Campground info and reviews

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

I didn't camp here, we were in a cabin, but after walking the campground, I got a clear idea of how camping would be. The first area (South beachfront section) would be very nice if you can get in there, large spots with shrubbery between them for privacy as well as a wind break. The lower central camping area seems like it is a cattle call area. Tight, dry and very small sites with limited parking. Not nearly enough restrooms for the amount of people that this area holds. The North River area would be my second pick, since there was grass there and bigger spots. And then there are the 2nd and 3rd levels which have nice views and power, these are best in an RV, although depending on your RV's size, you could park them in any spot here.

The Store and Cafe:

There is a small store, not terribly overpriced, and almost everything a camper would need that you forgot, just don't forget beer, because you need to buy them one at a time, costly! But they have ice and emergency food items that didn't get into the ice chest, don't look for steaks, but hot dogs, bacon and eggs, they do have. Now as for this "World Famous" Jalama burger, I just don't get it, the best in the world?? Come on people, you need to get out more! It is a good tasting, backyard grilled tasting burger, and when camping in the middle of nowhere, a prepared burger will always taste good, but WAY too much "Sauce" and lettuce for my taste. But I had one and it was fine, just not the best in the world.

The Cabins:
The cabins are basically very nice park model trailers. These have a picnic table, charcoal grill and fire pit. We brought all of our own kitchen utensils thinking that like most vacation rentals, they would be crap, WRONG! Very nice dishes, glasses and silverware, and the cookware was Cuisinart, VERY NICE! There is a nice flat screen tv with Directv service. The best part of these are that you have your very own, private bathroom and HOT shower, AWESOME! There is a great view from each cabin, as they are on the 2nd level.

Campground Rundown:
The lower camping area has firepit and table only, short 2' fence is only privacy. There are 3 mens toilets and 4 womens for this entire area. there are 10 hot showers here which close at sunset. These rounded concrete bathrooms look like they were built to withstand a hurricane, which felt like one when we were there.
Spots 105 - 117 top level elec. only spots, with nearby water, firepit, table and 20 & 30 amp power.
Spots 80 - 97 Second level, all with firepit, table, one restroom and 20/30 amp power. 80 - 87 have view, 88 - 97, back row, limited view.
37 - 52 back row, nicest. Back in.
27 - 36b middle row pull through.
17 - 26 back of front row. Back in.
1 - 9 front row. Back in.
10 - 16 at north end near river, large back in.
South beachfront section: bigger spots with firepit and table along with large, thick privacy hedges. One double barreled restroom (1 male, 1 female, 2 toilets each) for this area.
53 - 64 prime beachfront
68 - 79 back row
GOLDEN SPOTS ARE 54 and 57

Pros:

Very desolate
Ocean views from most sites
Awesome beach
Very nice staff
Wildlife sightings, in and out of the ocean
Very nice and reservable cabins with TV
On-site store with some cafe food

Cons:

Non-reserveable campspots
No cell service or wi-fi
Bad restroom situation
No shade and sometimes EXTREMELY windy
Small sites with no privacy
Zero shade, so bring your own

How To Get In: THIS IS BS!!!
All campers wanting a camp site must drive out to Jalama Beach, must drive out to the park and get your name on a waiting list. The earlier you get there the better. If your name is called and you are at the flag pole at 3 p.m. you can get in. If you're not there at 3 p.m. they give your spot to the next person on the list. If they call your name, and you are there, you also have the option of rolling your name over to the next day's list. This puts you ahead of everyone who arrives the next day.

"Jalama Beach is approximately an hour drive from Santa Barbara and a 45-minute drive from Lompoc. A sign 4.5 miles south of Lompoc off Highway 1 will direct you onto Jalama Road. Follow this scenic 14.5 mile road to the coast. The park entrance will be at the end of the road. Jalama is subject to high winds and rough surf. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months, however visitors swim at their own risk."

http://www.countyofsb.org/parks/parks06.aspx?id=13988
Jalama Beach County Park
9999 Jalama Road
Lompoc, CA 93436
Recorded Information: (805) 736-6316
Park Gate: (805) 736-3504

	Cabin [Map]		Bedroom [Map]
	Bedroom 2 [Map]		Sunset [Map]
	Flats campground [Map]		Typical spot [Map]
	Electric only sites, top level. [Map]		View from top sites [Map]
	Second level. [Map]		Entry [Map]
	Mens room [Map]		Restrooms [Map]
	Spot 53 [Map]		Back row of southern area [Map]
	Beachfront spots [Map]		View from spot 59 [Map]
	Southern restroom [Map]		Showers [Map]
	Dump station [Map]		Cabins, backside parking area [Map]
	Cabin view [Map]		Cabins [Map]
	Map [Map]		Northside riverview [Map]
	Wildlife [Map]		Golden spot 57 [Map]
	Restaurant view [Map]		Restaurant [Map]
	Jalama burger [Map]		Store and restaurant [Map]
	The creek from the train tracks [Map]

Sent from my iPhone by My Vacation app (www.myvacationapp.com)

Point Mugu State Park is located between Malibu, CA., to the southeast and Camarillo, CA., to the northwest.

Reserve here

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]