On a clear spring day, my partner and I relaxed in camping chairs beside the Trinity River and marveled at a flock of western sandpipers. There had to be 50 of the little birds, all soaring ...

Yet five places in California were named the prettiest places to camp on ... of the park’s sites along the Fern Canyon Scenic Trail and near Little River for a more remote camping experience.

Or rent a kayak, paddleboard, or tube on-site to float down the river. You don’t need a reservation for tent camping—just show up and pitch wherever you can. —Darry Jackson, co-president of ...