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Dispersed Camping

Williams Hill Recreation Area

Williams Hill Recreation Area, near Bradley, California, is a fantastic spot for those looking to escape into nature without the frills of a traditional campground. This area offers a rugged experience with picnic tables and fire rings at each site, making it perfect for campfire cooking and storytelling under the stars.

Visitors rave about the stunning views of the Coastal Range and the Salinas Valley, which are truly a sight to behold. One camper noted, “The view is amazing!!” and many appreciate the clean, well-kept vault toilet available on-site. Just remember, there’s no drinking water, so pack enough for your stay.

For those who enjoy a bit of adventure, the road leading up to the area can be a bit rough, but it’s manageable for most vehicles. While some campers mentioned the occasional noise from target shooting in the distance, many found the overall atmosphere peaceful, especially during the off-season when it’s quieter.

If you’re looking for a place to unwind and soak in the beauty of California’s outdoors, Williams Hill is a solid choice. Just be sure to bring your own water and be prepared for a bit of a drive to get there.

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Location

Williams Hill Recreation Area is located in California

Detail location of campground

Directions

Primary access is from US Highway 101. Take the San Ardo exit and travel west onto Paris Valley Road, turn left onto Lockwood-San Ardo Road. The public lands boundary begins approximately 5 miles down the road from the Lockwood-San Ardo Road turnoff. Once at Williams Hill, the campground can be reached by turning onto road W1 and heading south.

Coordinates

35.97826095 N
121.00942018 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Good
  • AT&T
    Good
  • T-Mobile
    Good

Site Types

  • RV Sites
  • Dispersed

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sewer Hookups
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

DISPERSED CAMPING

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.


PERMIT might be REQUIRED

We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Williams Hill Recreation Area needs a permit.

Contact

General Info

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Reviews

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24 Reviews

Reviewed Sep. 30, 2024

Free established BLM campground

We stayed here for 3 nights in the summer, arriving on a Sunday, and it was great. I was worried about the heat, but it really wasn’t too bad, even on the hot days (low 90s) it cools down in the evening and didn’t get hot until early afternoon. Just be sure to get one of the shady spots! We set up in site #1 when we first arrived because it was private and had nice views, but it was way too much direct sun. We moved to #4 and it was much better- shady and even better views. 

There were other people here when we stayed here but everyone was very quiet and respectful, and we didn’t hear any shooting like other reviews have mentioned— this may be due to the ban on shooting (and camp fires) at this time because of fire danger, but I was still impressed and surprised that people respected the ban. There is one pit toilet that we didn’t check out, but man you can smell it if you camp in one of the sites near to it. 

We saw one volunteer/employee come and clean things up while we were here. We were pleasantly surprised that the trash wasn’t too bad here. No trash service so please pack out your waste. Cell service is good up at the campground, though you do lose it in parts on the drive up. We made it up in our 26ft class c no problem, though the road is narrow at times and we were glad we didn’t come across any oncoming traffic. Sites are relatively flat/ fixable with levels. Two of the sites are huge/ pull throughs so would be good for bigger rigs or big groups. If you get up here and all the sites are taken, there are several spots outside of the campground where you can disperse camp. 

This is an OHV area but we didn’t see any while we were here. We hiked along the OHV trails and there was nothing- but I could see it getting busy on the weekends. 

There's a 14 day stay limit. No water provided up here.

My only complaint was the BEES! They were everywhere and aggressive, and all in our face, but didn’t sting us. One of the campers said that this was unusual though. Really nice campground, amazing that it’s free! Thanks BLM!

Site4
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Laura M., September 30, 2024
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Laura M., September 30, 2024
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Laura M., September 30, 2024
  • (12) View All
Reviewed Jul. 1, 2024

Great get away

Clean camp. Restroom was clean. View was beautiful. There was a 6 mile dirt road to the camp. Easy signage. Saw wild boar and dear along the way. Drove a Hyundai Accent.

Site4
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Rosemary L., July 1, 2024
Reviewed Jun. 16, 2024

Quiet and peaceful

The drive up has around five miles of very well maintained dirt road, but very much worth it. Some dispersed camping areas and a campground with 5 spots with a shelter and a picnic table at each one. Bathroom was very clean.

Views are magnificent.

