Backpacking Lists

Hope Valley Area Campgrounds

Hope Valley is known for its stunning beauty, especially in the fall when the aspen leaves turn to vibrant shades of yellow and orange. Painters, photographs, fly fishermen, and nature lovers are drawn to the valley. A newly renovated campground is located right in Hope Valley while others are found to the east along the Carson River.

When my family was young

Our Favorite Time in the Vanagon

Our favorite time as a family was when we loaded up our Volkswagen Vanagon with tents, food, fishing poles, and sleeping bags, and headed to the Hope Valley Campground along the Carson River in the High Sierra Mountains.

We’d spend three or four nights in our favorite spot, nestled among tall pines with the sound of the river always close by. Everything we ate was cooked over the campfire—simple meals that somehow tasted like five-star feasts when made under the open sky. We took day hikes together, exploring trails that wound through meadows and along the river, always returning to camp for lunch or dinner.

Jamie was our littlest at seven years old, Becky was nine, and Scott was thirteen. Sue was thirty-five and I was forty. We were young, full of energy, and even more full of our need for adventure. Those trips weren’t fancy, but they were rich with laughter, stories, and the kind of connection that only comes when you're far from the noise and schedules of everyday life.

Hope Valley was more than just a campground—it was our family’s happy place. Looking back now, those moments shine like gold in my memory.

Here are some links to items you might find helpful.

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About this item

• WINTER-READY: This 4-season sleeping bag, the Coleman Big & Tall, serves as a warm sleeping bag with its 40"x84" size. Designed for adults, it accommodates campers up to 6'5".

• OPTIMUM INSULATION: As a cold-weather sleeping bag for adults, it's filled with 5 pounds of Holofill 808 insulation. This makes it an ideal thermal sleeping bag, retaining body heat even at 10°F.

• FEATURE-RICH DESIGN: This adult sleeping bag cold weather is equipped with smart technologies like a no-snag patented zipper and FiberLock to prevent insulation shifting, bringing comfort to any camping trip.

• EASY STORAGE: The Coleman XL sleeping bag for adults comes with a Wrap 'N' Roll storage system. It allows for effortless packing, making it a standout in sleeping bags & camp bedding products for travel-friendly use.

• DURABLE AND COZY: Crafted with a heavy-duty cotton cover and a synthetic flannel liner, this survival sleeping bag combines durability with comfort. Its flannel sleeping bag design also makes it machine washable for easy cleaning.

• DIMENSIONS: 84 x 40 in.; ideal for campers up to 6 ft. 7 in.

• 5-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

• Dimensions: 84 x 40 in

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