Originally Posted by
meshcarver
Roughstuff "Anyway, to get back to the Coast Route: It is tough in many places where the road is narrow, and if you are going south, there is not much of verge in places before ya have huge drop to the ocean. I actually enjoyed the part where the road heads inland in northern California: much less fog, much less wind, far more forest to camp in overnight."
Hey man- do you mean the section just past Eureka and thru Humboldt etc for this? Speaking of wild camping etc, what's the situation on that in the US (And for this route in general)? Is it safe and legal etc?
djb I've just posted this question on the UK Cycling Forums mate- will keep you posted here on answers.
Hello there. I am familiar with the Pacific Coast route, specifically northern and central California. I ride the section between Eureka and San Francisco about once a season, and south to Big Sur when it's open. For the Pacific Coast route in general (WA, OR, and CA), there are plenty of inexpensive (US$5-$10/night) and safe campgrounds with hiker-biker campsites and showers, so there really is no need to wild camp along this route. Generally for the US, you may do "dispersed camping" in most of the National Forest land, but it is frowned-upon or illegal in National Parks, State Parks, and especially on private land, where you could be asked to leave immediately, or worse. Many State Parks, especially in the west, have hiker-biker sites, and some of the National Parks do as well (Yellowstone). If looking to utilize dispersed camping where the route goes thru a National Forest, you should investigate if there are any off-limits areas. Otherwise, people doing a cross-country trip have reported using churches, fire stations, town squares, etc. for an overnight stay, but always ask permission first. This strategy and wild camping are not needed along the Pacific Coast (except in southern California where warmshowers is a good option). Happy to share specifics on the Pacific Coast route if you are coming out this way!