momotr0n can you provide an estimate of how many miles you had to drive from the turn-off off the 1 onto Willow Creek Rd all the way to where you started to see promising spots in your last photo (red dot sites)?

The entire drive once you turn off highway 1 onto Willow Creek Road was about 7.6 miles to the end where I camped. The entire ridgeline is about 2-3 miles long.

You can see a map on Caltopo that I made just for this route here.

    a month later

    Hi Mike, two friends and I are planning a road trip-- we were planning on camping at Pewitt Ridge until I saw this post (thank you so much, by the way). It definitely seems a little less overcrowded! Would you say 4wd is necessary? I have a rear wheel drive Ford Ranger with decent clearance.

      whayward Would you say 4wd is necessary? I have a rear wheel drive Ford Ranger with decent clearance.

      I would say yes 4-wheel drive is required, but I am pretty cautious about this.

      High clearance definitely helps out but won't solve all the issues. The couple we helped "rescue" on our trip didn't have high clearance, but that is not why they got stuck. They got stuck because they didn't have a lot of traction and their car was only 2-wheel drive.

      It is pretty remote and you will probably not have cell service if you get stuck. The trail conditions change pretty rapidly and the last bit gets pretty steep a little before the place I camped at.

      I would not say its less crowded than Prewitt Ridge though. They are both pretty popular.

        6 months later
        2 months later

        jamielab224

        Does anyone have an update on this closure?

        The ranger website lists it as still being closed but it does not state why.
        Is it closed due to physical damage from the storm or closed just due to concerns about the illegal activities up there?

        Hoping it will reopen soon...

            TBarr I don't have any real updates on the closure. I know there was another road collapse on highway 1 in late January.

            For the most up to date information I would recommend calling the Monterey Ranger District phone number:

            Monterey Ranger District

            (831) 385-5434 X 0

            (phones answered Mon-Fri 8-430)

              5 days later

              TBarr I have been researching for a trip this May and just found out this closure is part of the Dolan Fire closure that is in place until at least May 21, 2021.

                4 months later

                Hi everyone! I noticed on the Monterey Ranger District website that Forest Road No. 23S01 (Los Burros/Willow Creek Road) is open now. I would assume that means the restrictions from the Dolan Fire Closure have been lifted?

                Thanks!

                  MikeA I noticed on the Monterey Ranger District website that Forest Road No. 23S01 (Los Burros/Willow Creek Road) is open now. I would assume that means the restrictions from the Dolan Fire Closure have been lifted?

                  I would think so, but to be safe I always recommend to call the ranger office there: (831) 385-5434 X 0

                    9 days later

                    Hey Mike!
                    Loved the article, was so informative and congrats on the engagement! I wanted to see if you know if there are other spots like the one you found along the road. (Also is dispersed camping legally allowed? I tried calling the rangers office, but I think they changed their phone number and I had no luck reaching the Monterey Bay Rangers Office. Guess I'm outta luck sadly.)
                    Thanks!

                      JennyH I wanted to see if you know if there are other spots like the one you found along the road.

                      Welcome to the website and glad you found the article helpful. There are a number of locations along the road to pull off and camp. If you look at the map I posted in one of the comments you can see I even marked some as I drove past, but those are not all of them.

                      For the rangers office, they probably are not there all time. I recommend trying different times during the week.

                        Thanks for the reply, I'll definitely use this during our trip. One last question - I'm always worried about people messing with our campsite, what was your experience like when you went hiking and such? Appreciate it!

                          JennyH Thanks for the reply, I'll definitely use this during our trip.

                          No problem! When you come back, please share how your experience was! The most recent info is always beneficial to the community.

                          JennyH I'm always worried about people messing with our campsite, what was your experience like when you went hiking and such?

                          This was my biggest worry as well. I can not make any guarantees for you, but we had no issues while we were there. We did not leave anything really other than our tent though, and we kept everything clean.

                              @JennyH if you were planning to go this weekend for memorial day, looks like things are probably closed.

                              California just closed all National Forest in the state yesterday...

                              All national forests in California closed to visitors. No Labor Day camping, hiking, biking

                              • "With fires raging across the state, the USDA Forest Service is closing all 20 million acres of California’s national forests to public access for two weeks beginning Tuesday."
                              • "In an announcement Monday, the Forest Service said the closure will extend through at least Sept. 17."
                              • Closure starts Tuesday Aug 31st at noon

                              Source: Sacramento Bee

                              Wow, what a bummer! I'll have to check this spot out when things clear up and I'll let everyone know how it goes then. Thanks again for the info, Mike 🙂

                              2 months later

                              Hi Everyone!

                              Thanks so much for this guide, I went up to go camping for the night a while ago in mid August and was able to find the spots easily! My AWD car made it up the road with no problems as well. I was hoping to go back for my birthday next weekend and was wondering if anyone might have an idea as to the road conditions of this road in mid November? It hasn't rained too heavily but I'm worried that the bit of rain we have had the last few weeks may have made the road temporarily inaccessible. Has anyone been up the road recently/do you have any experience with dispersed camping in Big Sur this time of year in November?

                                dfries It hasn't rained too heavily but I'm worried that the bit of rain we have had the last few weeks may have made the road temporarily inaccessible.

                                There was some really heavy rains in Central California a couple weeks ago. Best bet would be to call the rangers office. The number is listed a few times in other replies.

                                If you head up, please let us know what you find out.

                                  a year later

                                  Hi Mike! I wanted to ask about that “impassable when wet sign”. You say you left the campsite in the early morning in the dark with rain fall and in need of new tires. Under these conditions, how did you manage to get back through a road with this type of warning. Where the roads not as a bad as they seemed? I’m thinking of taking a trip there next week but there is some light rain in the forecast and the sign has me worried. Thanks for the guide!

                                    Taleofus Welcome to the Forum!

                                    You say you left the campsite in the early morning in the dark with rain fall and in need of new tires.

                                    The roads were not soaking when we left, we got packed up and in the Jeep during a light drizzle before the rain really opened up.

                                    I’m thinking of taking a trip there next week but there is some light rain in the forecast and the sign has me worried. Thanks for the guide!

                                    A lot of this will depend on what you drive and how much rain comes. Glad to hear you enjoyed the guide!