Saturday, February 11, 2012

Thornhill Broome Beach at Pt. Mugu State Park



Point Mugu State Park is located between Malibu, CA., to the southeast and Camarillo, CA., to the northwest.
The closest market toward Malibu is Trancas Market (currently undergoing renovation as of Jan. 2012) 12 miles to the southeast and the closest to the northwest is about 9 miles to Camarillo. There are two Campgrounds here, Sycamore Canyon is an inland camp at the foot of the canyon, across the highway from Sycamore Cove beach park (day use only), and Thornhill Broome, which is along the highway on the beach side.
 This page is about Thornhill Broome Here you are actually camping "on the sand". The awesome sound of waves crashing is so intense sometimes that it drowns out the sound of highway traffic. Unlike alot of So Cal parks, the staff here are actually friendly and helpful.
 The eastern sites, 1 - 47 have 50' parking spots (most all), a table (sometimes useless) and a firepit (also sometimes useless) so bring your own. The lower the number of the site, the better, in terms of beach condition. The lower sites are further from the gate but are less rocky. The western sites 48 - 68 are smaller and rockier but sites 58 - 66 have shrubs for windbreak and privacy, though they lack an ocean view. You park parallel in all spots and there is two way traffic on the one lane road, with a turnaround at the end. There is a water faucet every 4-5 spots and chemical toilets with dumpsters and recycle bins every 10 or so spots. These are kept fairly clean, but sometimes they can get a little messy on busy weekends.

 If you walk to the western end of the park there is a tunnel that accesses La Jolla Cyn. via under the hwy. There are a few trailheads here that lead to EXCELLENT hiking and INCREDIBLE views as well as the group campground. The Ray Miller trail that leads to the Sycamore campground via the edge of the mountain offers great views and loads of geocaches. The ranger kiosk sells trail maps for $3.00.

 The sunsets here, when it's not overcast, are breathtaking as well as views of the Channel Islands. If you instead choose to just sit in your site all day and stare at the sea, you will be treated to sitings of seals, seabirds, hawks, dolphins, sea otters - and once I saw a small whale no more than 75' offshore!

*Some AT&T cell coverage, though the signal is not strong.*

360 degree video from spot 33

Pros:
  • 70 miles of hiking opportunities
  • Ocean, island and mountain views from nearly every site
  • Large sites
  • Very nice staff
  • Wildlife sightings, in and out of the ocean
  •  Beachfront sites reservable year-round, rare in So Cal
Cons:
  • Chemical toilets only
  • No hot showers
  • Bad firepits
  • No shade and sometimes windy
  • Portions of beach often very rocky
  • Zero shade, so bring your own



Photos:

Photo 1
[Map]
Rock border around my site.
[Map]
50' spots (mostly) all with a table and high firepits
[Map]
Restroom situation
[Map]
The lone cold outdoor shower behind restroom shelter #1
[Map]
Camp Host with firewood sheds
[Map]
Local flora
[Map]
Entrance booth
[Map]
Fill station near entrance
[Map]
Wood shed
[Map]
Road to western sites sometimes closed due to high tides
[Map]
Western sites
[Map]
Road to sites 67 and 68 sometimes closed
[Map]
Spots 67 & 68
[Map]
Tunnel to La Jolla Canyon
[Map]
Spot 60 on the west side
[Map]
Entrance booth
[Map]
Looking east
[Map]
Looking west
[Map]
My site below the spectacular Santa Monica Mtns.
[Map]
Firepit, to tall to feel or see fire
[Map]
Photo 2
[Map]
Homemade beach trail
[Map]
Water source
[Map]
The turnaround
[Map]
The sandy beach at spot #1
[Map]
Always vacant lifeguard station and The Great Sand Dune
[Map]
Wildlife
[Map]
Surfing dolphin
[Map]



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Sunday, November 20, 2011

El Capitan State Beach



El Capitan State Beach


Friday, August 12, 2011

El Capitan is about 15 miles north of Santa Barbara, CA. There are 133 sites here, 119 tent/rv, 9 RV/Trailer only and 5 group sites. The tent/RV sites are your typical state beach spot with a table and fire ring. The RV spots have no table or fire ring, but you can bring your own. These sites have an AWESOME ocean view. The group sites are huge, they have tables, a large fire ring and a big food prep counter with a large sink and LOTS of parking. Their hike'n'bike site is great if you are hiking or biking, comes with tables, water and a fire ring. In the RV section, the even numbered spots have the unobstructed ocean views. But odds are longer. The RV section was the parking lot of a former group site, no hook-ups, but there are water faucets here. There is no dump station in this park. Ortega group is a long walk from parking. 107 & 108 views, can stay hooked up. It is site specific when reserving.

