Nacimiento-Fergusson Road
Encyclopedia
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 starts on Highway 1 four miles south of Lucia, approximately 55 miles south of Carmel
and 35 miles north of the Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument, just at the south end of the Cabrillo Highway (Highway 1) bridge over Kirk Creek. At the north end of the bridge is the Kirk Creek Campground, operated by Parks Management Company, a U.S. Forest Service contractor. It heads east from the Pacific Ocean
into the high country of Big Sur
for 24.5 miles, passing through Fort Hunter Liggett
and ending at Mission Road in Jolon
.
The road is well-paved and maintained over its length, but is winding and has precipitous drops at almost every turn. The eastern slope is heavily forested allowing few vistas.
Nacimiento-Fergusson Road reaches its summit (2780 feet) seven miles from Highway 1 and crosses Cone Peak Road, which heads northward along the crest towards the summit of Cone Peak. Several of the better trails within the Ventana Wilderness
are accessible from this road. Cone Peak Road is closed from approximately November to May due to weather. Motorists should contact Big Sur Station or Pacific Valley Station for road status if planning to drive the road during these months.
On the south side of this summit South Coast Ridge Road leads along the ridge to McKern Road.
Fort Hunter Liggett is an Army Reserve training base. The road is occasionally closed for brief periods during tank, artillery, and other firing exercises. Entering the base on Nacimiento-Fergusson Road from the west one encounters a check-point, where drivers formerly were asked to show their identification, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance. The check-point has been closed since May 2010.
There are two campgrounds along the road: Nacimiento Campground
and Ponderosa Campground
. Both of these campgrounds are 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.
In October, 2009, the Mano Seca Group installed a bench near the top of the western slope of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road. A large turnout on the road provides easy parking; an opening in the roadside fence provides a path down to the bench. The exact location of the bench may be found on both the Panoramio and Google Earth websites. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/28595646
Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is widely regarded as one of the best motorcycling roads in central California due to the premier ocean views and forest setting.
Central Coast of California
The Central Coast is an area of California, United States, roughly spanning the area between the Monterey Bay and Point Conception. It extends through Santa Cruz County, San Benito County, Monterey County, San Luis Obispo County, and Santa Barbara County...
, connecting California State Route 1
California State Route 1
State Route 1 , more often called Highway 1, is a state highway that runs along much of the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. It is famous for running along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, leading to its designation as an All-American Road.Highway 1 does not run...
and the Big Sur
Big Sur
Big Sur is a sparsely populated region of the Central Coast of California where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean. The name "Big Sur" is derived from the original Spanish-language "el sur grande", meaning "the big south", or from "el país grande del sur", "the big...
coast to U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101, is an important north–south U.S. highway that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States...
and the Salinas Valley
Salinas Valley
The Salinas Valley lies south of San Francisco, California.The word "salina" is spanish for salt marsh, salt lake or salt pan.-Geography:The Salinas Valley runs approximately south-east from Salinas towards King City. The valley lends its name to the geologic province in which it's located, the...
.
The road starts on Highway 1 four miles south of Lucia, approximately 55 miles south of Carmel
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Carmel-by-the-Sea, often called simply Carmel, is a small city in Monterey County, California, United States, founded in 1902 and incorporated in 1916. Situated on the Monterey Peninsula, the town is known for its natural scenery and rich artistic history...
and 35 miles north of the Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument, just at the south end of the Cabrillo Highway (Highway 1) bridge over Kirk Creek. At the north end of the bridge is the Kirk Creek Campground, operated by Parks Management Company, a U.S. Forest Service contractor. It heads east from the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
into the high country of Big Sur
Big Sur
Big Sur is a sparsely populated region of the Central Coast of California where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean. The name "Big Sur" is derived from the original Spanish-language "el sur grande", meaning "the big south", or from "el país grande del sur", "the big...
for 24.5 miles, passing through Fort Hunter Liggett
Fort Hunter Liggett
Fort Hunter Liggett , named after General Hunter Liggett in 1941, is a United States Army fort in southern Monterey County, California, about 250 miles north of Los Angeles and south of San Francisco...
and ending at Mission Road in Jolon
Jolon, California
Jolon is an unincorporated community in Monterey County, California. It is located south of King City, at an elevation of 971 feet . Jolon is located in the Salinas Valley in a rural area located about 6 miles from Mission San Antonio de Padua, and is part of Fort Hunter Liggett.The town was...
.
The road is well-paved and maintained over its length, but is winding and has precipitous drops at almost every turn. The eastern slope is heavily forested allowing few vistas.
Nacimiento-Fergusson Road reaches its summit (2780 feet) seven miles from Highway 1 and crosses Cone Peak Road, which heads northward along the crest towards the summit of Cone Peak. Several of the better trails within the Ventana Wilderness
Ventana Wilderness
The Ventana Wilderness of Los Padres National Forest is a Federally designated wilderness area located in the Santa Lucia Mountains along the Central Coast of California. This wilderness was established in 1969 when the Ventana Wilderness Act abolished the Ventana Primitive Area and replaced it...
are accessible from this road. Cone Peak Road is closed from approximately November to May due to weather. Motorists should contact Big Sur Station or Pacific Valley Station for road status if planning to drive the road during these months.
On the south side of this summit South Coast Ridge Road leads along the ridge to McKern Road.
Fort Hunter Liggett is an Army Reserve training base. The road is occasionally closed for brief periods during tank, artillery, and other firing exercises. Entering the base on Nacimiento-Fergusson Road from the west one encounters a check-point, where drivers formerly were asked to show their identification, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance. The check-point has been closed since May 2010.
There are two campgrounds along the road: Nacimiento Campground
Nacimiento Campground
Nacimiento Campground is a United States Forest Service campground in the high country of Big Sur, on the central coast of California in the Los Padres National Forest. The campground has 8 sites set in a high valley adjacent to the Nacimiento River with a canopy of Oak trees. Each site includes...
and Ponderosa Campground
Ponderosa Campground
Ponderosa Campground is a United States Forest Service campground in the high country of Big Sur, on the central coast of California in the Los Padres National Forest. The campground has 23 sites set in a high valley adjacent to the Nacimiento River, with a canopy of Ponderosa Pine, Oak, Madrone,...
. Both of these campgrounds are 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
Nacimiento River
The Nacimiento River is a river in southern Monterey County and northern San Luis Obispo County, California. A large portion of the river's run is on military reservations...
, 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.
In October, 2009, the Mano Seca Group installed a bench near the top of the western slope of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road. A large turnout on the road provides easy parking; an opening in the roadside fence provides a path down to the bench. The exact location of the bench may be found on both the Panoramio and Google Earth websites. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/28595646
Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is widely regarded as one of the best motorcycling roads in central California due to the premier ocean views and forest setting.