Off topic: car camping in Northern California Memorial Day weekend.

Just about the worst weekend of the year to go camping. Most campsites require reservations and they are sold out 6 months in advance. If a reservation is not required, folks go up days in advance and take up all the remaining sites.

However…

My wife and I go camping with our tent trailer on most holidays and we don't make reservations and we don't have to contend with crowds either.

Here is the method… go to the USFS area you are interested in. Do a search for dispersed camping (often call yellow post sites in many areas).

Standish-Hickey

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=423

Thanks, gentlemen.

Is this the proper link?

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/ncc/

Not sure where to search for dispersed camping. But I did confirm that Indian Well has dispersed camping should the sites fill up.

Sean you have to search around the website for the individual forest to try and find the dispersed camping information. Some don't have it on the website, and sometimes you have to stop by a ranger station. Even then, some of the clerks at the desk know little or they don't want to share as the FS doesn't have a lot of resources to monitor the dispersed areas. I have assembled a list of places near me over the past 30 years that I don't share because they would become popular.

Thanks, Nick. Wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something.

Lots of spaces in the Lake Alamanor area close to Lassen Volcanic NP. Lava Beds up where you asked about, but like has been stated, may be filled up or reservations made already. I'm doing like Nick and just headed out to a fav spot that mostly deer hunters use or loggers when in the area, not far from home.
Duane