By Jackson West

ONE OF THE perks of living in a booming metropolis positioned near bay, mountain, and forest is that you don't need a car to go camping. We have all the benefits of accessible wilderness and public transportation combined. Do you want to go fishing for trout? White-water kayaking? Birding? All you need is exact change, some patience, and a willingness to carry stuff on your back.

We're surrounded by naked wilderness, and it's easy get out into all that natural beauty without ever having to get behind the wheel of some gas-guzzling death trap. Considering the traffic on I-80, public transportation and biking might not take much longer than driving.

The hardest part can be the planning. Arranging all the routes, schedules, and maps that span different modes, municipalities, and providers seems like more effort than arriving at a unified field theory (even Einstein would surely find Muni a problem without a solution).

But finding a place to pitch a tent isn't difficult. Angel Island is two short ferry rides away (and the San Francisco-Tiburon ferry serves drinks on the way, to boot). The West Marin Stagecoach bus line serves Point Reyes, Taylor State Park, and Muir and Stinson Beaches. SamTrans 294 goes from Hillsdale to Half Moon Bay State Beach. AC Transit will take you to Anthony Chabot Regional Park. All of these have bike racks – and a bike is a great way to quickly get from the last stop to your campground. Visit 511 Transit (www.transitinfo.org) and use its Trip Planner to get route and transfer instructions from your home to a local park.

But if you'd like to explore further afield, remember that there are a mélange of carriers available: BART, CalTrain, Greyhound, Amtrak, the ACE – one can even hop on an intercity Airporter bus in a pinch. They all publish fares and schedules online (though how well they stick to those schedules is a mixed bag). They'll take you to regional transit hubs like Santa Rosa, Sacramento, Salinas, and Santa Cruz.

Don't plan on showing up unannounced at the park entrance, especially on weekends – during summer, chances are that camping space is booked solid. Reserve spots at state and national parks ahead of time via ReserveAmerica (www.reserveamerica.com). County Web sites are good sources for county park reservation information.

Buy your food and fuel (coal, firewood, or propane) at or near the campsite to cut down on what you have to haul from home. Bring your cell phone in case of an emergency – though you should turn it off to save your battery and your sanity. The last thing you need while relaxing in the wilderness is a call from your boss.

Below are some great ideas to get you started traipsing around the countryside auto-free. Check schedules online before you go – some routes have limited schedules on weekends and holidays, and others don't run during the week.

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

Nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains, this park hosts old-growth redwoods that have been around longer than the cathedral at Chartres. The native Zayante tribe and Spanish conquistadores have come and gone, but the forest and chaparral remain the same. Hike the 15 to 20 miles of trails or take a side trip to Bonnydoon Beach for sun and surf.

To get there Take Greyhound to Santa Cruz, where you can stock up on supplies. From the Santa Cruz Metro depot, take the 31, which will drop you off right next to the entrance of the park. See, that's not so hard!

Transit time 3:15. Total fare $12.50.

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

It's a long trip to where Jack Kerouac drank himself to death, but the world-class majesty of Big Sur is definitely worth it. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, a few miles to the south, features an 80-foot waterfall that pours directly into the Pacific Ocean. Take a dip in the Big Sur River, or just grab a bottle of Central Coast Pinot Noir and quaff it atop a cliff.

To get there Take Greyhound or Amtrak to Salinas. From Salinas, take the MST (Monterey-Salinas Transit) 20 or 21 to Monterey, where Adventures by the Sea (299 Cannery Row. 831-372-1807) offers multiday bike-rental discounts. Transfer at the Monterey bus depot to the 22, which will drop you off at the Big Sur Lodge on Highway 1. Alternately, you can take BART to Millbrae, CalTrain from Millbrae to Gilroy, and then the MST 25 from Gilroy to Monterey before transferring to the 22.

Transit time 6:00. Total fare $22.

Folsom Lake State Recreation Area

The town of Folsom, 22 miles east of Sacramento, is probably best known for the prison where Johnny Cash recorded his seminal live album. A dam on the American River created Folsom Lake, and the hot inland weather is a great escape from summer fog. Bring a fishing pole and try to catch some trout or catfish for dinner. The Beals Point concession rents rowboats and small sailboats.

To get there Take the Amtrak Capitol Corridor train from Oakland's Jack London Square to Sacramento. In Sacramento, you can rent a bike at City Bicycle Works (2149 K St. 916-447-2453), a 2-mile walk or a short cab ride from the station, or bring your own bike on the train. Transfer to Sacramento Regional Transit and take the Downtown-Sunrise light rail to the end of the line. From there, it's a 10-mile bike ride to Beals Point along Folsom Boulevard. Note that the light rail line is due to begin regular service all the way to downtown Folsom in June. Alternately, you can bike the entire 32 miles from Sacramento on the American River Bike Trail.

Transit time 2:45. Total fare $18.50.

Sonoma Coast State Beach

This is a gorgeous coastal preserve that extends from Bodega Bay to the Russian River estuary. Worship the sun on a sandy beach or beat the heat under the shade of redwoods. Kayaks can be rented on Bodega Bay at Bodega Bay Kayak (Blue Whale Shopping Center, East Shore Dr. 707-875-8899) or in Jenner at Lotus Kayak Rentals (707-865-9604). You can reserve a campsite at Wright's Beach or Bodega Dunes, or for a more rustic experience, try the Willow Creek or Pomo Canyon hike-in camps (reservations not available).

To get there For Wright's Beach and Bodega Dunes, take Greyhound to Santa Rosa's Second Street Bus Depot and transfer to the Mendocino County Transit Point Arena bus to Bodega Bay. Alternately, you can rent a bike in Santa Rosa, take the Sonoma County Transit 20 bus to Duncans Mills, and then bike down Highway 116 to the Highway 1 bridge over the river (just before you reach Jenner). Turn left onto the bridge and then left again onto Willow Creek Road.

Travel time 2:30. Total fare $16.75.

Start your engines ...

The Internet is the best thing to happen to carless campers since synthetic fibers. Here are tools to help you make the most of your auto-free summer.

American Public Transit Association www.apta.com/links/state_local/ca.cfm. The APTA has a great compendium of links to local transit agency Web sites across the state, listed by county.

Amtrak www.amtrak.com, 1-800-872-7245.

California State Parks parks.ca.gov. This Web site is your one-stop shop for information on state parks in California. Here you'll find phone numbers for campgrounds; be sure to call ahead for regulations and hike-in site availability. Many park pages offer topographical and aerial-view maps to help you plan your hiking, biking, and kayaking.

Google Maps maps.google.com. Google is an excellent resource for comparing a transit map with a park map, finding distances and directions between points, and even checking out the layout of your campsite.

Greyhound www.greyhound.com, 1-800-231-2222.

ReserveAmerica www.reserveamerica.com. This site serves most of the state and national parks in California; go here to check for site availability and make reservations.

J.W.