Camping off Nacimiento-Ferguson

J

Junkie

gone for now
A friend wants to do some sightseeing and camping. Big Sur seems like a good option.

I know that there's dispersed camping off of Nacimiento Ferguson: I see Apple Campground, Prewitt Ridge Campground, Alms Campground. My understanding is that there isn't much to any of them.

I've been there once, more than a decade ago. Then, access (as far as I went, I don't remember exactly where it was) wasn't a problem in an Integra... but it was dry.

Is access still reasonable, 2 up on a streetbike on street tires?

How bad does it get when it's wet? How long do I want to wait after it's rained to go?

Is camping there in late February going to be miserable if it's dry?

and then a question about Hunter Liggett: are foreign nationals allowed through? Probably wouldn't be making any real stops, just going through from the coast to inland. Chinese national on a student visa if it matters.

Thanks for any help.
 
Cabrito

Cabrito

cabrón
On a street bike you can ride from Hwy 1 over to Hunter Liggett no problem. It's all paved. There are some official campgrounds on the way to Hunter Liggett after you go over the hill from Hwy 1.

There are no gates or guards to check you at Hunter Liggett, or at least I've never seen any in several years. No problem with your foreigners that I can see. Just don't speed or go where you aren't supposed to go on the base.
 
m0t0_ryder

m0t0_ryder

RYD!
You are right, there are a few small camp grounds along Coast Ridge Trail, which intersects Naciemento-Ferguson Rd at the top of the ridge.

If going up from the ocean side (Hwy 1) and turn right on the Coast Ridge Trail dirt road you'll find the first campground (Apple) a couple miles down the road.
It is mostly unimproved (no toilets) but is level and open (for that area).

In dry conditions any car can make it there.
If it was wet I could see some problem areas because of some of the up's and downs on (mostly) clay based soil.
A street moto, on street tires in the wet could be a problem to.
I wouldn't recommend it.

Folks used to camp along Naciemento-Ferguson Rd on the coast side at any wide spot in the road. They have now outlawed that.

There's also a couple small campgrounds along (paved) Naciemento-Ferguson as you decend off the ridge top.
 
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J

Junkie

gone for now
I didn't realize that there were camping spots right off the paved road, that's helpful. Which side of the ridge are they on, east or west? I remember the view from Coast Ridge Trail being spectacular, which is one of the reasons I was thinking of it.

Any idea how long it takes the road to dry out?
 
matty

matty

Well-known member
Junkie said:
I didn't realize that there were camping spots right off the paved road, that's helpful. Which side of the ridge are they on, east or west?
Click to expand...

East, there is one at least, I think 2, as far as I know there are no reservations at those spots, first come first serve, at least that's how it used to be. They are fine, vaulted toilets, right next to a creek. The road should be passable, unless there's a slide.

Edit: I've also camped at memorial campground in the late spring and I was the only one there, it's a bit north of Fort Hunter, but still no guard booth and a short hop to N/F road.
 
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HadesOmega

HadesOmega

Well-known member
If your going to camp at prewitt ridge in any of the dirty areas you should be able to take a street bike if you take it easy. There is silt in some places though.
 
Cabrito

Cabrito

cabrón
Sit on a piece of wood or the ground or on your chair.. The dispersed areas have nothing. No tables, no toilets, ect.
 
m0t0_ryder

m0t0_ryder

RYD!
Nacimiento Campground is on the East side of the ridge of Nacimiento-Ferguson.

Ponderosa Campground is on the West side of the ridge.

There are others.

The easiest way to find these (and many other) campgrounds is to google (in this case) Nacimiento-Ferguson road.
Click on the Google map box to the right which opens the full map.
Minimize that info box to the left to show only map.
Zoom in fairly close and follow the road.
The campgrounds along the route will show on the map, as long as you are zoomed in enough.
Then just google the campground name and look for details.
I use this method all the time to find out of the way places.
 
Cabrito

Cabrito

cabrón
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J

Junkie

gone for now
I've been there exactly once and it was in December and don't remember flies, which is why I ask.

if anyone knows the area well enough to tell me where exactly I took these I'd appreciate it

OAJcuhY.jpg


mjjzY22.jpg
 
HadesOmega

HadesOmega

Well-known member
Junkie said:
Do the dispersed campgrounds have anywhere to sit or will I need to bring something for that?
Click to expand...

Some of them do and some of them don't
20150228_113602-XL.jpg


20150227_170039-XL.jpg


On Prewitt ridge the flies are pretty nasty but probably not this time of year. if you have a campfire it kinda shoes them away.
 
SFMCjohn

SFMCjohn

13
HadesOmega said:
Some of them do and some of them don't
Click to expand...

here's a pic of a campsite with a picnic table on the way down to Prewitt Ridge:

20150127-121342.jpg


this campsite had big logs to sit on around the fire pit ... and a tree for a hammock ... :ride

20150127-121304.jpg


no bugs or silt up there in January ... :gsxrgrl

don't recall having to get an Adventure Pass for Prewitt Ridge, but it's been a while ... don't you only need an AP to park a vehicle at a trailhead by itself for a while ...?
 
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J

Junkie

gone for now
I'm thinking your final pic there might be where my 12 year old pics are from.

Thanks for the info.

I think I'll end up calling Hunter Liggett first anyway, just because I can't imagine getting her arrested would go over well (if they don't allow foreign nationals, even with no gate).
 
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