1. Free: Trailhead access to 40 million acres of land operated by the U.S. Forest Service in California, Oregon and Washington
2. Free: Hand-launching kayaks, canoes and inflatables at 190 small lakes without boat ramps that you can reach by car in national forests in California
3. Free: Wilderness permit for camping on multiday trips in wilderness in national forests
4. Free: Parking and access at 71,028-acre Point Reyes National Seashore.
5. Free: Parking and access for hiking and mountain biking at the 36,000 acres in the Marin Watershed
6. Free: Parking and access at 26 preserves and 60,000 acres run by the Midpeninsula Open Space District
7. Free: Parking and access at nearly all 65 parks and 112,000 acres operated by the East Bay Regional Park District
8. Free: Boat ramps at county-operated facilities at Clear Lake and Bullards Bar Reservoir, the boat ramp at Big Lake and Ahjumawi State Park, and at many lakes in national forests when docks are removed in the offseason
9. $5: Rental fee for bear-proof food canisters required for overnight wilderness hiking in Yosemite National Park.
10. $15 duck stamp: All money goes to improve bird and wildlife populations, and you receive unlimited driving tours in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuges.
Never get stuck again: See new edition of California Camping, published April 16, 2013 at: Moon California Camping.
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