Siterear site
Month of VisitJune
Reviewed Apr. 25, 2024

Beautiful Views on Top of the Mountain

It is a long 5 miles up a long dirt road which is actually pretty nice compared to others we have traveled. There are some steep hairpinish turns that we had to disconnect our toad but wow when you get there it is perfect. So peaceful and very clean. We are in a 36’ class a with jeep toad

Sitelarge pull through near restroom (vault toilet)
Month of VisitApril
Reviewed Apr. 21, 2024

Nice BLM

The road to come to the BLM was not bad, we came with a van and had no problems. The campground is nice and clean, vault toilet with TP &clean. Camp spots with table & shade & the view on the hills is incredible

Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Leen , April 21, 2024
Reviewed Nov. 8, 2023

Better than expected!

Very nice and quiet and clean campground. Arrived late Friday afternoon and left Sunday evening. Camp had a fire ring, shaded concrete patio and a picnic table. The single vault toilet was clean and sufficiently stocked with TP. No other amenities other than what the forest provides. Lots of area to explore, but this is mainly an off road vehicle area.

Site7
Month of VisitNovember
Reviewed Mar. 27, 2023

Amazing view

The view is amazing!! I would recommend driving up the mountain through Lockwood, the drive is much easier and less scary. We arrived around 5:30pm (end of march) and there was only 1 spot left

Month of VisitMarch
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Reviewed Mar. 7, 2023

Clean with some views

Beautiful place, wish I couldn’t hear the gunshots but at least they’re far away. I’m from Los Angeles so I don’t mind the shots but would prefer to hear the birds more.

Site6
Month of VisitMarch
Reviewed Feb. 24, 2023

Free BLM

Amenities include one vault toilet, sometimes runs out of toilet paper on a busy weekend, picnic tables with shelter and fire pits. No water, no trash, fire bans most the dry months.

Month of VisitFebruary
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Wandering C., February 24, 2023
Reviewed May. 8, 2022

Beautiful spot spoiled with target shooters

I love the spot but the constant barrage of target shooting makes it hard to really enjoy! Road is rough getting here but doable. Clean vaulted toilet, great camping spaces with covered tables and a beautiful view. But the shooters really ruin the serenity of this place.

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Robbie S., May 8, 2022
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Robbie S., May 8, 2022
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Robbie S., May 8, 2022
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Jan. 19, 2022

Great views!

Clean spot. Service. Great views. Off season camping is the best, no noise of any kind all three days.

Site4
Month of VisitJanuary
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Cliff K., January 19, 2022
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Cliff K., January 19, 2022
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  • (6) View All
Reviewed Oct. 24, 2021

Listen to the Quiet

7 sites suitable for tents, vans, rv's, tt. Sites have covered shelter with metal picnic tables with overhangs for stove and a fire ring. Sites 5 and 7 suitable for larger rigs. Site 5 is pull thru will accommodate 40ft+ rig and pull vehicle. Site 7 is back-in site pull vehicle parks on one side of shelter, 40'+ capable. These sites are dry camping with vault toilet. Offers views of Coastal Range on west Salinas Valley on right. Eastern road from San Ardo/PCH unpaved, washboard on lower end, no steep grades. Turn onto W1 is close for larger rigs as well as turn into campground. Directly opposite of campground entrance is extra large flat dispersed site capable of any length. Road up is narrow must yield to downhill traffic. No electric hookups gens allowed but be mindful of neighbors.

SiteSite 4
Month of VisitOctober
Reviewed Aug. 7, 2021

Hill top free site

Site is first come first served so get there early. Sites have awesome valley views. Vault toilet, fire ring available. Lots of ATV, dirt bike use be prepared for the dust and noise.

Month of VisitFebruary
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Dennis R., August 7, 2021
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Dennis R., August 7, 2021
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Dennis R., August 7, 2021
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Aug. 1, 2021

Nice Campsite, Bad Wasps

This campsite is nice, each of the 7 spots has a fire ring and covered picnic table. However, the wasps and the heat are almost unbearable. We could hear the wasps at 6 am before we even got out of the car. They harass you and make it impossible to sit outside without a bug net. The bathroom here is basic but suprisingly clean. Be careful on the road up to the site, it is gravel for the last few miles and becomes one lane as you get to the high, very windy portion. The only downsides are location, heat, and the wasps!

