California camping is back today

Photo: Robert Holmes / Getty Images On March 17 the state closed campgrounds at all of its state parks due to the coronavirus pandemic, three months later campers are able to return to a selected group of site. Twenty-nine California state parks reopened their campsites Friday, with around 1,600 sites opening their gates and taking reservations. On March 17 the state closed campgrounds at all of its 280 state parks due to the COVID-19 pandemic; three months later campers are able to return to a selected group of sites. A statement on the Reserve California site states that, "At this time, State Parks has reopened campground sites at 29 park units with limited capacity and with new camping guidelines."

While most reopened sites are in Southern California, two are in the Bay Area: Little Basin near the Big Basin Redwoods and Half Moon Bay State Beach. Several locations around Lake Tahoe have also reopened today.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation statement goes on, "The department is collaborating with local officials on a phased and regionally driven approach to increase access at park units where compliance with local and public health orders can be achieved."

Guidelines from Reserve California on camping safely amid the pandemic include careful planning around the use of fires and playgrounds, staying local, maintaining a distance of six feet from other campers and using a face mask if the county requires it.

Here's the full list of newly reopened California campsites:

Bolsa Chica SBChino Hills SPColusa-Sacramento River SRACrystal Cove SP Moro CampgroundCuyamaca Rancho SPBig Basin Redwoods SP (Little Basin Campgrounds)D.L. Bliss SPDoheny SBDonner Memorial SPEl Capitan SBFolsom Lake SRAGrover Hot Springs SPHalf Moon Bay SBLake Perris SRALeo Carrillo SPMalakoff Diggins SHPMt. San Jacinto SPPalomar Mountain SPPoint Mugu SPRefugio SBSalton Sea SRASan Clemente SB (Holidays Vintage Trailers)San Elijo SBSan Onofre SBSilver Strand SBSilverwood Lake SRASouth Carlsbad SBSugar Pine Point SP

Andrew Chamings is a digital editor at SFGATE. Email: Andrew.Chamings@sfgate.com | Twitter: @AndrewChamings

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