Calif Central Coast - Big Sur area dirt roads

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e9999

e9999

Gotta get out there...
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well, was just there for a couple of days. The coast is gorgeous as everybody knows (and crowded). Spent exploring some of the mountains a bit inland from the Lucia / Gorda area, though.

Turns out there are actually a few dirt roads within 10 or 20 miles from the beach up in the mountains. Easy graded dirt roads actually, little need for 4 WD. But a day or 2 worth of gentle exploring if you're tired of the crowds of tourists driving the 1. And some undeveloped campgrounds up there. Views are superb.

No cell reception for 60 miles on 1, but one point on top of the South Coast Ridge road has sketchy reception, probably catching 101, FWIW.

(One important note: Plaskett Ridge road is now closed in the middle, unlike what it says in at least one book, so a shorter loop including that one is no longer possible.)
 
typical water level Big Sur shot (top)

and then on Cone Peak: sunrise from the top of the mountain looking inland and then sunset looking down at the coast. Yes, that is the marine layer cover seen from the top. It's amazing how it flows like water in the canyons.
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and big sur coast from top of the South Coast Ridge dirt road.
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I have been on those roads. Very fun!
 
Awesome area and pics!! When we used to live in the bay area, we would camp in Big Sur almost every weekend!!! Your #3 picture looks like a spot we took one of our favorite pictures at with the fog in the background!

Did you use "California Coastal Byways" by Tony Huegel? That's how we found the dirt roads. Did you get up to Cone Peak? It sometimes gets snow!!

Again, great pics, I'm sure you had an awesome time! It brings back great memories!
 
offroadkid said:
Awesome area and pics!! When we used to live in the bay area, we would camp in Big Sur almost every weekend!!! Your #3 picture looks like a spot we took one of our favorite pictures at with the fog in the background!

Did you use "California Coastal Byways" by Tony Huegel? That's how we found the dirt roads. Did you get up to Cone Peak? It sometimes gets snow!!

Again, great pics, I'm sure you had an awesome time! It brings back great memories!
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Yup, Tony Huegel's. Yup, went up top on Cone Peak. Well, the road, not the final hiking trail.
The dirt roads show clearly on the AAA Monterey Bay map, I just found out.
 
Nice photos! I have surfed and camped down there for many years,lots of good times.That 1st.photo is a great surf spot(Willow Creek)one of my favorites.Did you see the new Treebones resort right past there,on the way up the dirt road(Los Burros rd.) they have yurts to stay at(spendy$$)With a little pool.Pretty cool we just checked it out,I know it's been there a wile.
But did you see the road on the left after you get up a ways on that road.It goes back down toward Willow Creek,some pretty big ruts and lots of bushes to scratch your truck.I have been down it a bunch,took my old 80 down there and had some fun.Comming up out to the main road,lifted a tire and got a little tippy.But that road does dead end,then you can hike to the river/creek.I remember a bridge for hiking over the creek.
 
i am so glad i found this thread again. I put out some feelers for forest roads int he Santa Cruz area and got no responses. Do you know where to get maps?? or the best roads to do??
 
PabloVTA,you can go on reserveamerica.com to look at campgrounds.Search Big Sur,My faves.are Kirk Creek(ocean side of hwy.1-nice ocean view sites,it's at Hwy.1 & Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd.,and Plasket Creek inland side of 1 across the st.from Sandollar beach.Plasket also has the dirt access road going up into the mtns.
In the little town of Big Sur(about 40-mins.north of those C.G.s)There are some really cool little places to eat and drink.The best campground there is the big Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.Nice place to camp along the Big Sur river,lots of good sites,good hiking trails and even a nice Lodge to stay in.

Roguebetty check it out you will be stoked! Just pick up a copy of that book"Ca.Costal Byways" By Tony Huegel.Or just look for Nacimiento-Ferg.rd.that is a good one to get you up there into the dirt roads.There is a intersection near the top Left or right are good dirt roads.
Enjoy,John Ps.Sorry for the Hijack,seems that this section is a little slow sometimes.
 
Here are a few more,man e999 you take some really nice shots yours came out really clear. Mine are poor quality,guess thats what you get with using a small e-mail size pics.easy to use but bad shots!
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Thanks J-
Going into Santa Cruz, grabbing the little sister and friend for a show at the Catalyst on Oct 10th. Thought it would be fun to do a little exploring. We are coming in from the tri-valley (Dublin). You got any other good places in the area??? Redwoods possibly.

Did Lost Coast in the late spring. So cool. Makes you feel right small standing under a huge redwood. Plus it gave me an excuse to hit up all the breweries from Rogue down past Eureka. Crossed over through the lower Shasta-T and came out through Harrison Gulch by Red Bluff.

On that note any good micro breweries???:D
 
Nice pics e9999. I camped out in Prewitt Ridge back in July. As I was driving up Los Burros I was wondering about the small looking cabins (yurts) and didn't know if it was possibly a rustic resort or a small commune. Maybe it is Treebones that I saw.

And I was wondering what the road going left and downhill led to... I wrote about Prewitt Ridge on my blog. While I was up there, there shark advisory postings of a shark seen around Willow Creek and Sand Dollar Beach. :eek:

jsuthey said:
Did you see the new Treebones resort right past there,on the way up the dirt road(Los Burros rd.) they have yurts to stay at(spendy$$)With a little pool.

But did you see the road on the left after you get up a ways on that road.It goes back down toward Willow Creek,some pretty big ruts and lots of bushes to scratch your truck.I have been down it a bunch,took my old 80 down there and had some fun.Comming up out to the main road,lifted a tire and got a little tippy.But that road does dead end,then you can hike to the river/creek.I remember a bridge for hiking over the creek.
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Yea R.Betty,I read your post again and saw that you were looking for some dirt rds.in S.C. Yea there are some good ones,I just found a real rough one up in the Santa cruz mtns.last month.Got my T-100 stuck pretty bad,I was backing down a steep rutted loose dirt hill cause I could not make it up.I tried my hi-lift,then the come-along but could not get out.A local deisel 40 guy showed up and pulled my ass out! He is also a ih8mudder!
That rd.is off Jaminson creek rd.on the way to Big basin st.park.Be sure to check out Henry Cowell st. park in Felton also real close to S.C.Good hiking trails,no off road there though.I Live in Felton 6-mi.from downtown SC(S.C. county is 341 sq.miles!)So there is lots to do and see.
Microbrews,there is one off Swift st. on the westside/SC.It's called SC Mountains Brewing co.
You can Pm me for more info also!
LatinoGuy,thats cool you saw that road! It's a good one in Big Sur.
 
offroadkid said:
Kirk Creek, spot#9 is our favorite! Last time I checked that spot is not one of the reservable ones.
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Agreed, Kirk Creek has some nugget camp sites with great ocean views.
 
Looks awesome! That's not too far from where I am.
 
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