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Nacimiento fergusson road part 1 of 3
Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is the only road across the Santa Lucia Range in the Central Coast of California, connecting California State Route 1 and the Big Sur coast to U.S. Route 101 and the Salinas Valley. The road is well-paved and maintained over its length, but is winding and has precipitous drops. It is widely regarded as one of the best motorcycling roads in central California due to its ocean views and forest setting.
Contents
- Nacimiento fergusson road part 1 of 3
- Driving nacimiento fergusson road
- Route description
- Campgrounds
- References
Driving nacimiento fergusson road
Route description
The Nacimiento-Fergusson Road starts on California State Route 1 at the south end of the Kirk Creek Bridge, 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Lucia, approximately 55 miles (89 km) south of Carmel, and 35 miles (56 km) north of Hearst Castle. It heads east from the Pacific Ocean into the high country of Big Sur; after 7 miles (11 km) it reaches its summit at an altitude of 2,780 feet (850 m), where it crosses a seasonally-open dirt road along the ridge of the mountains. The road descends through the heavily forested eastern side of the ridge, passes through the US Army's Fort Hunter Liggett, and ends 24.5 miles (39.4 km) from its start, at Mission Road in Jolon.
Campgrounds
Two campgrounds along the road, Nacimiento Campground and Ponderosa Campground, are situated on the eastern slope of the Santa Lucia range within Los Padres National Forest. The Nacimiento Campground, nestled beneath Douglas fir trees alongside the Nacimiento River, is adjacent to Nacimiento-Fergusson Road and provides less privacy. Ponderosa Campground, known on some maps as "Camp Nacimiento", provides a private setting within a valley off the main road along the Negro Fork of the Nacimiento River.
