Coastal California
Foothills & Farmland
US Highway 101 cuts thru Salinas Valley & is home to the Salinas River. This area is rich in farming, and industry w/ some residential
Rolling hills with oak trees; cattle in every open field, fresh air and wide open vistas. River has no big campgrounds or city campgrounds, except for the seaside area, where the river hits the ocean @ Marina, CA
Central Coast California Wine Country
Paso Robles, Northern San Luis Obispo County – is where the Salinas River begins & flows northbound along mountains and highway – until it meets the Monterey Bay near Castroville, California.
- dirt bike trails
- camping
- farm stands
- hiking trails
- horseback trails
- pinyon pine
- oak foothills
- mission
- wilderness
This is a big valley river which drains agricultural land, so boating/kayaking is okay, but fishing/swimming – maybe not so great. This region grows huge amounts of produce, due to the inland coastal foothills near perfect climate. Pesticide runoffs can hardly be controlled. It’s in the well water, it’s in the irrigation channels, it’s everywhere – even inside your gut.
Anyhoo, there are several tourist sites, such as historical California missions & wineries in this region, along with Hollister Hills OHV Park. Be warned summer months can get very hot here.
Best time to visit SALINAS RIVER is NOV-MAY, and in between winter storms, and June Gloom. NOTE: Flooding does occur in these lowlands.
Parks near Salinas River:
Campgrounds near Salinas River:
coastal Monterey Bay –
inland @ King City
- San Lorenzo Park & Campground
- Pine Canyon Campground NFS
upstream Reservoirs –
- Redondo Vista Campground (Lake San Antonio)
- Harris Creek Campground (Lake San Antonio)
- Lake Nacimiento Resort
This California Central Coast, mountains foothills river region is within Monterey County.
OAKS / CATTLE / FARMS / FREEWAY
Private property, ranch lands, farmland, and public land in the hills – National Forest, BLM, State Park, National Monuments, State Vehicular Recreation Area
Wildfires burn outta control in California, so campfire permits are only available during the wettest of years. Check with local ranger station in Kings City, CA
Lakes near Salinas River:
Towns along Salinas River:
Attractions near Salinas River:
- San Juan Bautista
- Pinnacles National Park
- Tassajara Canyon
- Ventana Wilderness
- Laguna Seca Raceway