Call of the Wild

What makes a campground great?

Jaw-dropping scenery. Accessibility, but the campground shouldn’t resemble a Winnebago parking lot. It helps to have hiking and fishing nearby. Clean restrooms are nice, too, especially if you are accompanied by a reluctant camper (everyone knows a reluctant camper).

During the summer, it’s best to have a reservation. If reservations aren’t accepted, get to the campground early and have a backup plan in case the campground is filled. Don’t expect to arrive Friday night or Saturday morning and find a space.

Three camping tips:

* When it comes to weather, always expect the unexpected.

* Never keep food in your tent, unless you want to get up close and personal with the animals.

* Don’t forget the bug spray.

Here then, from north to south, is a sampler of 20 great campgrounds in Southern California:

* Bridalveil Creek, Yosemite National Park--This campground is south of the crowded Yosemite Valley at an elevation of 7,200 feet. There are numerous trails nearby into the backcountry, including the trail to Chilnualna Falls and Ostrander Lake. Facilities: Flush toilets, grills, picnic tables, water. Fees: $10 per night. Reservations: Not accepted. Contact: Yosemite National Park, (209) 372-0200.

* Minaret Falls, Inyo National Forest--The 27-site campground sits alongside the middle fork of the San Joaquin River, about 15 minutes from Mammoth Mountain. The river is loaded with both wild and stocked trout and the Pacific Crest Trail passes through the campground. Nearby attractions include Devil’s Postpile, Rainbow Falls and the Ansel Adams Wilderness. Because of heavy snowfall last winter, the road to the campground may not be opening until July. Call ahead. Facilities: Pit toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, piped water. Reservations: Not accepted. Fees: $9 per night. Contact: Inyo National Forest, (760) 924-5500.

* Moraine, Kings Canyon National Park--Located near Cedar Grove Village, Moraine is the final developed campground before the park’s considerable backcountry begins. That means plenty of day hikes into the backcountry without having to lug all your stuff in a backpack. The Kings River is in back of camp, too. There are four other camps nearby if this one is filled. Facilities: Flush toilets, showers, picnic tables, fire rings, piped water. Reservations: Not accepted. Fees: $6-14 per night. Contact: Kings Canyon National Park, (209) 335-2856.

* Crystal Springs, Kings Canyon National Park--This is the smallest of the campgrounds near Grant Grove Village and the Grant Grove of giant seqouia trees. There are several short trails through the grove. It’s pretty and well suited for families with small children. Facilities: Flush toilets, showers, picnic tables, fire rings, piped water. Reservations: Not accepted. Fees: $6-14 per night. Contact: Kings Canyon National Park, (209) 335-2856.

* Lodgepole, Sequoia National Park--The campground is huge with 259 sites for tents or motorhomes. It’s also beautiful. The park’s giant forest is just down the road--don’t miss the Trail of the Sequoias, which begins near the humongous General Sherman tree and ambles through the woods to Crescent Meadow. The marble fork of the Kaweah River passes by the camp, too. Facilities: Flush toilets, showers, picnic tables, fire rings, water. Reservations: DESTINET, (800) 365-2267. Fees: $6-14. Contact: Sequoia National Park, (209) 565-3341.

* Cold Springs, Sequoia National Park--If the summertime crowds at the Giant Forest section of the park aren’t appealing, try this 40-site, tents-only campground in the Mineral King section of the park. The private community of Silverton is nearby and there’s also a pack station at Mineral King offering rides into the backcountry. There are also numerous trails nearby heading into the backcountry. Facilities: Pit toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, water. Reservations: Not accepted. Fees: $6-14. Contact: (209) 565-3341.

* Ventana Campground, Big Sur--Ventana is located on the eastern side of Highway 1, entirely within a Redwood forest. Andrew Molera State Park, just up the road, offers trails through meadows and forests, as well as one of the most beautiful beaches in the state. It’s worth the long drive. Facilities: Flush toilets, showers, picnic tables, fire rings, water. Reservations: send a $25 check with a note to P.O. Box 206, Big Sur, Ca., 93920. Fees: $25 for one vehicle and two people and $5 for additional people. Contact: (408) 667-2688.

* Hidden Falls, Mountain Home State Forest--This is one of those campgrounds that’s about 30 miles removed from “off the beaten path.” The campground is near a grove of giant sequoias and has only eight sites. Motor homes are permitted. It’s a short walk from a parking lot to the campsites. The middle fork of the Tule River passes by the campground and alongside a grove of giant sequoias. There’s a trail alongside the river which leads to the Golden Trout Wilderness. Facilities: Pit toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, water. Reservations: Not accepted. Fees: None. Contact: Mountain Home State Forest, (209) 539-2855.

* Horse Meadow, Sequoia National Forest--Located on the Upper Kern Plateau at an elevation of 7,500 feet, about 90 minutes from Kernville. A gurgling creek lies directly behind some campsites, while others are furnished with huge boulders. A beautiful hike along the Salmon Creek Trail begins near Horse Meadow, and it’s a short drive to several trails leading into the Domelands Wilderness. Facilities: Pit toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, water. Reservations: Not accepted. Fees: $5. Contact: Sequoia National Forest Cannell Meadow District, (619) 376-3781.

