These Stunning Campgrounds Are at Their Best in Fall

• nps.gov/jotr; $15; $20/vehicle; no potable water; no reservations

Watch a desert sunset or a dazzling star show from the top of a massive boulder, then crawl into your sleeping bag when the night turns cool. The gargantuan rocks also provide a cozy sense of privacy for most of the 31 sites. During the day, take the strenuous hike to Ryan Mountain’s view-filled summit or visit the ruins of the 1890s Ryan Ranch.

• nps.gov/deva; $12; $20/vehicle; no reservations

For a desert adventure without the crowds, head to Mesquite Spring in Grapevine Canyon. This 30-site camp is ideally situated for visiting the 32,000-square-foot mansion known as Scotty’s Castle, the 600-foot-deep abyss at Ubehebe Crater, and the strange moving rocks at the Racetrack Playa. Distances here are vast and services few, so triple-check your packing list.

• Reserve at sandiegocounty.gov; $24–$29 site, $62 cabin

This dog-friendly camp in the Cuyamaca Mountains offers 103 sites and 14 cute wooden cabins nestled in an oak grove, plus
numerous hiking trails. You and Fido can walk a 2.5-mile loop to Glen’s View, where the vista stretches from the Anza-Borrego Desert to the Pacific Ocean. Afterward, head into Julian for a slice of apple pie.

• nps.gov/arch; reserve at recreation.gov; $25/vehicle

It’s tough to beat a night spent inside this park, where 2,500 natural arches and colorful rock formations supply the wow factor. The 50-site campground is booked solid from March till October but empties out in late fall. Campers gather on top of the rocks to
witness sublime desert sunsets.

• parks.nv.gov/parks/cathedral-gorge; $17; no reservations

Not far from the Utah border lies one of Nevada’s geologic marvels: the bentonite clay spires and slot canyons of Cathedral Gorge. The narrow canyon is pocketed with sunlit labyrinths that lure photographers and desert lovers. To get a bird’s-eye view, hike or drive to Miller Point. Dogs are allowed at the tree-shaded, 24-site camp and on the trails.

• parks.ca.gov; reserve at reserveamerica.com; $35

Search for sand dollars, scan the waves for whales and dolphins, and warm your toes at a beach bonfire as the sun sinks over Monterey Bay. Sixteen miles south of Santa Cruz, Sunset State Beach’s 85-site campground is a short walk from the waterline, where anglers reel in surf perch and striped bass. Dogs are allowed in camp but not on the beach; drive two miles north to Manresa’s day-use area to let them romp in the sand.

• $22; open all year, book at recreation.gov

Sites 10 through 12 at Manzanita Campground sit closest to the water, which lights up with yellow and red oak leaves. The 6-mile out-and-back West Fork Trail is a portal between striped canyon walls and stream crossings.

• From $19; Apr-Oct; recreation.gov

On the border of the Enchantment Area Wilderness, Bridge Creek Campground’s falling leaves flash from mustard to maroon. www.fs.usda.gov. Make time for the 8-mile round-trip to Colchuck Lake, a turquoise glacial gem set against neon larches and craggy peaks.