Best October view and hammock camping in the West Coast?

[k3vin_vds]

Hey guys, I'm looking for the perfect National Park to sling my hammock. I want a spot that balances stunning views with an easy, hammock-friendly setup and ideal fall sleeping temps.

I'm starting closer to the Bay Area, so I'm starting close with Yosemite, Sequoia, or Kings Canyon. Does anyone know the specific challenges in these parks for hammocks (tree girth, crowded sites, current permit difficulty etc)? Which one offers a better October view and hang combo?

I'm open to driving further but I'm not completely sure which way to head.. Is October the right time for Joshua Tree desert views? Is bringing a hammock stand worth the hassle given the regulations, or are there better tree-heavy options further north, like a slightly chilly Olympic in Washington?

Open to hear your favorites and recommendations! Thanks all!

 

[cougarmeat]

If you are going to hang in a park, be sure to bring tree straps, at least one inch and preferably two inches wide. Some people make them out of used car seat belts. Even if you use one-inch straps, some parks - I'm thinking about Zion - want something between the strap and the tree - like the material of a closed-cell camp pad. Or you can put twigs vertically between your straps and the tree.

There may be unpublished restrictions. When I researched Zion, they said hammocks were permitted. When I got there, it turned out that hammocks were permitted but only in a few campsites.

The problem they wanted to avoid was something like this ... The trees are removed for tent campers. So many times the trees that remain are at the boundary between two campsites. So there can be a territorial dispute about which site "has" the trees. And would you want to hang just on the border of someone else's site anyway? So they only allowed a hammock at the few sites where the trees were completely within one site.

I finally realized the kayak rack on the Jeep made a pretty good "tree". So I suspend from just one tree and the jeep. Note that I did not use the luggage rack. I read a warning that those luggage racks are often just decorative and only held on by sheet metal screws. They may stabilize gear put on the roof, but they weren't designed to handle hundreds of pounds of pull.

If you take "view" out of your criteria, you'll open more possibilities. Depending upon the design, when you are in the hammock, your view is pretty much just what is above you. Just find a good spot for the hang dimensions and walk to the "view" areas.

 

[d4rkn5tormy]

I'm open to driving further but I'm not completely sure which way to head.. Is October the right time for Joshua Tree desert views? Is bringing a hammock stand worth the hassle given the regulations, or are there better tree-heavy options further north, like a slightly chilly Olympic in Washington?

yeah, October is an amazing time for Joshua Tree! The temperatures drop perfectly for desert camping.
The problem is the trees, there are virtually none suitable for slinging a hammock. If you go there, you would absolutely need a hammock stand. It’s a pain to pack, but you’ll get those stunning desert views without breaking any rules (or trees!).
If you want guaranteed trees and don't mind the cold, head up to Olympic National Park! The old growth forests there are incredible, and the trees are perfect. Just be prepared for potential rain/mist and bring a good underquilt!

 

[Hammock k1ng]

I'm starting closer to the Bay Area, so I'm starting close with Yosemite, Sequoia, or Kings Canyon. Does anyone know the specific challenges in these parks for hammocks (tree girth, crowded sites, current permit difficulty etc)? Which one offers a better October view and hang combo?

Yosemite Valley camping is very competitive, sites are often sparse for good hangs.
Sequoia/Kings Canyon high country is better for tree density, but you'll absolutely need a Wilderness Permit for good spots (check the permit lottery ASAP!)

 

[earth2jim]

yeah, October is an amazing time for Joshua Tree! The temperatures drop perfectly for desert camping.
The problem is the trees, there are virtually none suitable for slinging a hammock. If you go there, you would absolutely need a hammock stand. It’s a pain to pack, but you’ll get those stunning desert views without breaking any rules (or trees!).
If you want guaranteed trees and don't mind the cold, head up to Olympic National Park! The old growth forests there are incredible, and the trees are perfect. Just be prepared for potential rain/mist and bring a good underquilt!

Thanks for the tips! Do you use a specific kind of stand that’s easy to pack? And for Olympic, how cold does it usually get in October?got a basic underquilt but not sure if it’s warm enough.

 

[cougarmeat]

If you are planning a trip to the Olympics, being warm enough is of course, important. But in that location, keeping dry is the challenge. And note that you may not have sunny/warm intermediate days, allowing things to dry out. If you have a choice of insulation fill, synthetics, rather than down, might be the better option.

You might want to practice setting up the tarp first, then the hammock under the tarp.

Here's a screenshot of the expected weather this week at Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands - a little north of the Olympic Peninsula.

There's a reason it's called a Rain Forest.