Modesto -- Spanish for "modest" -- is indeed a modestly-sized city tucked into the broad central valley of northern California, about 90 miles east of San Francisco. Winter there is cool and summer is furiously hot, with July-through-August high temperatures routinely in the mid-90s. Although the surrounding countryside is generally open and dry, there are nonetheless several outstanding places to camp in the area.
Henry W. Coe State Park
- Near the town of Morgan Hill, about 90 minutes from Modesto, lies enormous Henry W. Coe State Park. Its 87,000 hilly acres offer campers a wide array of activities, including hiking, bicycling and fishing on any of the park's several lakes. Wildlife includes deer, elk, mountain lions and 130 species of birds. You'll find 19 improved campsites with fire pits and picnic tables. Firewood is sold at the nearby park office. The majority of Coe, however, is wild backcountry; camping there is hike-in only, and fires are not permitted, so you'll need to bring your camp stove for cooking. Consult the park's web site for restrictions on dogs.
Turlock Lake State Recreation Area
- Twenty-five miles east of Modesto, Turlock Lake enjoys 26 miles of shoreline with boat launches that attract anglers, swimmers and water skiers. This open country of low, rolling hills has several lookout points that provide expansive views. Summer weather at Turlock Lake is hot, although the lake stays cool year-round; the best camping is between Labor Day and the end of October when temperatures are mild and the park is comparatively uncrowded. Nestled against the south shore of the Tuolumne River, just a mile north of the lake, a campground with 66 sites can accommodate trailers up to 30 feet in length. The park offers showers and drinking water, but no electrical or sewer hookups.
Stanislaus National Forest
- Options. Lots of them. That's what you get if you camp in the vast Stanislaus National Forest, an hour northeast of Modesto. Forty-seven campgrounds await visitors who select from primitive backcountry sites to RV sites with restrooms and boat launches. There is even a campground -- Clark Fork -- for horseback riders. Most are available first come, first served. More than 800 miles of rivers and streams coursing through the forest's 900,000 acres invite anglers and white-water rafters who challenge the rapids of the Tuolumne River.
Yosemite National Park
- Two hours from Modesto, Yosemite National Park is one of America's great natural treasures. It's an extremely popular wilderness of forests, meadows and soaring peaks. Ansel Adams took some of his most memorable photographs there, and the great naturalist, John Muir, considered Yosemite a national shrine. The park strongly advises you to make reservations -- well in advance -- to secure a site in any of its 13 campgrounds; Yosemite maintains several first-come, first-served sites, but they commonly fill daily before noon.