* Fairview and Limestone, Sequoia National Forest--If you like the sound of running water, look no further. Both campgrounds sit on the eastern bank of the mighty Kern River, a few miles north of the whitewater rafting town of Kernville. As the river slows throughout the summer, the fishing gets better, too. There’s a nice, short hike on the Rincon Trail from the GoldLedge campground to Salmon Creek. Facilities: Pit toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, water. Reservations: (800) 280-CAMP. Fees: $12 per night. Contact: Sequoia National Forest Cannell Meadow District, (619) 376-3781.

* Montana de Oro State Park--The campground is perfectly nice, situated under oaks and sycamores. But the scenery in the park is out of this world. Relax on the beach at Spooner’s Cove or hike beneath the bluffs up and down the park. Not to be missed is the hike along the park’s four-mile sand spit, which extends into Morro Bay’s huge estuary. Facilities: Pit toilets, picnic tables, fire grills. No piped water. Reservations: DESTINET, (800) 444-7275. Fees: $10-11. Contact: Montana de Oro State Park, (805) 528-0513.

* North Beach, Pismo State Beach--A beach campground with a surprising amount of elbow room. Some of the campground’s 103 spaces are grassy and others are shaded. Next to the campground are sand dunes that spill out onto a beach that’s long and very wide. Activities include fishing, surfing, horseback riding and lounging about like a beached whale. If you can’t relax here, you can’t relax anywhere. Facilities: Flush toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, piped water. Reservations: DESTINET, (800) 444-7275. Fees: $14-18 per night. Contact: Pismo State Beach, (805) 489-2684.

* Lopez Lake--The many-fingered lake, with 22 miles of shoreline, sits within the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains, north of Arroyo Grande on the central coast. It gets warm here in the summer--mid-90s degrees is not uncommon--but the campground is shaded under some beautiful live oaks. Activities include fishing, jetskiing, waterskiing, sailboarding and hiking. There’s a nice swimming pool, too, with a huge water slide for the kiddies. There’s also wild turkeys running all over the place. Facilities: Flush toilets, showers, picnic tables, fire rings, piped water. Reservations: (805) 489-8019. Fees: $13-21. Contact: Lopez Lake, (805) 489-2095.

* Jalama Beach County Park--The campground is far from world class, but the beach is spectacular. The beach is also the most remote in the state, 14 miles from Highway 1 in between Lompoc and Gaviota. Surf casting is good, as is the surfing near Tarantula Point. An absolute must is the delicious Jalama burger, available at the concession stand. Facilities: Flush toilets, showers, picnic tables, fire grills and a small grocery store. Reservations: Not accepted. Fees: $14--18 per night. Contact: Jalama Beach County Park, (805) 736-3504.

* NIRA, Los Padres National Forest--This small campground, with 11 tent sites and two motor-home sites, is located far in the Santa Barbara County backcountry. Manzana Creek passes nearby along with a trail accessing the remote San Rafael Wilderness. Facilities: Pit toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, water. Reservations: Not accepted. Fees: None. Contact: Los Padres National Forest Santa Lucia District, (805) 925-9538.

* Refugio and El Capitan State Beaches--These campgrounds are 20 miles northwest of Santa Barbara on Highway 1. Both campgrounds sit above the beach and are wildly popular, often being booked several months in advance. There’s good tidepooling, surfing and boogieboarding--all yards from your tent. Facilities: Flush toilets, showers, picnic tables, fire rings, water. Reservations: DESTINET, (800) 444-7275. Fees: $14-18 per night. Contact: California State Parks, (805) 968-1033.

* Wheeler Gorge, Los Padres National Forest--Only 15 minutes from Ojai, this popular campground sits besides Matilija Creek, which is stocked with small trout. There is hiking nearby on the Matilija Trail, as well as a trail into the Sespe Wilderness from the nearby Lion’s Head campground. Facilities: Vault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, water. Reservations: (800) 280-CAMP. Fees: $15 per night. Contact: Los Padres National Forest Ojai Ranger District, (805) 646-4348.

* Buckhorn, Angeles National Forest--It’s hard to believe this campground is only 26 miles from La Canada because the scenery resembles the High Sierra. The hike not to be missed is the Burkhardt Trail into Cooper Canyon, where you can hook up with the Pacific Crest Trail. There’s a wonderful swimming hole in a creek near the campground; Cooper Canyon has more of the same and a few small trout. Facilities: Pit toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, water. Reservations: Not accepted. Fees: $12 per night. Contact: Angeles National Forest, (818) 574-5200.

* Happy Hollow, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area--Located within the Circle X property, south of Point Mugu, this 18-site campground is dotted with pine trees and near a small creek. You have to park in a lot and walk a short distance to the campsites. A trail cuts through the campground and leads to a natural grotto that has to be seen to be believed. Just up Yerba Buena Road is the Backbone Trail, providing access to 3,111-foot Sandstone Peak, the place to watch the sunset. Facilities: Pit toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, water. Reservations: Not accepted. Fees: $6 per night. Contact: National Park Service, (818) 597-9192.

* Yellow Post Camping, San Bernardino National Forest--Scattered throughout the mountains near Big Bear are 30 or so single-camping sites marked with yellow posts. Here’s how it works: Go to the forest service visitor center in Big Bear and ask for a yellow post site (phone first to check on availability). The ranger will give you directions to the site, which is accessible by forest service roads. Bring your own water. Facilities: Picnic tables and fire ring. No water. Reservations: Not accepted. Fees: None. Contact: San Bernardino National Forest Big Bear Ranger District, (909) 866-3437.