Searching for a dispersed camping spot near Santa Cruz? Dispersed camping gets you off the grid so you can disconnect from the hecticness of everyday life. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campsite for your California camping adventure.
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Private property, you can't even go through the road
LegendThis 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Santa Cruz, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Santa Cruz, CA is Bluff Camp with a 3-star rating from 2 reviews.
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