Big Sur

[sdnative13]

I am looking at going camping and was thinking of going to Big Sur. My question is it overly commercial? Is it camping in designated camp grounds only or can you camp anywhere? Thanks in advance.

[furyous68]

Pretty much designated campgrounds... though there are some areas you can backpack. Here are a couple good links:

https://www.theoutbound.com/san-francisco/backpacking/backpack-the-pine-ridge-in-big-sur-north-coast-ridge-loop

https://www.roadaffair.com/big-sur-camping/

[sdnative13]

Thank you

[twinfin]

I used to dry camp along Nacimiento-Fergusson Road in the 80's & 90's which gives you beautiful elevated views of the ocean and Big Sur coastline. Even if you don't camp there, it's worth driving it as a side trip.

[Creeping Incrementalism]

Those public campgrounds in that area and at the end of the Nacimiento-Fergusson are almost always full and I recall any reservations tend to fill up months in advance.

In National Forests, "dispersed camping" (camping anywhere) is generally allowed. (I don't think this is true in the State Parks, however). It can even be hard to find a roadside camp directly off the Nacimiento-Fergusson road these days, and the rangers also like to frequently patrol them and have a disrespectful attitude towards those who camp there. There are numerous places in the national forests around Big Sur where you can find campsites, but it often takes a lot of poking around on the dirt roads to find a good site, since the best ones tend to get quickly occupied. Finding a good camping site on a Friday or Saturday is like trying to find a good parking spot in San Francisco.

[God Bless America]

Screw them https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/....php?t=1532283