PCT Section A Part 1 Details

The Plan: Section A, Part 1 (details)

From the Mexican Border to Boulder Oaks Campground.

Staging Areas:
I will have two staging areas for this trip:

These areas both have metal corals for the horses and established campgrounds, water and a safe place to leave my trailer unattended when needed. They are both in close proximity to small convenience stores and other resources. They are 26 miles apart, making this a 4-5 day trip from one to the other with Morena Lake Campground between the two

I will travel between the town of Campo and Boulder Oaks Campground in 5 mile increments, exploring this area.

detailed trail info

CAMPO STAGING - AREA 1

Stay at Camp Lockett Equestrian Facility. (799 Forrest Gate Rd. Campo, CA 91906) Call them ahead to arrange to stay multiple nights and leave the trailer unattended when needed as I explore the trails in this area. (619-345-1123)
Campo has a Feed Store, East County Lumber and Ranch Store. Contact them ahead to arrange anything I will need to pick up at the last minute or re-stock as I go. (Owners: Bob and Debbie Marks. 995 Forrest Gate Rd., Campo, CA 91906 619-478-5555 [email protected]) Also use them as a resource to find equine resources in the area (farrier, vet, transport). Go there and meet them after arriving in town. Pick up anything necessary for dogs or horses.
Campo Green Store (31080 CA-94, Campo, CA 91906. 619-478-5494) is a useful little convenience store in Camp. Go there for some food and to get to know the people in the area.
Gaskill Brothers Stone Store Museum (31130 CA-94, Campo, CA 91906. 619-478-5566). They have only occasional open hours and are run by the park service. Might be interesting to check out and make contacts here.
Campo Post Office (951 Jeb Stuart Rd. Campo, CA 91906) (619-478-5466)

BOULDER OAKS CAMPGROUND - STAGING AREA 2

Stay at one of the 17 equestrian campsites. One in particular has really good shade trees.
There is potable water for the horses.
There are vault toilets but no showers.

MILES 1 - 5

DIRECTIONS TO TRAILHEAD:
- Head south off of California Highway 94 on Forest Gate Rd. at Campo (town).
- Pass the Boarder Patrol Station, the Juvenile Ranch Facility and then turn south onto the dirt road that passes under the power lines.
- Continue up hill to another dirt road that parallels the steal boarder wall. There is parking northwest of the PCT Southern Boarder Monument.
- Its a good idea to notify boarder patrol of your parking spot and intended route.
PCT Monument - At the Mexican Border just outside of Campo, CA, on the U.S. side, there is a PCT monument marking the southern end of the trail. It is a prominent concert pillar. You may encounter and be questioned by U.S. border agents patrolling the border fence in this area. The border fence is a large, metal structure. You may also run into Minutemen.
1st Trail Sign - The PCT runs along the RIGHT side of Shannon Rd. for just over half a mile until it reaches Forest Gate Rd. then it vears LEFT and follows Forest Gate Rd. for a while. Stay to the West shoulder past several homes and the Boarder Patrol Station until the trail leaves the road and heads left again.
Mile Marker 1 - The trail parallels Forest Gate Rd. on its LEFT side. Just past the intersection of Forest Gate and Jeb Stewart Rd. is Mile Marker 1.
Trail leaves Forest Gate Rd. around 1.5 miles and years LEFT towards 94.
FOOD AND WATER - If you get off the trail when it nears Forest Gate Rd. and 94, you will come to the Campo Trading Post. Great stop. They sometimes let you camp behind the museum there. There is also a library and post office in Campo and there may be other eating opportunities. Campo, CA 91906 (.3 miles off trail)
Trail Crosses 94 at about 2.3 miles. (N32.60549, W116.48327)
Cross Railroad tracks at 3 miles in. Just after this you go through a pipe gate (close behind you).
At 3.2 miles, you pass a small seasonal stream with unreliable water.
At 4 miles you will enter public land
At 4.4 miles, you will pass over a small seasonal stream with unreliable water
Gate at 4.7.
CAMPSITE AT 5 MILES - (Longitude: 116°30'23.85"W Latitude: 32°36'23.16"N) After the 5 mile mark, go up and back down. Just before you reach the lowest point in crossing a ravine, take LEFT onto path and follow for a quarter mile to a treed, flat area where there may be trees to string a high line.