San Diego Low Impact Surf Camping
San Onofre, in San Diego, is one of the most beautiful spots on Earth. You can see its raw power in the bluffs, the windswept sand, and the deep blue ocean waves. Walking along the beach, surfing the swells, or camping will create memories that last a lifetime. And hopefully it’s not because the people in the next tent over insisted on tossing their trash in the fire pit or blaring music into the night. When in San Diego, low impact surf camping is a must: not only is it better for the environment, it is better for your outdoor neighbors.
A Green San Diego
Over the last few years, we have heard about reducing our carbon footprint and going green. Mother Nature has been waiting for us to wise up and realize that just like those trashy camping neighbors, we are all leaving a mess behind. Whether you are in Santa Cruz, San Luis Obisbo, or San Diego, low impact camping means that you leave no trace behind. The goal is to leave your campsite and the beach looking as good as it did before and leave no evidence that you have been there.
Why do people bring TVs when camping? Music, maybe, if you can keep it on the D.L. But TV? Why not just go to a hotel and spray some woodsy air freshener around the room? When camping, you are supposed to be surrounded by nature, not power inverters or batteries. The first rule of low impact camping in San Diego or any other locale is to bring only what you need. You will enjoy your time much more if you listen to the surf – it is music in its own way.
San Diego - Going With the Flow Does Not Mean Going Off Trail
Going off trail may seem like the most natural thing to do, but this actually causes more of an impact on the environment around you. A broken trail is established and in a sense has become part of the environment as plants and animals have adapted to its presence. Breaking off on your own throws this off balance and can cause damage to the land as well.
In the nineties, the trend in camping was to get the most lightweight equipment possible, which was entirely synthetic. It may not have caused an impact on the campsite or beach itself, but it definitely had an effect on the larger environment. These products contained toxins, pollutants, and created factory waste. Today’s low impact camper knows that a little bit of extra weight is worth the benefit to the environment.
There are hundreds of ways to have less of an impact when camping. Take the time to learn how, and you will recapture the spirit of camping. You, the wilderness, and the surf: what more could you need?
