Beginning November 9th, we set out on an 11-day camping loop that carried us through changing weather, quiet roads, and five memorable non-commercial campgrounds.
Our first night was in Marin County, close to home, where we visited family and moochdocked. We then spent three nights at site 87D in Pinnacles National Park. Arriving on the Monday of Veterans Day weekend meant the park was quieter, and the weather was perfect. Best of all, our niece and sister joined us for lunch one day. We also ran into our old friends Mike and Kris of 4000Rivets camping here.
We explored the park with a walk to Bacon Ranch, an 1860s homestead, then hiked the Bench Trail to the Peaks View parking area and completed the Condor Gulch–High Peaks Loop over three days. The 5.3-mile Condor Gulch–High Peaks Trail, with its 1,300-foot elevation gain, was spectacular (hence the pictures below)—and nearly as nerve-racking for one of us as Glacier’s Highline Trail. We were grateful for the railings, and thrilled to see condors.
Next, we headed to Fremont Peak State Park, site 7, for two nights outside San Juan Bautista. It was rainy at first, but once the clouds lifted, the views were amazing. The road to the campground—and back down—was quite an adventure. We’re glad we did it, but with a 25-foot trailer, we probably wouldn’t do it again. We hiked the Peak Trail and enjoyed sweeping views of Monterey, Salinas, and the San Benito Valley.
After Fremont Peak, we drove into Salinas to visit the John Steinbeck Exhibition Hall. We found trailer parking at the train station, an easy walk from the museum. Continuing south on Highway 101 toward Arroyo Seco Gorge, we found site 7 for a three-night stay. The weather was rainy at times, and although we had no hookups, we tested our new dual-fuel generator. This beautiful little campground in Los Padres National Forest was a peaceful place to relax after Fremont Peak. The Santa Lucia Trail begins there along the Tassajara Wagon Road.
For the next two nights, we drove into the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area, managed by BLM and known for its beautiful views of Hernandez Valley. We considered Sweetwater Campground but chose Laguna Mountain Campground, site 7; both campgrounds have only a few sites.
Our final stop before heading home was Dumbarton Quarry Campground near Fremont in the San Francisco Bay Area, where we could dump our tanks and enjoy full hookups. We stayed in site 23 for our last night.
