Car Camping above the snow line

[ericshaitan]

Looking for a place to camp tomorrow out of the car (tent camping) above the snow line to test a bunch of new gear before some long back packing trips. Anyone know of anywhere this is possible. All places I checked online are either too low, or are not open. Oh and anywhere in Southern California would be great, San Jacinto is just closest to me for right now.

Thanks
Eric

[NormaR]

my first thought was the San Gorgonio Wilderness area. the South Fork area should be in snow. at least it was the other day. http://www.sgwa.org/camps.htm

[phydeux]

The Barton Flats area along Hwy 38 in the San Bernardino Mtns would probably be the best. Its at 7000 ft, and if there's no snow on the ground you can easily walk up the South Fork trail towards the wilderness. Also try the north side of Big Bear Lake. There's a campground/RV park on the north side of the lake, east of Fawnskin and just below the Cougar Crest trailhead, that I'm pretty sure is open year round (be forwarned: RV parks can be a little pricey). Kind of a crappy location (wedged between the hwy and the lake and next to a picnic area), but it should work.

[ericshaitan]

Phydeux, Thanks for the info. Turns out I took the campground on the northside of big bear lake. Serrano campground. Worked out well for what I needed, 10F over night temp was the low recorded on my digital thermometer.