Chilao Campground

Chilao Campground is an overnight camping ground. It's drier than Charlton Flats, as you can see from the sagebrush in this photo of one of the meadows.

While you're there, stop at the Visitors' Center if it's open. It has a volunteer or two on duty, and has some cool exhibits, including small stuffed animals like kangaroo rats. You can also buy books and maps.

A bandit gang used to hide out in these mountains between heists during the 19th century. According to one story, Chilao Flats was named after one of them -- the man who guarded the unused horses here while the rest of the band was out on business. One day a grizzly bear attacked the horses, and he killed it with only a knife, so he became known as "the hot one," chilao.