Monterey Ranger District
Monterey Ranger District offers camping, day hiking, backpacking, beaches, ocean swimming, surfing, fishing, hunting, scenic driving on Highway 1, wildflower displays in the spring and early summer and nature viewing.
At a Glance
Information Center: | Monterey Ranger District: (831) 385-5434 ext 0. Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm. Road conditions and closures link. |
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Activities
Sand Play
Areas for Sand Play at Monterey Ranger District
Tidepooling
Areas for Tidepooling at Monterey Ranger District
Campground Camping
Monterey Ranger District has many concession managed campgrounds and day use areas for which a fee is charged. Sites that are not concessionair managed, are free. All campgrounds on the District are accessible by passenger car. The ocean along the Big Sur Coast is dangerous and unpredictable with high and unpredictable surf, strong riptides and currents, and numerous rocks. There are no lifeguards. We strongly advise against swimming at all ocean beaches in Los Padres National Forest.
There are NO cabins in the Los Padres National Forest. There are private cabins and lodging in Big Sur and the town of Lucia.
Areas for Campground Camping at Monterey Ranger District
- Arroyo Seco Campground
- Bottchers Gap Campround
- China Camp Campground
- Escondido Campground
- Kirk Creek Campground
- Memorial Park Campground
- Nacimiento Campground
- Plaskett Creek Campground
- Ponderosa Campground
- White Oaks Campground
Group Camping
Areas for Group Camping at Monterey Ranger District
Dispersed Camping
Contact the Monterey Ranger District for information about dispersed camping. Call: (831) 385-5434 ext 0, Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm.
Salt Water Fishing
Areas for Salt Water Fishing at Monterey Ranger District
River and Stream Fishing
Areas for River and Stream Fishing at Monterey Ranger District
Day Hiking
Areas for Day Hiking at Monterey Ranger District
- Arroyo Seco Group Campground
- Arroyo Seco Trailhead
- Buckeye Trail
- Cone Peak Lookout - 4E12
- Cruickshank Trail
- Escondido Campground
- Memorial Park Campground
- Pine Ridge Trail from China Camp
- Pine Ridge Trailhead from Big Sur
- Pine Valley - 1E02
- Prewitt Loop - 5E06
- Salmon Creek Trail
- Vicente Flat Trail
- Willow Creek - 5E08
Backpacking
Areas for Backpacking at Monterey Ranger District
- Anastasia Canyon
- Arroyo Seco
- Arroyo Seco Trailhead
- Big Pines - 1E02
- Big Sur - 3E07
- Black Cone - 3E14
- Buckeye Trail
- Carmel River - 3E03
- Carrizo - 3E10
- Church Creek - 3E05
- Cone Peak Lookout - 4E12
- Cruickshank Trail
- Danish Creek - 2E10
- De Angulo - 2E07
- Gamboa-Stone Ridge - 4E11
- Girard - 4E17
- Hennickson's Ridge - 3E04
- Horse Pasture - 4E05
- Jackson Camp - 2E08
- Junipero Serra Peak - 6E01
- Kirk Creek Trail - 4E17
- Little Sur - 1E02
- Little Sur Camp - 2E09
- Los Padres Dam-Big Pines - 1E02 -
- Marble Peak - 4E07
- Mill Creek Trail - 5E19
- Miller Canyon - 3E04
- Mount Manuel - 2E06
- North Coast Ridge - 3E10
- Pine Ridge Trail from China Camp
- Pine Ridge Trailhead from Big Sur
- Pine Valley - 1E02
- Prewitt Loop - 5E06
- Puerto Suelo - 3E08
- Rattlesnake Creek - 2E11
- Rocky Creek Trail
- Salisbury Potrero - 26W01
- Salmon Creek Trail
- San Antonio - 5E04
- Santa Lucia - 6E01
- Skinner Ridge - 1E04
- South Fork - 3E09
- Spruce Creek - 6E10
- Terrace Creek - 3E22
- Tin House - 2E04
- Turner Creek - 1E02
- Ventana Double Cone - 2E02
- Vicente Flat Trail
- Willow Creek - 5E08
Big Game Hunting
Small Game Hunting
Picnicking
Areas for Picnicking at Monterey Ranger District
Swimming
Usage: | No lifeguards on duty. |
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Best Season: | Spring, Summer, Fall |
Areas for Swimming at Monterey Ranger District