    They do have a small store here that had the usual, incl. ice and wood, even some very overpriced beer. The problem here is that it is not always open, so I never plan on it being open, but when it is, it's nice. El Capitan Canyon on the other side of the freeway has a very nice store and restaurant which is walking distance from here and is always open. Sometimes you can pickup their wi-fi all the way back at our campground.

 None of the camp sites here are beach front, they are all on top of the bluffs. The lower the number of the sites, the lower and closer to the beach you are. At the very top, there are stairs going down, but it seems like hundreds of 'em. The bike path that goes to Refugio is now closed and fenced off due to budget problems, but you can still use it, just go through the holes in the fence. 

Pros:
  • Site specific when reserving
  • Clean restrooms
  • Great beach and views
  • Store and self check in machine
  • Roomy sites not too close to each other
  • Good AT&T cell coverage
  • Lots of wildlife (Dolphin, raccoon, reptilian, rodent, skunk)
Cons:
  • Tough to get reservations
  • Long walk to beach

From RV section
[Map]
Sunset from RV section
[Map]
On bike trail
[Map]
Hidden little cove with beach on bike trail.
[Map]
Across the 101 in El Cap. Cyn.
[Map]
An empty campground is a happy campground!
[Map]
Ortega group camp
[Map]
Hike and bike with a view
[Map]
Raccoon??
[Map]
Cabrillo Group Camp
[Map]
Drake group camp
[Map]
The RV only area
[Map]
View from the camper, NICE!
[Map]
One of the channel islands.
[Map]



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Bolsa Chica State Beach



Bolsa Chica State Beach

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Bolsa Chica is located in northern Orange County, CA. just south of Seal Beach. This place is just another parking lot with water and electric hook-ups right across the bike path from the beach. Tough to get reservations, but nice when you can. It is site specific, so when you reserve, make sure to get a beach front spot. The back of your site is right off of the bike path separated by a short chain link fence. There are no tables or fire pits in the sites, but you can bring your own. There is no sewer hook-up, but there is a dump station in the next parking lot. I pulled my blue tank there by hand, so it's not far from the north end of the camp lot. I didn't stay in an inland spot, but they are much smaller and well, not beach front.

     There are large fire pits on the beach, but you need to camp out there early, because they are in demand from campers and non-campers alike. Also I think bringing beer out of the camp sites is illegal, not sure, but I would bet on it. There are single room, clean restrooms and showers. Also there is a store, beach cafes, rentals and much more. There is also free wi-fi near the lifeguard bldg.

   Huntington Beach is only a few miles south, there are lots of shops and restaurants, very nice town. Also just north of here are several places to eat and small markets as well. When you check in, they will give you a combo for a gate to get in after hours at the extreme north end of the beach near a jack in the box. Here's a tip, even during the day, use this gate as there are LONG lines of cars entering the beach parking lots. Odd # spots are beach front, inland spots are much smaller.

Pros:

  • Right on the beach
  • Nice restrooms and showers
  • Site specific
  • Dump station
  • Wi-fi at the lifeguard bldg.
  • Good AT&T cell coverage



Cons:

  • Tough to get reservations
  • Cramped quarters, really close to the next guy
  • No sewer hook-up
  • Windy

Main lifeguard bldg.
[Map]
All along the bike path, said the joker to the thief
[Map]
Fire pits
[Map]
Store, cafe, rentals and RV lot.
[Map]
The back "porch". 12'x20'
[Map]
Bike path and fire pits at night
[Map]
Beach front spot from the rear.
[Map]
Heads
[Map]
Washing areas
[Map]
Showers
[Map]
Beach front spots
[Map]
Inland spots
[Map]
Photo 1
[Map]



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