The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Nestled in the heart of Monterey, California sits the Fort Ord National Monument, a preserved area of over 14,600 acres. This national monument was a United States Army training facility from 1917 to 1994, and this played a major role in helping to keep the land in an undeveloped state for so long. During the length of the Vietnam War, Fort Ord was one of the top instruction facilities in the US, and nearly 1.5 million soldiers trained at the facility when it was active throughout the 20th century.
Today, the Fort Ord National Monument is maintained as public land by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and it is open for visitors to check out year-round. At the monument, you can explore 86 miles of hiking, biking, and horse-riding trails, and you can see the 44 rare plant and animal species that live there. Since the monument is close to the Pacific Coast, the ecosystem is considered unique and includes maritime chaparral.
Part of the Historic Juan Bautista de Anza Trail runs through the Fort Ord National Monument and can be explored by foot, bike, or horseback. The full length of the trail totals over 1,200 miles and was first a path taken by 240 people from Arizona to the San Francisco Bay Area. Led by Juan Bautista, the path riders used the trail to create the first non-native American settlement in the Bay Area in 1776.
Length: 6 miles
Intensity: Easy
The Couch Canyon Trail, or Trail 47, is a loop trail that takes a path through and around Couch Canyon within the Fort Ord National Monument. This route is best for mountain biking and offers great views of hilly grasslands.
Length: 4 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Trail 50 is an out-and-back trail in the heart of the Fort Ord National Monument and gives trail users a front-seat view of the coastal shrub landscape. This trail begins at Lookout Ridge Road and ends at Jacks Road, where users can turn around to repeat the trail route.
Length: 1.3 miles
Intensity: Moderate
There are 40 vernal ponds scattered all over Fort Ord National Park where salamanders and migrating birds often come to rest. These ponds and small lakes are scenic; however, they are not stocked with fish since they only fill in the spring. For more fishing and boating opportunities, you can cross the street from the monument and check out the beaches at Fort Ord Dunes State Park. At this park, there are day-use areas with picnic tables, boat launches, and ocean access for beachside fishing. Fish species commonly caught here include sanddab, mackerel, and rockfish. Crabs are also able to be caught on the shores.
Plenty of rare animals can be seen along the trails at Fort Ord National Monument, and some large mammals here include black-tailed deer, mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, and badgers. Birds at the monument include turkeys, red-tailed hawks, Canadian geese, California quail, and golden eagles. A few of the plant species here include baby blue-eyes, ceanothus blue blossoms, Hickman's popcorn flowers, buttercups, lupines, goldfields, sunflowers, sticky monkey flowers, nightshades, chaparral currents, and California golden rods. Both Contra Costa goldfields and Monterey spineflowers are endangered species that you may only see at Fort Ord and nearly nowhere else.
If you're looking to camp close to the Fort Ord National Monument, consider staying at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area Campgrounds, which has spaces large enough for RVs and full hookups plus free Wi-Fi. This campground is within walking distance of some of the monument's trailheads too. You could also go RV camping at a place like Monterey Veterans Memorial Park to experience downtown Monterey easily and to see views of the California coastline.
Dispersed camping and overnight stays are not allowed at the Fort Ord National Monument, so when you search for "BLM camping near me," check out the Laguna Mountain Campground near the national monument. This campground has picnic tables and fire pits at each campsite and is close to even more hiking trails through the California woods. Another Bureau of Land Management free camping option is Williams Hill Campground, which has a picnic shelter and dirt-based campsites. Both of these Bureau of Land Management campgrounds are primitive though, so you will not have water or electric hookups during your stay at them.
Whenever you plan on visiting the trails at Fort Ord National Monument, be sure to bring plenty of drinking water along with you since there are no water outlets on the land. You should also know that shooting, hunting, campfires, and fireworks are prohibited at the monument, and the trails are only open from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. When you do take to the trails, always stay on the clear path so that you do not disturb the natural environment.
If you plan on camping at a BLM campground, be sure to pack items like water jugs and batteries to prepare for a primitive experience. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
At Fort Ord National Monument, visitors are required to follow the BLM's Leave No Trace rules so that the land remains clean and safe for the rare and endangered wildlife that lives in it. To follow these rules, be sure to pick up after yourself, leave anything you find, and keep your distance from wild animals.
To reach the Fort Ord National Monument from Monterey, California, take CA-1 N/CA-68 E, and then use exit 401B. From there, use CA-68 E/Salinas Highway for 13 miles, and turn left onto Toro Creek Road. From there, the entrance to the monument will be on the immediate left.
Field Office Address: 940 2nd Avenue, Marina, CA 93933
Ready to visit Fort Ord National Monument? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you’ll have your RV to return to for the night where you’ll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
