SBVC – Aliso Park Campout
May 26 - 29, 2022
For Memorial Day weekend this year, the SB/VC chapter is heading out to a local favorite of mine, Aliso Park campground!. This is a beautiful little Los Padres National Forest campground located off of Hwy 166 near the small town of Cuyama.
As a National Forest campground, it is primitive, but it’s isolation makes it a nice and mellow spot that doesn’t usually get the noisy crowding you sometimes find during this major holiday weekend. And that’s GOOD in my book!
This trip will be starting on Thursday May 26th, running through the weekend to Sunday May 29th. For anyone so inclined, I’ll actually be out there on Wednesday May 25th, to get the lay of the land prior to folks arriving on Thursday.
As this is a National forest primitive campground, there are no reservations, but, also, the only ‘fee’ for camping is a Wilderness Adventure Pass. Already have one? BRING IT ALONG! Otherwise we’ll have to purchase one for you, and that just adds to your price for the trip.
Speaking of prices, wondering how much the trip costs? It’s a very reasonable $20 per person, for four days of camping fun with your fellow Great Outdoors members!
IF you do not have an Adventure Pass, either purchase one yourself (they are available at many Big 5 Sporting Goods stores, among others.)
OR let me know, and I can pick one up for you ($30 for a year pass) and that will be added to your trip fee! In the big picture though, it’s much easier to just get one for yourself. If I get one for you, you will take it with you at the end of the trip FYI.
Our schedule for the trip (while somewhat soft on departure times and such) is as follows:
Thursday: Campers arrive, set up, meet and greet each other. For this day, plan on cooking/fixing/making dinner yourself at the campground.
Friday: This is our day to visit/explore the Carrizo Plain National Monument. We’ll be heading off to the Plain/Goodwin Visitors Center after breakfast. Plan on either taking lunch with you, or plan on at least having some snacks/water with you.
We’ll be continuing on (after exploring the Carrizo Plain) into the historical town of Santa Margarita, home to wine tasting rooms, antique shops, and a few places that are great possibilities for a late lunch/early dinner.
Otherwise, dinner for today will be one cooked on your own back at camp, or something you pick up on the way back.
Saturday: This will be our day to visit the West Kern Oil Museum in nearby Taft. In its heyday this area was a virtual boom area of the oil industry, and the museum has so much from this era to show and share.
After breakfast we’ll be heading off to this location, with the idea that after a good exploration of the museum, we’ll be exploring Taft, another town that has much to offer in the way of antique and thrift shopping, as well as some great locations to check out for a late lunch,
We’ll be back to the campground this afternoon/evening for our usual Saturday potluck, to share some great food and networking with your fellow campers!
Sunday: this is pack up and head for home day! I know, we all want to stay longer, but, reality is, many of us have to get home for work eventually, right?
On the plus side though, if you’re retired, you can stay on for a few days if you so choose (maximum of 14 days in one place though…)
Hiking: There is some hiking available in the area, but as Gener and I are still looking into the possibilities, nothings set down yet.
Offroading: There is the option for some offroading in this area also, so that, along with hiking, will be discussed Thursday night around the campfire, to see who wants to do what.
So come on along, have some great evenings around the campfire, join us in exploring some places you’ve never been before, and make some new great friends!
Trip Leader Joe D
