Best Dispersed Camping near Carmel Valley Village, CA

This was one of the most beautiful backpacking hikes I've ever done, but also one of the more challenging ones to do in one day.

• 11.1 miles from trail head to the summit
• 5,600 ft. in elevation gain
• Took 7.5 hours total (4.5 hours moving time)
• Limited water on trail.  Saw some springs during the first half but none within miles of the top

Camping at the top was spectacular.  The sunset was one of the best I have ever seen.  There is an old outpost at the top that someone else was sleeping at to provide shelter for the wind (it was pretty vicious).  The hike down was much, much easier.

Obviously this is back country camping, so

• No water supply
• Pack in Pack out
• Limited to no cell service

Every campsite within an hour range of Big Sur was full, and it was getting dark so we opted for this road. It is the only road where dispersed camping is allowed but beware: it is narrow, steep, unmaintained, and surrounded by cliffs. If you happen upon a pull out that is not occupied, does not have a private property sign, and is somewhat flat, then it works as a spot to sleep that feels like you’re on the edge of the world.

We came here on a Sunday evening with the intent of getting out of the 35 knot coastal winds and decided upon making camp at a pullout under a tree about a mile from Highway 1. However, my Prius C made it two miles in before we chose to turn around. The road is pretty well maintained if bumpy at times but we just took it slow on the way up and down.

Highly recommend downloading offline maps before you lose signal around San Simeon (south hwy 1) and carmel (north hwy 1). My boyfriend has AT&T and I had T-Mobile and neither of us had signal.

It was dispersed camping and pullouts as far as we got up the road. We set up our tent next to the mighty Prius C and enjoyed a gorgeous sunset, stars, and some beautiful morning views. It was pretty windy at night but it calmed in the morning. We did not see a single soul on our way in but come Monday morning, three cars had drove past our site (I assume they made it much farther in).

getting crowed and people leaving their garbage and poop (yes, human poop and TP). I've always loved Will Creek Road, I feel you can get free access to the greatest show on planet earth here…Both the sun set and the sun rise, but you got to get above the marine layer and get to the very top. If you dont want scratches and you are 7' wide or more…bring cutters. The land owners maintain the road themselves. I was last there in Feb 2022 and the switch backs were torn up and rutted; I bumped into an owner I've got to know over the years and he said they are tired of fixing them because people with small underpowered cars burnout digging ruts or some bozo purposely burns out not knowing that the land owners are the ones who have to maintain it all so we get to enjoy the camping. The road is very steep, you go from maybe 200' above sea leave to over 3000' if you go to the top. I've done this road in 4x4 truck(s) (supper easy), Jeep and Jeep Gladiator (easy freakin peasy), a Subaru Outback (easy) and a 4x4 MBZ Revel Van (supper freakin hard and stressful, was on two wheels more than once and sideways bottomed out twice in the switch backs. I wont do it again and I've been off-roading my whole life, unless the switch backs are fixed). When I say easy, this is assuming you have some off-road skill. Hope that help.

This is a trail camp in the Ventana Wilderness along the Carmel River Trail.  The trailhead and parking lot is at the Los Padres Dam.  The trail is pretty easy to follow, but crosses the river/creek extremely frequently.  I had to cross the river about 50 times in a weekend in an out & back trip.

This is backcountry backpacking, so:

• So potable water - bring a filter

• Pack in pack out trash

• Fires may be restricted

• No restrooms or other facilities

• Lots of poison oak

• Trail may be impassable at some points

I got in Friday afternoon so could only hike a few miles before dark.  The Bluff camp was the first real trail camp along the trail, but there are several more further on

Here is the trail info:

http://www.ventanawild.org/trails/ventana-wilderness-trails/carmel-river-trail

Here is an interactive Map: http://bigsurtrailmap.net/interactivemap.html?latlon=36.0898,-121.5651&zoom=11&bkgmap=USGS+Quad+%2BWilderness&mode=trailmap&control=0

Private property, you can't even go through the road

We stayed one night and were able to find spots with tree covers in case of wind. Lots of small bugs coming at us during sunlight but they went away after sundown.

Practically camping on top of each other. Going up or down that road is only for 4x4 and keep an eye out for crazy drivers. One lane road in many spots. NO CAMPFIRES ALLOWED IN SUMMER. Check conditions.

Amazing location to wake up in the morning. View of the pacific ocean on one side and valley on the other. 4x4 vehicle needed. Fairly safe, clean, and not crowded. A great location for pro-overlanders and for testing 4x4 off-road driving skills.

This was a perfect campground for Big Sur, just past the Plaskett Creek campground which is expensive and requires reservations. I drove up the road for about 20 minutes and found a perfect pullout overlooking the ocean between two apple trees, blissful to say the least. I showed up around 5 pm and there were still a lot of sites open.