Destination: Kirk Creek Campground, Los Padres NF

Location: Rugged mountains falling into the sea.

Weather: Coastal, but often sunny and warm even in winter.

Neighbors: Well spaced sites, popular campground but often possible to get a site on Friday afternoon.

Activities: Hiking, beach, cycling, backroad exploring, surfing.

Dog: Leash required but rarely enforced.

Facilities: Flush toilets, non-potable water.

Kirk Creek has become a go-to spot for myself and several of my friends. When the rare weekend comes along with a blank space on the calendar, we will throw some firewood in the truck and cruise down the winding Carmel and Big Sur coastline. This is one of those destinations where the drive to get there is part of the fun.

Just a few miles south of Lucia, the campground sits on a cliff between Highway 1 and the ocean, and nearly every well-spaced site has a view. The remoteness and distracting beauty of Big Sur make it exceedingly easy to let go of the real world. Bring binoculars for seasonal whale and dolphin spotting.

A short trail leads down the cliff to the narrow beach, which depending on tide may be under water. One of the best features of Kirk Creek is the often favorable weather; in fact winter is probably the best time to go if a sunny weekend is in the weather report. The beach here is nice for sunning and playing with the dog, and the sheer cliffs provide privacy and wind shelter.

Should the beach here be submerged, there are plenty of other activities within reach. Nacimiento-Ferguson road, which begins across the highway from the campground, leads all the way across the Ventana Wilderness and is the access to many hikes and forest fire roads. Cone Peak is one excellent short hike, providing a mile high, 360-degree view of the surrounding wilderness and ocean.

Cut in a half-circle from the cliffs, Sand Dollar beach is a short drive south on the highway, directly across from Plaskett Campground. It is popular with surfers, and gentle waves are good for kids while you enjoy the sun and the view.

Limekiln State Park is just north of Kirk Creek. It is currently closed due to the recent fires, but offers extensive hiking and exploration of the historic lime kilns used by the mining operations there.

Be aware that the fires of last year caused much of the Big Sur area to be closed. Kirk Creek and most everything on the ocean side of Highway 1 was unaffected. See this map for the area of the National Forest closure. There is no official word on when the wilderness will reopen, but it is likely that when the threat of mudslides has passed we will be able to explore the Santa Lucia range again.

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Destination: Wright's Beach Campground, Sonoma Coast State Beach

Location: Gorgeous California coastline

Weather: Expect morning fog, cool afternoon seabreeze.

Neighbors: Wright's is tightly packed, very popular. Reservations recommended far in advance.

Activities: Coastal hiking, beach, swimming not recommended due to rip currents.

Dog: On leash, strict rangers.

Facilities: Clean, newer bathrooms, flush toilets, hot water. Showers at Bodega Dunes campground.


When I was a kid and my parents said, "We're going camping at Sunset State Beach!" it sounded to me like we'd be camping on the beach. How cool would that be? Not wearing shoes the whole weekend, and making your brother eat breakfast while buried neck-deep in the sand!

That turned out to be a ruse, but at Wright's Beach you can camp on the beach. The tightly spaced sites are on the sand, and if you reserve your site really early, you will have an ocean view from your campfire. There is a trade off to the best sites, as they are the frontline to the chilly breezes that whip off the sea in the afternoon. It is an extremely popular campground, and people wait until the stroke of midnight to get choice reservations as they come available 6 months in advance.

Wright's beach is not a place to go if you expect to swim in the ocean. There is a very strong rip current just off the beach, and the park rangers are more than happy to regale you with stories of those who have been sucked under. I was indeed amused by the sign near the bathroom which depicts a cartoon man in a spin cycle under a wave.

Starting immediately from the campground is the Sonoma Coast Trail, which makes its way along the meadows above the beach, all the way to Goat Rock. This relatively flat hike will take you 3 miles across some truly beautiful coastline, and our trip in mid-May included some vivid wildflower displays.

Nearby Bodega Dunes Campground is also reportedly a fine place to camp, and is easier to get into, although it is not "on the beach". No dogs are allowed on the beach here to protect the endangered Snowy Plover.


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