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Los Padres Pine Ridge Trail / Sykes Hot Springs permit
Classic Big Sur backpacking to Sykes Hot Springs. Campfire permit required....
Plaskett Creek Campground Permit
Los Padres National Forest · California
One date at a time
Campground near Sand Dollar Beach.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Plaskett Creek were gone within 10 minutes.
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Plaskett Creek Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelHigh8/10
CostSingle-site reservations cover 6 people and 1 vehicle. Above that the concessionaire charges $10 per person per night beyond 6 (to a maximum of 8) and $10 per night for a second vehicle
Max Group Size8 people
Plaskett Creek Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Plaskett Creek in Los Padres National Forest, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Plaskett Creek is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- Cancelled Plaskett Creek permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level8/10
LocationBig Sur coast, Los Padres National Forest, California, CA
Pro Tips
- •Reservations close three days before arrival. There is no last-minute booking here
- •There is a two-night minimum, so a single Saturday is not bookable
- •Two vehicles per site is a hard cap, not a surcharge tier — a third vehicle is not permitted at all
- •Check Caltrans for Highway 1 before you drive; the record's own directions currently route around a closure from the Monterey side
- •No cell service in the area — download maps before you leave the highway
What to Expect
Route Details
Route Type
Varies
Duration
Minimum 2 consecutive nights; maximum 14
Highlights
- •A two-night minimum stay and a three-day reservation cut-off
- •Six people and one vehicle in the base reservation, up to eight people and two vehicles with surcharges
- •Water spigots located throughout the campground, per the operator — worth confirming before you rely on it
- •No cell service in the area and no public showers
- •Poison oak, which the operator calls abundant in the area
Best Time to Visit
The Big Sur coast is a year-round campground, and the practical question is Highway 1 rather than the calendar. Autumn is usually the clearest stretch on this coast; summer brings the marine layer and the crowds together. Whatever month you pick, book at least three days out, because that is when reservations close.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Poison oak, which the operator describes as abundant in the area
- !No cell service, so no way to call out from the campground
- !Highway 1 closures on this stretch — check Caltrans before you drive, because the northern and southern approaches are hours apart
- !Coastal wind and fog that arrive without much warning
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
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65°
58°
Sun
⛅
68°
55°
Mon
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83°
58°
Tue
☀️
75°
57°
Wed
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76°
56°
Thu
☀️
78°
61°
Fri
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84°
63°
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Create a Recreation.gov account
Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
2
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
3
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
4
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
When to Go
Peak: Summer and early autumnShoulder: Late autumn and winter
Conditions
Green hills, wildflowers, and a coast that has not yet gone into the summer marine layer.
Crowd Level
HighAdvantages
- +Green and flowering
- +Long clear stretches between storms
- +Cool camping
Challenges
- !Storm systems still coming through
- !Highway 1 slide risk
- !Poison oak at its most vigorous
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand1/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill1/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk1/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation1/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment2/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Anyone who wants two nights on the Big Sur coast and can plan more than three days ahead.
Recommended Experience
None. This is a drive-in campground.
Not Recommended For
Spontaneous travellers — the reservation window closes three days before arrival and there is a two-night minimum.
About This Permit
Plaskett Creek is a Los Padres National Forest campground on the Big Sur coast, bookable on Recreation.gov. Single campsite reservations are good for 6 people and 1 vehicle; the maximum is 8 people per single site, with a $10 per person per night charge above 6, and a maximum of 2 vehicles, with $10 per night for the second.
The booking rules are as much of a constraint as the demand. Recreation.gov records a minimum stay of 2 consecutive nights, a maximum consecutive stay of 14 days, and a reservation cut-off 3 days before arrival — so a last-minute booking is not possible here even when a site is empty.
Amenities listed include accessible campsites, accessible drinking water, accessible flush toilets, accessible grills and accessible pit toilets. The concessionaire notes water spigots throughout the campground; as with any seasonal coastal system, confirm the water is running with the operator before you rely on it. There is no cell service in the area and no public showers.
The Experience
Why It Matters
Plaskett Creek is one of the few reservable campgrounds on the southern Big Sur coast, which is why it is the hardest one on this forest to get. The constraint that surprises people is not the demand — it is the rules: a minimum two-night stay, a hard cap of two vehicles per site, and a reservation cut-off three days before arrival.
The Route
This is a drive-in campground rather than a trip. What decides whether you get a night here is Highway 1, which has a long history of closures on this stretch — the Recreation.gov record's own directions currently begin by noting that Highway 1 is temporarily closed from the Monterey area and routing you north from San Luis Obispo for about 65 miles instead.
