Any good camping and hiking locations around Orange County and South?

Do you prefer coastal or mountain/hills?

We like both. Just looking for good camping areas (preferably non crowded types off the beaten path) and solid day hikes to shoot out to do. We are going to try to save some money this summer on hotels by doing some camping / day trip hiking. Thank god the long distance relationship thing is finaly ending in Aug.

San Onofre offers some camp grounds in South OC. Problem is, you are next to a nuclear power plant that resembles two breast. We tastefully call them the "San Onofre titties". You can do that, or camp out a crystal cove near newport beach. there is a little mini mountain range off the coast (when i say mini, i mean a few hundred feet haha). Great for hiking.

If you want to melt, then go inland to the Cleveland national forest area.

I hope this all helps!

quote:

We are going to try to save some money this summer on hotels by doing some camping / day trip hiking.

Here, here!

San Onofre also borders the military exercise area for Camp Pendleton, so there's not really much in the way of hiking as it's off limits. Cleveland National Forest is great - better get there before they run a freeway right through it to Riverside, though.

One camping trip done to Tahoe. Now just have to get in my damn car and drive down to LA in a week or two. Will certainly be googling the San Onofre area as we are familular with that area. Usually I try to avoid newport but that may be an option too.