We have technically been to California before. We have had layovers at LAX. But stepping foot in an airport does not count and we will die on that hill. So when we crossed the state line for the first time in the van, it felt like a real milestone. We have now officially been coast to coast. We started full time in Florida, have been to the southernmost point, up to Minnesota, all over the Southwest, and now California. We know it is not Alaska, but we are pretty proud of how far we have come. One day we will make it up there too.
Before we got to Sequoia though, we had one more stop that deserves a mention.
Kelso Dunes in Mojave National Preserve
We found dispersed camping in the Mojave on The Dyrt and stayed the night so we could wake up at dawn and hike the Kelso Dunes. If you have never heard of them, they are some of the biggest sand dunes we have ever seen. The hike took us about two hours total and we had Rooster with us the whole time. He did great but he was really tired by the end, which was honestly the goal. A tired Brittany is a well-behaved Brittany.
It was one of those stops that we did not plan to make into a big deal but ended up being a highlight. If you are driving through the Mojave and can swing a sunrise hike at Kelso, do it.
Sequoia National Forest, not the National Park
This is an important distinction and one we want to make sure is clear. We stayed in Sequoia National Forest, not Sequoia National Park. They are two different things. The national forest is managed by the Forest Service and has dispersed camping options. The national park is a separate area with its own entrance fees and rules. We were in the national forest, at the southern tip, camped right along the Kern River.
And honestly, it was gorgeous. The river, the trees, the campsite itself. It was a completely different feel from Coconino. Where Flagstaff was ponderosa pines and total solitude, Sequoia National Forest was greener, lusher, and way more populated. We had tons of neighbors, including a family of at least ten people camped near us. They were lovely though and absolutely loved Rooster. The kids especially. It turned into a wave-and-chat-and-come-pet-the-dog kind of situation, which is one of our favorite things about camping.
One thing we are still debating is whether we actually saw sequoia trees where we were. We are honestly not sure. What we did see were some absolutely massive pine cones, bigger than our heads. Those are likely sugar pine cones, which can grow over a foot long and are honestly wild to come across for the first time. We kept picking them up and just staring at them.
The setup
The road into our area was completely paved with one main road and campsites branching off to the sides. Very easy to get to, no rough forest roads or 4WD required. We had stocked up on everything we needed before we arrived so we did not have to make any town runs during the week. For a one-week stay that is pretty standard for us.
We usually do about a week at each spot and have been experimenting with the longer two-week stays like we did in Flagstaff. One week felt right here though, partly because we had a house sitting job in Concord that weekend so we could not stay longer even if we wanted to.
Rooster and the babies
Rooster did great adjusting to a new spot. He always does. The shorter stays are honestly easier on him because he does not have time to get too comfortable and then have to leave. Mav and Goose were their usual selves. Goose found his spot under the van, Mav stayed inside, and everyone was happy.
California so far
We are loving it. That is the honest answer. There is something about finally making it to a state you have been looking forward to and having it actually live up to the hype. California has so much to offer and we genuinely feel like you could spend an entire year here and still have places to explore. This first week set a really good tone for what is ahead.
More California coming soon. Next up is Concord and that gets its own post.
Have you camped in Sequoia National Forest or explored the Kern River area? We would love to hear about it. Drop a comment below!
Wandering with Charlotte 
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