Check Caltrans for the live Highway 1 status before you commit to a reservation. The approach from the north and the approach from the south are not interchangeable on this coast, and the difference can be several hours.
The Feeling
Open, grassy, wind-exposed ground with the Pacific right there and poison oak abundant in the surrounding brush. No cell service and no showers anywhere nearby.
Trailhead Information
Plaskett Creek Campground
On Highway 1 on the southern Big Sur coast, at 35.91722, -121.465.
Restrooms
Water on site
No Service
Before you rely on this water
The operator lists water spigots throughout the campground and accessible drinking water among the amenities. Coastal campground supplies are operator-controlled and can be shut off — confirm with the concessionaire (customerservice@pmcparks.com / CampOne.com / 805-434-1996) before relying on it, and carry a reserve.
Parking
Limit of 2 vehicles per site. Additional vehicles are not permitted.
Getting There
The Recreation.gov record currently notes Highway 1 is temporarily closed from the Monterey area, and routes visitors north from San Luis Obispo about 65 miles. Check Caltrans for the live status before driving.
Nearest Services
Big Sur, California. No public showers in the area.
Rules & Regulations
- •Single campsite reservations are good for 6 people and 1 vehicle
- •Maximum 8 people per single site, with a $10 per person per night charge above 6
- •Limit of 2 vehicles per site; additional vehicles are not permitted, and the second vehicle costs $10 per night
- •Minimum stay is 2 consecutive nights; maximum consecutive stay is 14 days
- •Reservations close 3 days before the arrival date
- •Buy firewood locally and burn it on site — California asks visitors not to move firewood, to keep tree-killing pests out of the forest
Gear Checklist
Required
- Everything you need for a coastal night: wind shell, warm layer, and a tent that handles gusts off the Pacific
- Your own water storage, so a spigot outage is an inconvenience rather than a problem
- Poison oak awareness — long trousers if you are going into the brush at all
Recommended
- A stove, since firewood has to be bought locally
- Offline maps; there is no cell service
- Everything you would want a shower for, because there are none nearby
Plan Your Trip
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Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Plaskett Creek
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Key Landmarks
Plaskett Creek Campground
On Highway 1 on the southern Big Sur coast. Water spigots throughout the campground; flush toilets and pit toilets both listed among the accessible amenities.
Plaskett Creek FAQ
How many people can stay at a Plaskett Creek campsite?
A single campsite reservation is good for 6 people and 1 vehicle. The maximum is 8 people per single site, with a $10 additional charge per person per night above 6, and a maximum of 2 vehicles, with $10 per night for the second. Additional vehicles beyond 2 are not permitted.
Is there a minimum stay at Plaskett Creek Campground?
Yes — 2 consecutive nights. Recreation.gov also records a maximum consecutive stay of 14 days and a reservation cut-off 3 days before arrival, so a single-night or same-week booking is not possible.
Is there drinking water at Plaskett Creek Campground?
The campground is plumbed for it. The operator notes water spigots located throughout the campground and Recreation.gov lists accessible drinking water among the amenities. Whether a given spigot is running on a given week is an operational question for the concessionaire — customerservice@pmcparks.com, CampOne.com, or 805-434-1996 — so carry a reserve.
Is there cell service at Plaskett Creek Campground?
No. The operator states there is no cell service in the area, and no public showers in the area either. Download maps and let someone know your plans before you leave the highway.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions
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Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Sunset straight off the coast — the campground faces the open Pacific.
Best Light
Clear autumn evenings, when the marine layer has pulled back past the headland.
Beat the Crowds
Midweek and the winter months. The two-night minimum thins the weekend churn but does not stop it.
Classic Shots
- 📍Sunset over the Pacific from the bluff
- 📍Sand Dollar Beach across the highway
- 📍Fog pouring over the coastal ridge
- 📍Camp with the ocean behind it
Can't Get a Plaskett Creek Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Kirk Creek Campground
Same AreaAnother Los Padres coastal campground a few miles north on Highway 1, also on Recreation.gov.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Bluff-top sites directly above the ocean rather than a grassy flat, and its own booking rules.
Arroyo Seco Campground
Similar ExperienceThe inland Los Padres campground on the Arroyo Seco river, reached from Greenfield off Highway 101.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
River rather than ocean, and no dependence on Highway 1 being open — but the operator notes it is about 70 miles and two hours of curvy road between the two.
A midweek winter date
Same AreaThe same campground when the coast is stormy and the two-night minimum is easy to satisfy.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Rain, wind and a real chance of a Highway 1 closure between you and the site.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Plaskett Creek trip
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