Heading from the Pacific Northwest to Southern California this summer? Looking for somewhere to camp along the way, close to the freeway, that won’t cost an arm and a leg? Then you may want to check out the attractive Red Bluff Recreation Area and the very unusual Sycamore Grove Campground. What makes this campground unusual is that it is a USFS (United States Forest Service Campground) operated by the Mendocino National Forest, but located in an urban setting just minutes from I-5. Even more atypical than the standard forest service campsite is the campground features water and electric paved sites! Stranger yet is some of the sites are long pull throughs with some featuring 50 amp electrical service. Want another bonus? The surrounding recreation area features miles of paved hiking and biking trails, access to the Sacramento River and an interpretive center. I saved the best for last. The rate is only $25 / night for a spacious, grassy, shady, water and electric site! But wait, it gets even better! Since it is a federally operated campground, Golden Age/Access Passports and Interagency Senior/Access Recreation Pass holders receive 50% off the posted camping fees! Discovering the extraordinary when expecting the ordinary, just another adventure in RVing!
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Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
This campground has been overrun by the homeless tweaker population and the forest service has now gone to a reservation only set up to try and curb the problem. This is a beautiful campground close to I-5 and shopping but the last time we were there in late 2017 it was full of shady people. Not worth the risk now. Sad.