Northern California paddle camping maps guide

About a year ago I started composing a Google map that shows potential campsites in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River delta, and in the waterways from which it's possible to paddle to or from the delta and the San Francisco bays.  Shortly after I started that I began putting together a map that shows places in and around northern California that have boat-in campsites.  These are meant for my own use, but made public in case they are of any use to others. 

Each of these currently has 150 or more entries, and although there isn't much indication that anyone else finds them useful, I thought I might as well try to write up a guide that will make them a bit easier to use (and that will help me to remember everything myself if the map projects get put aside for a long time). 

This is a bit of the paddle camping map.

The boat-in camping map became The Paddle Camping Map, and currently shows:

• places that have boat-in camping;
• places that have boating and dispersed camping;
• places where you can camp (in an established campground) next to a lake or reservoir that you can paddle on;
• places without camping where you can paddle;
• places where you can't paddle (even tho it seems like you ought to be able to).

 I've used a bunch of icons based on the free map icons found at http://mapicons.nicolasmollet.com/, and a few standard Google icons.  This is meant to make it easy to find each type of resource by looking at the map rather than going thru a list. 

The green paddler icon shows the places with dedicated boat-in campsites. These are established campsites (not just places where other people happen to have camped) that are meant to be used by boaters, and sometimes can only be reached by boat.  Many of these have vault toilets and no potable water.  Some are also available to hikers.

Dispersed camping.  You can land on any shore in areas where dispersed camping is allowed and make your own campsite.  There are likely to be no facilities of any kind, and no potable water.

Camping is available, but only allowed in established campsites, which are close to the body of water. 

The same as the white-on-blue icon, but paddlers might benefit from significant existing limits on other boating.  For instance, waterskiing and PWCs may be banned, or there is a 5-mph speed limit.  Lakes that have limits in just a few areas probably won't be in this category.

Paddling is allowed, but there's no camping, and boating is unrestricted.

Paddling allowed but no camping, and boating is restricted by speed limits, or by a ban on motorized boats, etc.

This is a place to camp and paddle (and may have boat-in camping), but may be impacted by park closures or some other problem or condition, and you will probably need to call somewhere to find out first if you want to go there.

Some special condition applies.  For instance, at Angel Island you have to hike a ways to the campground, and so it doesn't really meet my criteria for boat-in camping--but it sort of does, too.  You will need to do some research and decide for yourself.

Needs more research, the information needs to be verified by a second source, there is conflicting information, or it just isn't finished yet.

You can see a lake or reservoir on the map where it seems like it might be interesting or convenient to paddle, but boating is prohibited there.

The water body was just added, and little or no research has been done yet.

This was added from another Google map, and needs to be researched.

The entry needs some special research to resolve conflicting information, or is just hard to classify.

I may also add icons or some kind of code to indicate which places are expensive, free, crowded, hard to get to, etc.  Many are open seasonally, suffer from low water levels part of the year, require reservations during the summer, and so on, so I may try to include that information.  I expect to do more research before I actually go to any of the places (and anyone else who uses these maps should do the same).

The Delta Kayak Camping Map was originally intended to help me plan a two or three day paddle camping trip in the delta.  And as with the boat-in map, I kept adding anything that might be useful, and I kept expanding the range of potential trips until I had resources as far north as Redding and almost as far south as Fresno.  The resources include campgrounds that allow tent camping and places that might allow tent camping; places to wash up, to cook, to get provisions, to get internet access, and to find wrecks; beaches, hazards, gear shops, put-ins...

I use the word camping here to mean camping in a tent, but it seems that in the delta camping means "staying overnight in a vehicle."  If you are looking for places to "camp" in an RV you'll find plenty on this map, but keep in mind that I'm trying to find tent camping sites.

The delta map doesn't use the same icons as the paddle camping map.  I might try to figure out a consistent system of symbols for both maps, but I doubt that it will ever seem worth the bother, so don't hold your breath.

The green tent means that the place seems to have tent camping, and isn't too far from the water.

Yeller tent: it's not clear if tent camping is allowed (places that claim to have "camping" may actually only have RV parking and hook up sites), or the place might not be near the water, or there is some other reason that it's iffy.  Many of these are probably useful as marinas (see below).

Relatively expensive (usually >= $30/night).  You're likely to be paying for things you don't need.

The place may be out-of-business.  Maybe there's a web site up, but another source says it's closed.

Marina.  Might be useful as a put-in or take-out, may have restrooms or fresh water, etc.

Public park.  Might be a place where you can wash up, cook, use a restroom, etc., possibly without having to pay a day-use or launch fee.

Nav charts may show a wreck here, or there may be a wreck visible in satellite images.

A place where you might get coffee.

A public library, where you might get internet access and update the blog, manage email, etc.  (I don't have a smart phone or carry any other electronics that have net access.)  These may require walking a few blocks from the water.

Kayak shop or other place to get gear.

Put-in.  A place where you can be dropped off and began the trip.

Hazard.  A spillway, for instance.

A beach where you might take a break, swim, look for blackberries, etc.  There may be opportunities for stealth camping nearby.

Hasn't been researched yet.

Places to do laundry, shower, get groceries.

Other icons ought to be self-explanatory.  If you use either map, please keep in mind that some of the information in the maps is dated, and although I try to find multiple sources for information, some things are just going to be wrong.

Want to go camping?  I can provide a kayak, PFD, and paddle, if you pay for the campsite fees and half the gas and bridge tolls.  I can provide a canoe if you help me repair it first.

The Folbot Super, Navarro Loon 17 canoe, and maybe even the Necky Looksha Sport LV may be for sale later this year if I don't get a new job soon.  Watch this space if you're interested.

[To do: add list of resources and links]