The Southern and Central map gives you sites up through the San Francisco area, and the Northern map up to the Oregon border. Available at your local Automobile Club of Southern California office or by phone. Free for members, low cost for non-members. Hiking also becomes a pleasure after the season when the madding crowds have left for football viewing. Trails that were unbearably hot in July become cool, breezy gardens in November.
Deserts are terrific places to hike and camp in the late fall and early spring.
The first time I ever saw Death Valley, it was at its most beautiful in late March. In fact, three of their campgrounds are only open October through April. Some campgrounds are even free after the season ends. So don't put all the gear away quite yet. Now is the time to have the outdoors all to ourselves.