Site4
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Olivia W., August 1, 2021
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Olivia W., August 1, 2021
Reviewed Jun. 2, 2021

Hard to believe that it is free

We towed our 30' travel trailer up to this dispersed campground that is located along a ridge line on the west side of the 101.  When we went, of the (7) formal sites that are up there, only 3 of them were taken and that was off and on.   We didn't need 4x4 getting up there or even a high clearance vehicle.  Our transmission did start heating up as the road was filled with washboard and it was steep and we had to go pretty slow.  However, any car will be able to make it up there.  The road was safe and relatively wide, but it drops off and you wouldn't stop until you got to the bottom.....  If the (7) spots are taken, there are at least 2 large areas before and after the camp ground that you can camp. 

The view is fantastic, there is a really nice pit toilet, but I don't remember seeing any water hoses.

Each of the (7) sites had a concrete pad with a covered picnic table and a BBQ pit!  Please pick up your trash if you go.  There was some beer cans and other garbage left behind by some mental midgets.

  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Brett L., June 2, 2021
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Brett L., June 2, 2021
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Brett L., June 2, 2021
  • (4) View All
Reviewed May. 25, 2021

Expansive views and peaceful

I spent two nights at this BLM property. It was very quiet except for relatively far off gunfire one morning. I think there are eight campsites here, Each one with a covered picnic table. There is a well-maintained pit toilet relatively close to all sites. The campers were respectful of each other…I heard no one. The weather was mild with temperatures into the 70s during the day, and it got down to 40 at night. Verizon coverage with 2 bars LTE

Month of VisitMay
Reviewed May. 14, 2021

Great free camping

Awesome spot takes a while to get there but, once you’re there great views. Lots of trees for shade. Met some very nice people. FREE(-;

Month of VisitMay
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  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Toni  K., May 14, 2021
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Toni  K., May 14, 2021
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jan. 13, 2021

Cool Area, limited spots

This is a nice area and it's free so you can't beat that. Unfortunately there aren't a ton of spots to camp. I've been twice now and both times the actual camp sites were full by the time I got there (2-3pm Friday). Leaving us to grab one of the few remaining dispersed spots. If you can get on it super early you may get lucky. The road in was fine for 4x4 but there was one stretch with some ruts that could prove hairy if you aren't good at driving on dirt.

Reviewed Jan. 1, 2021

Amazing Views

•7 designated campsites with covered structure, picnic table and fire pit •A few additional overflow areas to park and camp •Pit toilet - BYO toilet paper •No trash receptacles •Great Verizon reception / Decent Sprint reception •Drive thru campsites (~2) for larger rigs •Beautiful views, clean and quiet •Plenty of fire roads to walk/hike/bike •Rough, washboard roads leading into camp •Popular area for shooting •Highly trafficked campsite - most campers only stayed 1 night •Pictures are taken late December •Daytime temps - 60’s •Nighttime temps - low 40’s •Free!

  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Amanda S., January 1, 2021
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Amanda S., January 1, 2021
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Amanda S., January 1, 2021
  • (11) View All
Reviewed Nov. 27, 2020

Just camping

Stayed here one night Nov 18 Small blm property Camp is full I stayed in an area just before the campground Hiking is limited to the trough roads And people go here to shoot guns at the side of a mountain Verizon signal very good here.

  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Manny R., November 27, 2020
Reviewed Nov. 1, 2020

Small BLM spot

Loved this spot as other options were concrete RV parking lots!We were surprised to find a small campground - 7 sites with picnic tables, shades and a drop toilet at the top of hill as we expected just disbursed camping in pull-outs off the few fireroads. The sites were full as we arrived late on a Sat night but we easily found a private spot nearby. There was a group partying on the top of the next hill and you could hear their tecno music and their laughter (which we kinda enjoyed :)) but otherwise it was a quiet place. It is about 15-20 miles off the Hwy and the last 7 or so miles are on a well maintained but narrow gravel road which has a few tight switchbacks near the top. Best for tents, vans and very small trailers. No water or electricity.

  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Lisa , November 1, 2020
  • Review photo of Williams Hill Recreation Area by Lisa , November 1, 2020

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does Williams Hill Recreation Area have RV hookups?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Williams Hill Recreation Area has sewer hookups.

  • Are fires allowed at Williams Hill Recreation Area?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Williams Hill Recreation Area, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Williams Hill Recreation Area have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Williams Hill Recreation Area does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Williams Hill Recreation Area?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is good, and T-Mobile is good.