Monterey, Central Coast California - Camping, backpacking, hang...

**Quartz** · 05-08-2022, 23:34

Hello!

I recently moved to Monterey, CA. Anyone else here in the central coast area?

I'm looking for serene places to hike, camp, or just hang. I'm up for backpacking, but am not currently able to do much more than 2-3 miles of an easy to moderate hike in.

Any suggestions??
I've been searching and researching, but would love some recommendations. I searched the forum and didn't see any recent posts for my area.

Thank you!!

**xMagnolia** · 05-09-2022, 08:24

That's a beautiful area and VERY different from St. Paul. You'll have a wonderful time when you get out.

Charlotte

**Quartz** · 05-12-2022, 20:57

Originally Posted by xMagnolia

That's a beautiful area and VERY different from St. Paul. You'll have a wonderful time when you get
Charlotte

Yes! It is so beautiful here! I love living by the ocean and all the different spaces I get to explore. It's so different from Minnesota, in a really good way. I miss the Lakes and my loved ones but very happy I moved.

**cmoulder** · 05-09-2022, 08:57

I lived in Monterey for a couple of years but wasn't backpacking much then.

However, when I did go I went down to Big Sur and accessed the Ventana Wilderness from there. Beautiful country.

**Quartz** · 05-12-2022, 20:58

Originally Posted by cmoulder

I lived in Monterey for a couple of years but wasn't backpacking much then.

However, when I did go I went down to Big Sur and accessed the Ventana Wilderness from there. Beautiful country.

Big Sur is one of my favorite areas, so far. Camping amongst the redwoods is my short term goal!

**cmoulder** · 05-15-2022, 05:58

Originally Posted by Quartz

Big Sur is one of my favorite areas, so far. Camping amongst the redwoods is my short term goal!

Of course California has nearly limitless opportunities in almost every environment imaginable, rain forest to snowy mountains to desert.

A couple of other places I backpacked while there were Mt Lassen Volcanic national park and Sequoia National Forests. National forests are great because there are usually fewer restrictions and far fewer people visiting them. I remember occasionally encountering grazing cattle at Sequoia NF. But that was in the late '80s and perhaps it's totally different now.

**Quartz** · 06-09-2022, 15:43

Originally Posted by cmoulder

Of course California has nearly limitless opportunities in almost every environment imaginable, rain forest to snowy mountains to desert.

A couple of other places I backpacked while there were Mt Lassen Volcanic national park and Sequoia National Forests. National forests are great because there are usually fewer restrictions and far fewer people visiting them. I remember occasionally encountering grazing cattle at Sequoia NF. But that was in the late '80s and perhaps it's totally different now.

I love it here so much because of the much more varied opportunities! (and no -50 degree weather). Thanks for your suggestions of backpacking at Mt Lassen Park and Sequoia National Forest.

**cougarmeat** · 05-14-2022, 21:51

Quartz, if you are not familiar with poison oak and/or poison ivy, you might want to get educated on it. And not from those useless plant books with just line drawings. I don’t have a ready source to ask - we don’t have it around here - but I know some who have unknowing stumbled upon it in the Big Sur area. Not Fun. If you stick to established trails and formal camp sites I imagine you’d be fine. But part of hammock camping can be to go off the beaten path.

Maybe there’s a community college nearby with a botany class. You don’t have to take the class (but it might be interesting). Just ask the instructor if she can show you an example of what to watch out for.

**Quartz** · 06-09-2022, 15:41

Originally Posted by cougarmeat

Quartz, if you are not familiar with poison oak and/or poison ivy, you might want to get educated on it. And not from those useless plant books with just line drawings. I don’t have a ready source to ask - we don’t have it around here - but I know some who have unknowing stumbled upon it in the Big Sur area. Not Fun. If you stick to established trails and formal camp sites I imagine you’d be fine. But part of hammock camping can be to go off the beaten path.

Maybe there’s a community college nearby with a botany class. You don’t have to take the class (but it might be interesting). Just ask the instructor if she can show you an example of what to watch out for.

Thanks! I'm from Minnesota, where we have these poisonous plants, too. I'm learning about the other potential dangers that are in this surrounding area that I don't have experience with (such as rattle snakes and black widow and brown recluse spiders).

**raftingtigger** · 02-19-2023, 16:07

Originally Posted by Quartz

Thanks! I'm from Minnesota, where we have these poisonous plants, too. I'm learning about the other potential dangers that are in this surrounding area that I don't have experience with (such as rattle snakes and black widow and brown recluse spiders).

Rattlesnakes - check
Black Widow spiders - check, but mostly around houses and woodpiles
Brown recluse - Nope, not here - Etymologists LAUGH at the number of brown recluse bites reported in CA, way higher per year than the number of actual spiders EVER found here.