TENT TIME AGAIN CALIFORNIA'S CAMPSITES RANK AMONG BEST IN U.S.

Byline: Bill Becher Special to the Daily News

Summertime means falling asleep to the rustling of nylon, the subtle spice of pine needles in your Wheaties at breakfast and lots of fresh, transparent air - a novelty for many Southern Californians.

We're talking about camping of course.

Maybe it's tribal memories implanted by our nomadic ancestors, perhaps it's a shared love for the aroma of marshmallows burned over a campfire, but for whatever reason, camping is the outdoor summer activity for many people. It's also something that brings kin together.

Fortunately, California has an abundance of great campgrounds, and despite more than two-buck gas and increases in fees at California state parks, camping remains an economical way for families to vacation.

This year, 10 California parks made a list of the 100 best campgrounds for families in the U.S.

That recognition comes from ReserveAmerica, a reservation service for California State Parks and other public parks in the U.S. in its annual ``Top 100 Family Campground Awards.''

The top 10 California parks for families, according to the survey, are: Auburn State Recreation Area, Benbow Lake State Recreation Area, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Emerald Bay State Park, Fallen Leaf Campground, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Lake Oroville State Recreation Area, Limekiln State Park, Palomar Mountain State Park and Russian Gulch State Park.

The campgrounds were selected based on scenery, educational facilities and programs, quality and availability of hot showers, laundry facilities, hiking trails, family beaches, radio-free zones, visitor centers, children's events and location.

Nine of the top-10 rated California campgrounds are in state parks. Here are some tips from state park officials on how to make the most of your summer camping plans:

--Plan ahead: You can make reservations up to seven months in advance through ReserveAmerica at 1-800-444-7275 or online at www.parks.ca.gov.

--Be flexible: Have alternate parks in mind in case your first choice is booked. Check the state park Web site at www.parks.ca.gov.

--Feeling lucky? Consider non-reservation sites: If the reservation sites are full, look for first-come, first-serve campgrounds and try to arrive morning to mid-day on a Tuesday or Wednesday to maximize your chance to get a campsite.

--Consider less popular camps: Southern California coastal campgrounds are often full year-round. You could have better luck getting reservations at parks north of Santa Cruz or inland. Look for sites that are more remote from major metropolitan areas.

--Remember the holiday crush: The closer you try to make reservations to a holiday (Fourth of July, Labor Day weekend), the further north and inland you might need to go.

--Check for last-minute cancellations: Visit the ReserveAmerica Web site or call [phone]. Cancellations are rare, but they can happen.

And don't forget the marshmallows.

CAMPING IT UP

California's Top 10 Family Campgrounds

Auburn State Recreation Area, in the heart of the gold country, includes 40 miles of river (much of it is whitewater) on the North and Middle forks of the American River. There are 53 tent sites and 22 ``boat-in'' campsites by reservation. With nearly 100 miles of hiking, mountain bike and horseback trails, visitors can also enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, gold panning, equestrian/horseback riding trails and off-highway motorcycle riding. More than 30 outfitters offer whitewater trips on both forks of the river, with Class II to IV runs.

Benbow Lake State Recreation Area, south of Garberville, has 75 campsites, a boat ramp and a large day-use picnic area. The lake was formed when the Eel River was dammed in 1928.

Calaveras Big Trees State Park, northeast of Stockton, was designated as a park in 1931 to preserve the North Grove of giant sequoias. In addition to the popular North Grove, the park's South Grove has a 5-mile hiking trip through a spectacular stand of giant sequoias.

Emerald Bay State Park, on the southwest shore of Lake Tahoe, is reputedly one of the world's most photographed places. Vikingsholm, a replica of a Scandinavian castle, is part of the park.

Fallen Leaf Campground on the south side of Lake Tahoe, is a National Forest campground with more than 200 campsites operated by a private concessionaire. Nestled among towering native pine trees, the campground offers a variety of recreational activities, including hiking and biking, and easy access to Lake Tahoe. More info at www.fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu/recreation/camping/flcamp.shtml.

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, near Felton in the Santa Cruz Mountains, features hiking and riding trails through a forest that looks much as it did 200 years ago when Zayante Indians lived there. The park has 112 campsites, a redwood grove, a self-guided nature path, and Douglas fir, madrone, oak and a stand of Ponderosa pine.

Lake Oroville State Recreation Area offers family and group camping, boating, waterskiing, fishing and an extensive system of horse, bicycle and hiking trails and a horse camp.

Limekiln State Park, south of Carmel on State Highway 1, features breathtaking views of the Big Sur coast and stately redwoods.

Palomar Mountain State Park features a Sierra Nevada-like atmosphere at a 4,700-foot elevation in Southern California.

Russian Gulch State Park, north of Mendocino. features the Devil's Punch Bowl - a large, collapsed sea cave that forms a blowhole. A beach offers swimming, tide pool exploring, skin diving and rock fishing. Hikers enjoy miles of trails and viewing a 36-foot high waterfall. The campground has 30 campsites, which must be reserved.

More information about any state park can be found at www.parks.ca.gov/parkindex/.

From ReserveAmerica's ``Top 100 Family Campground Awards.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1) Calaveras Big Trees State Park was voted by ReserveAmerica as one of California's top 10 campgrounds based on scenery, amenities and programs.

(2) Visitors to Calaveras Big Trees State Park, northeast of Stockton, can swim and fish in the Stanislaus River. The park features two main campgrounds with a total of 129 campsites.

Bill Becher/Special to the Daily News

Box:

CAMPING IT UP (see text)