Van camping for the AWT Santa Cruz

[mollyalbright]

Heading to Waddell from OR for the week of the AWT and planning on van camping. Basically I just need to find a safe place to park at night. Any suggestions? Are there any close little State or Forest service camp sites? Can you just stay in the lot at Waddell?

[churan]

lot north of waddell sometimes ok
Also across from davenport on cement plant road. it is a frontage road only traveled by locals.
also natural bridges road in town just by the park entrance. Nice to stroll west cliff or surf in mornings
enjoy

[zirtaeb]

I'd stay AT Waddell. Any time a competition get's the license to hold an event, you can park and stay right at the event site. You'll be amongst the competitors, so it's a group hug, party till midnight.

[mark]

Butano State park is about 10 miles from Waddell. Also I have received a parking ticket when van camping on Davenport Landing Road which is basically an extension of Cement Plant Road on the west side of highway 1.

[higgybaby]

The sheriff tickets cars at Davenport after 10pm. I think they've cracked down on the people living at Natural Bridges but you might get away with it for a few nights.

The town kids will harass you, throw rocks at your vehicle, or worse if you camp on Cement Plant Road so not a good idea. They're not the hospitable, aloha type.

I've heard you can camp anywhere on Hwy 1 as long as your tires aren't on the pavement. I don't think it's 100% legal (or all that safe) but you won't get ticketed.

Camp ground is your best bet but you might want to look into reservations. Also, I think the gas station/diner at Gazos Creek lets you overnight in their parking lot for $20.

[wetdog69]

Costanoa is a great KOA campsite 10 minutes north of waddell with amazing facilities, radient heat bathrooms and showers, saunas, fireplaces stocked with wood, very clean. You can not sleep in a vehicle but throw out a tent and you are dialed, at least for looks. Last year I pulled my trailer up there and met a bunch of people from the event, might do the same this year. I think tent camping ranges from 30 to 50 a night, seems pricey but the place is really, really nice and the closest camping to waddell. See ya at waddell,

Eric

[Epenrose]

Costanoa is run by KOA and you get a discount if you are a member.

Locals call it Costalotta, you'll see why quickly. Restaurant is so so, the great chef left and a bit pricey. Bring supplies from Santa Cruz or Half Moon bay, expensive to buy at store.

It is is exactly 3.3 miles south of Pigeon Point Lighthouse.

WARNING - Do not speed on 1 heading North from Waddell. CHP hides right by Ano Nuevo, dummy here forgot and got caught, he'll be in the same spot for sure over the competition, it's an ATM for the cops!

[wavezz]

Discussed this morning w/ Jesse (@ Roadhouse) & Joe from Davenport.
The Sheriff will definitely hassle you if the pull out has a "No Park" sign. Posted at Waddell, as example. They will wake you & make you move.

On the ocean side N.of Dimeo lane (landfill) there is a "non posted" stretch. A couple 'permanent campers' but I've picked up a few hitchhiking and they are not crazy as default. Also just N. of 4 mile beach, again ocean side, there's a large pullout.

Up Gazos creek road, a few miles from restaurant, there's a couple pull outs not posted within 3 miles. Gazo is north of Waddell.

If you want more detail both Joe, Jesse, or myself can reply. Jesse said a few campers could use his field in Davenport (jessekatz288 at gmail). Joe is already booked.

Coastanoa, is pricey, agreed. Not sure anyone mentioned Butano park (google it), which takes reservations. There is also a 'hike in' camp area right across from Waddell. You cannot take your car in, but you park near the ranger and the hike is about 3/4mile - awesome areas by the creek, for the robust sort could be a treat, part of Big Basin State park.

On the far west side of Santa Cruz is New Leaf market, hot breakfast and lunch bar, great salad. A tad more than Spaceway, but local organic produce that is superb. High recommendation, and good wifi too; as I type now.

Your mileage may vary. Speaking of miles.. the comment about speeding is important. Cops are tough because there's been 8 fatalities between Waddell and the west side in the past couple years. No joke, dangerous stretch with weekend traffic looking 90 degrees, and beach drinking.

Wind is on, time to head out. Ciao'.

[damel]

Wow you would think it would be a little easier to find a place to camp for the night. There are also some near by forest reserves with camp grounds not sure how much they charge or if they allow parking overnight for free may be worth a look, you can make reservation/inquiries from this site:
Reserve America Map of Big Basin Redwoods

I was planning on checking out the competition then hiking into the Big Basin and camping for a couple days leaving my car at Waddell, I guess I should park at the state park camp grounds. Gonna do the AWT next year, need some practice having just moved from the east coast.

[wavezz]

Warden -
As aside, the earlier comment about Mr. Sharkey is timely. There's been a good size warden hanging out since the seal kill in front of the parking, on Sunday about 3-4 weeks ago. Yesterday, he was seen, confirmed by multiple parties, 2- 3ft dorsal fin, pretty big, not an old man, certainly dangerous. There were also two whales in close and a bunch of dolphins . Not sure why so much 'zoo action' but it was a full afternoon. Nov., Researchers estimated 450 whites near Anuo this year, which is a record crop. There was a minor furor over the O'Neil classic held a couple days at Waddell, and some *@!@# individual took down the notice to swimmers & emails that were posted at the bulletin board. IMHO someone associated with the event took down the notices as 'bad press' - whom should be shot.

Body dragging to chase a kiteboard on the outside is certainly 'bad planning'. Puts a new meaning on 'blown jibe' when outside.

Camping -
Don't be put off by a couple guidelines, it's very easy to camp and a little local info will go a long way. There's ton's of places to camp, just don't be dumb about it. If there's big posted 'no trespass' or 'no parking', well.. duh, don't park there.

Keep in mind the zillion silicon valley wannabee that come over to the coast and think that it is all public lands. Most are ranches or private holdings. Property rights violation is simply unbelievable, most ranches have been in families for generations. The 'bad' 1/100% head into the woods to cook meth, shoot full auto, blast dirt bikes through the cow pasture, and, as at Greyhound Rock (next beach south of Waddell), commit murder & bonfire a body - fact.

Hwy 1 goes from "no one" to 9000 cars passing on a summer Saturday & Sunday (with someone always trying to pass). Weekend kook factor is 1000x. There's a solid reason why the 'local attitude' get's the bad basis - from local & visitor view both.


This stretch of coast rivals anything in NZ, Australia or Pacific .. It is awesome.

My hope is that the AWT has a great venue, for all parties.