Texas Boy Scouts California Camps

Even Alaskans sometimes want a simple, easy-to-get-to, front country camping experience. Williwaw Campground in the Chugach National Forest offers just that! Not only is it 50 miles from Anchorage (15 miles from Girdwood), it’s just off the Seward Highway en route to the Kenai Peninsula. The campground also offers easy access to some prime destinations like the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Portage Glacier, and Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. Black Bear Campground is nearby and available on a first-come, first-served basis only.

Oak Creek

Set in shaded Oak Creek Canyon near Sedona, Cave Spring Campground is surrounded by red sandstone walls and features a creek nearby. Kids will love the natural sandstone waterslide at Slide Rock State Park about five miles down the road. Scenic vistas beckon hikers to nearby trails and birding and fishing along Oak Creek near the campground are popular activities for everyone.

Summerdale Campground

Summerdale Campground in the Sierra National Forest is located just over one mile from Yosemite National Park and sits in a scenic wildflower-filled meadow, surrounded by fir, cottonwood and cedar trees. The campground's proximity to Yosemite, the excellent fishing at Big Creek and the cooler summer temperatures make it a very popular destination for camping veterans and newcomers.

Santa Monica Mountains

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is a network of park sites and locations that offer camping just hours from the Los Angeles area. Groups can book Circle X Group Campground, a former Boy Scout camp.

Crystal Lake Recreation Area

Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake Recreation Area offers a great beginner camping experience in the Angeles National Forest within 50 miles from downtown Los Angeles (but allow an hour and a half for the drive, due to the winding mountain road). The campground is nestled at 5, 600 feet with quiet, shade, a small (seasonal) stream and a small lake that attracts wildlife. Facilities include running water, a contact station, a camp store and café, family-friendly hiking trails and longer hikes for the more adventurous. First-come, first-served camping is available in three loops, and families often bring bicycles to ride on the closed loops.

Great Sand Dunes

Piñon Flats Campground, located within the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, is an excellent spot to have a fun and unforgettable experience. You can run up and then slide, roll or tumble down the dunes or jump into nearby Medano Creek to cool off (seasonally).

Saddlehorn Campground

Colorado National Monument may be lesser known than other national parks in Colorado, but this gem preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. Less than ten miles from Fruita or 20 miles from Grand Junction, Saddlehorn Campground offers advance reservations and towering red rock views just steps away from your campsite. Drive the spectacular Historic Rim Rock Drive, join a ranger program at the amphitheater or try one of many other Things to Do.

Salt Springs

Salt Springs Campground in the Salt Springs Recreation Area is the largest campground in the Ocala National Forest. The campground offers restrooms and even a bathhouse, plus a cool, refreshing swimming area (marked off in the springtime). Also near the campground is the Salt Springs Canoe Run that flows to Lake George which offers fishing and a marina with canoe rentals, and the Bear Swamp Trail — perfect for a quiet stroll to a boardwalk viewing area. Pick up supplies and enjoy local flavor in stores and restaurants in the nearby town of Salt Springs.

Lake Sinclair Recreation Area

Lake Sinclair Recreation Area in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest offers 40 campsites not far from Atlanta and Macon (the nearest town is Eatonton, with full services including restaurants and grocery stores). Lake Sinclair is ideal for families. Under a shady mix of oak, pine and hickory you can run on the playground, swim, boat or fish. Try the Twin Bridges trail and you might glimpse some wildlife!

Point Campgound

Imagine camping at 6, 500 feet on the shores of Redfish Lake with the Sawtooth Mountains as your backdrop. Point Campground in the Sawtooth National Forest offers this and more. There’s a sandy beach on the lake, the easy Fishhook Nature Trail and the town of Sandy four miles away.