kevmcd

I haven't been able to get anyone on the phone at California State Parks. Anyone know if the hiker/biker sites are open? I'm planning to ride from Carmel to San Luis Obispo next week.

niknak

You'll probably have to look at the web page for each park you plan to visit to see if they're open. For instance, New Brighton State Beach just south of Santa Cruz is open.

kevmcd

[QUOTE=niknak;22024851]You'll probably have to look at the web page for each park you plan to visit to see if they're open.

Thanks for the reply.

I was hoping for a official statement that the hiker/biker sites are open. I don't want to drive down from Oregon and then be turned away at the Park. But I guess I will just have to be satisfied that if the reservation sites are open then the hiker/biker sites are open as well.

niknak

That would be nice if you could get that info in one place, but it ain't gonna happen

Also, is Hwy 1 open south of Carmel right now? I thought a landslide took it out again. Maybe they've repaired it. Worth double checking on that.

fourfa

Check the bottom of this thread re: Hwy 1. Re-opening is way ahead of schedule: Landslide on PCH

Wish I could tell you about campgrounds. Carmel to SLO isn't so many nights that you can't make a few phone calls and get the info directly. It's a great ride, I hope it works out

jpjuggler 

i've looked into whether hiker biker sites are open. web sites have had little to none info. I"ve had to call each campsite. I know for instance that Samuel P. Taylor camp site in Marin County is open. I couldn't find definitive info for China camp state park in Marin is open. So its been frustrating to say the least.

Has it been peoeples experience that each campsite website lists whether it has a hiker biker site at all?

timdow

Yea, frustrating. Last I checked each park's hiker/biker status isn't updated on the CA Parks website. There is only a statement on each parks webpage saying "Group camping is currently closed." Calling each park is recommended... But getting ahold of them while they may be short-staffed is another matter.

kevmcd

I'm going to take my chances next week from Carmel to San Luis Obispo. I'll post what I find out when I get back.

staehpj1 

I'd try calling a few different times of day. Then again there may be no one there except a camp host most of the time even when they are open.

Good luck. Please do let us know how you make out and what is/isn't open.

staehpj1 

If you go to the California State Parks page they have the info on which ones have Hiker Biker sites, it is just harder to find than it used to be. I think there is a link to "Find a Park" https://www.parks.ca.gov/parkindex
Choose "By Feature"
Choose "Overnight Facilities"
Check the box for "Hike or Bike Campsites"
That should bring up a list of all the parks that have hiker biker sites. Each is a clickable link. There should be more info at the link including contact info. There is a list of what is open, but not necessarily any about whether the hiker biker sites are open. The one I just looked at specified that "group sites" were open, but I don't know it that includes hiker biker sites which are considered group sites for some purposes (like when they closed group sites for the pandemic).

kevmcd

Thanks for the info
I got through to San Simeon State Park and their sites are open. They said they couldn't tell me about Pfeiffer because that is run out of a different office and the phone number they gave me was the same as the one on the website which is just a recording.
I don't plan to stay at Monterrey Veterans Park but I called just hoping to get through to someone. Their recording was more informative and stated that their hiker/biker sites are open.
Still planning on going for it and deal with problems if they arise.

kevmcd

I'm the only one in the hiker biker site tonight

PCH was beautiful Solid NW wind at my back. Lots of road construction so the cars were batched Flowers are everywhere

arctos

From the Santa Barbara Independent Paper 4/14/2021:
"Coastal campers, here’s the bad news: El Capitán State Beach is going to completely close for about one year starting on September 1, 2021. That’s according to a notice on the state-run campground’s website, which is somewhat buried beneath the long list of COVID-related rules and announcements. "

kevmcd

I arrived in San Luis Obispo today. This Week I stayed at Pfeiffer Big Sur, Plaskett, and San Simeon and at each location I was the only biker
Kirk's is open and at lunch in Lucia a local told me Limekiln is open
In general restaurants are closed for breakfast and open for lunch

staehpj1 

Thanks for the update!

staehpj1 

That sucks about places closed for breakfast. I love stopping for breakfast usually after 10 or 20 miles (sometimes more). I typically only have some oatmeal or a granola bar in camp.

kevmcd

In Gorda I stopped at the gas station for breakfast and got a cup of coffee and a muffin. The clerk put the muffin in the microwave and it freshened up the plastic wrapping quite nicely.

staehpj1 

The touristy restaurant in Gorda being closed for breakfast is just as well if my memory serves me correctly. When I was there it was over priced and not good. I remember it being the most disappointing breakfast stop of my PCH tour. The eggs were the size of pigeon eggs. I had to ask for cream for the coffee. I had to ask for butter and jelly for the toast. I had to ask for just about all the stuff that should have come with the meal. Service was slow. Things that you'd expect to be included were an extra charge. I think breakfast wound up being way over twenty bucks (memory is hazy, but I think it was closer to $30) for eggs, hash browns, and toast and it wasn't even good.

A gas station muffin would have been better.