Camping - Places and Ideas to camp

Greetings,
This is your Public Relations Guy wanting to share some camping spots and idea's that me and my boys have been too and they is doable for Cubs to Camp at. The places are in no particular order and I'd advise you to check out the place first because as a leader you know what your boys are capable of.
Crystal Cove State Park and Beach
Crystal Cove beach is pretty with it's natural tar, but the camping part of the beach is on the east side of the 1 freeway a few miles south of Newport Beach and slightly north of Laguna Beach. The campsites at Crystal Cove are hike in only. So you must park in the lot and carry your stuff up to the first campground, when I hiked this trail myself on 5/28/2010 I measured that the nearest and easiest campsite was on top of the Morro Ridge and was about 4-5 miles one way.
A good time to camp is probably April to June.
Google map of the Park
Trails of the Park
Weather Averages
Reservations
Mt Palomar
Mountain Palomar, about an hour's drive off the 15 freeway going to San Diego is a wonderful place to camp. With it's plentiful trees, seasonal creek open woodlands and lots of trails it's a great place to take your Webelos. They also have a nice group camp area that is usually not booked up so fast.
State Park Description
Google map of the Park
Weather Averages
Reservations

Palomar Hiking Trails:
Scott's Cabin / Boucher Hill Loop
Distance: 3.0 Miles
Hiking Time: 1.5 Hours
Map: State Park Brochure
Difficulty:

See the black oaks that are dotted along this trail, which will undergo rapid color changes in both spring and fall. Also along this trail are white fir, douglas fir, and dogwood.

At the Boucher hill lookout you can get a excellent view of Pauma Valley and you can sometimes see the ocean on a clear day.

Thunder Spring / Chimney Flats Loop
Distance: 4.0 Miles
Hiking Time: 2 Hours
Map: State Park Brochure
Difficulty:
This trail, which begins at Doane's pond, has the best view of the State park. Enjoy a stream at the edge of a meadaow; walk under a canopy of azaleas (rare in San Diego county); Enjoy a 100 year old apple orchard; and visit an old grave site. This trail will end up at Scott's Cabin.

Doane Valley Nature Trail
Distance: 1 Mile
Hiking Time: .5 Hours
Map: State Park Brochure
Difficulty:
Palomar Mountain Forest at it's best! Enjoy a leisurly nature walk along a trickling stream. Among the plant life found along this trail are the box elder, creek dogwood, wild strawberry, mountain currant, and sierra gooseberry. Also see an 150 foot tall incense cedar.

Lower Doane Valley / Lower French Valley
Distance: 2.5 Miles roundtrip
Hiking Time: 1.5 Hours
Map: State Park Brochure
Difficulty:
An excellent early morning hike. This trail will reach doane creek and end at a cement structure that was a small dam and gauging station used in the 1920s.

Lower French valley trail takes you through rolling grasslands dotted with pines, oaks, and conifers.

Observatory Trail
Distance: 2.2
Hiking Time: 1 Hours
Map: Cleveland National Forest recreation map
Difficulty:
This trail has an excellent few of Mendenhall Valley from wooden platform. Mendenhall Valley is one of the many meadows on Palomar Mountain.

For an easy downhill hike begin this trail at the upper trial head near the Palomar Observatory entrance gate. The lower end of the trail begins at the Observatory campground.

Fry Creek Trail
Distance: 1.5
Hiking Time: 1 Hour
Map: Cleveland National Forest recreation map
Difficulty:
A beautiful trail that rounds the head of Fry Creek. You will come upon the "Penny Pines" a coulter pine grove atop a sattle. October and November are the best times to see the black oaks in their autumn glory.

The signed trialhead is just inside the entrance to the Fry Creek campground.


Fry Creek to Doane Valley
Distance: 1.5
Hiking Time: 1.5 Hours
Map: Cleveland National Forest recreation map
Difficulty:
This trail is the only connection between Fry Creek campground and the State Park.

This trail begins just inside the Fry Creek Campground. Take the Fry Creek trail to the "Penney Pines" grove, then head west down a narrow ravine. There may be fallen branches and debris in the path depending on how much recent use.

Not far down the path you should see the buildings of the Palomar School Camp. This trail ends at Doanes pond.
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