I’ve long wanted to camp around Bridgeport because the region is beautiful and far less crowded than many spots along Highway 395. I’ve driven through Bridgeport, CA, many times en route to Lake Tahoe and always knew the area had plenty to offer.
The chance to camp and run a few trails in my newly upgraded 100-series Land Cruiser came courtesy of my friend Steve Makowski, whose family lives locally and shared several outstanding off-the-beaten-path spots.
My son and my godson joined me, and we made the smooth six-hour drive from Los Angeles to Bridgeport with no delays.
The Rigs
1999 Toyota Land Cruiser
I’ve owned my 100-series Land Cruiser for nearly a year and it’s been through a sizeable transformation. The latest upgrade was an Ironman Foam Cell Pro Stage 2 suspension, which added 2 inches of lift all around and gave plenty of clearance for the 285/75 R16 BFG KO2 tires.
I also installed an Ironman Classic bumper, White Knuckle off-road sliders, and Lightforce Genesis off-road lights—so the vehicle was ready for the terrain.
2012 Toyota 4Runner Trail Edition
Steve had just picked up a Trail Edition 4Runner and this was its maiden off-road trip. As a longtime Subaru owner, he wanted the added power, clearance, and capability a true 4WD provides.
The Trail Edition 4Runner checked all of Steve’s boxes; he’s ready to begin adding tasteful modifications soon.
2019 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X
Our friend Morgan West joined in his 2019 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X. He’d recently acquired a rooftop tent and mounted it to a heavy-duty truck bed rack—perfect for a weekend like this.
The Camp
Our campsite was ideal for the group and offered a sweeping view of the Bodie Hills. We felt pleasantly secluded; the only downside was a restriction on campfires due to nearby wildfire activity.
There was some smoke in the air, but the wind shifted and cleared most of it by the following day.
I slept in the Land Cruiser with my son, Morgan used his rooftop tent, and Steve camped comfortably on a Luno air mattress.
We woke to spectacular views and a variety of coffees prepared by our Camp Chefs. It turned into a friendly Camp Chef showdown as everyone wanted to put their gear to use.
We relied heavily on new Yeti Trailhead camp chairs, Yeti duffels, a trusty Yeti Tundra cooler, and a Frontrunner stainless-steel camp table—each item performed admirably. I’ll share a detailed gear review soon.
Off-Roading
A primary goal of the trip was to spend a day hiking and off-roading. We did a short but steep hike to Emma Lake, where some of us cooled off with a dip in the clear mountain water. The trail is short but climbs quickly, reaching around 9,000 feet.
After a quick lunch we loaded up and drove into the Bodie Hills. This was the first real off-road outing for Steve’s 4Runner, so it was the perfect place to lock into 4-Lo and test the vehicle’s capabilities.
I recently subscribed to OnX Offroad and use it regularly to plan routes, locate dispersed campsites, and find lesser-known roads. It’s also useful for researching property boundaries and ownership—handy as we consider building a campground in the future.
We discovered several enjoyable trails in the Bodie Hills. The new Ironman suspension absorbed the rough sections well, and I picked up a few desert dust pinstripes as a souvenir of the drive.
We paused at an abandoned gold mine that was blocked off, but otherwise the area was open and wide. Thankfully I avoided any tire punctures. We rolled out an awning for shade and took a break—some of the kids even napped through the bumpy stretch that followed.
The BFG KO2 tires performed well on washboard roads and clung confidently to rocks and inclines as we pushed our vehicles.
I’ll definitely return to explore more—this trip only scratched the surface of what Bridgeport and the surrounding hills offer.
Many thanks to Steve Makowski for planning the trip and capturing such striking photos, and to Morgan West for helping with photos and video. All photos are courtesy of Steve Makowski.
