFlat CampgroundHeart Bar CampgroundLaguna CampgroundMarion Mountain CampgroundPalomar Mountain State Park: Doane Valley CampgroundWilliam Heise County Park CampgroundAppendix A: Camping Equipment ChecklistAppendix B: Suggested Reading and ReferenceAppendix C: Sources of InformationIndexAbout the Author