These rugged, eroded, volcanic mountains slid along the San Andres Fault from their original location 200 miles south and came to rest against older granite of the Gabilan Mountains. The park has a west and an east entry road but no connection between the two roads. The east section is more developed with a campground and picnic areas. The main activities are hiking and rock climbing.
Very little is accessible so if you have mobility problems do not go out of your way to visit the park. Some of the trails are relatively level but soft sandy soil makes wheelchair travel impossible. A hard packed dirt road, accessed from the picnic area at the east entrance, has been closed to serve as a hiking trail. Cross the bridge ( high lip) and follow the road to visit the Bacon Homestead where the house that Ben Bacon built in 1894 is still standing. The life of homesteaders is described on interpretive signs.
The parking lots at the trailheads are not large enough for RVs. A shuttle bus runs from the visitor center to the trailheads on the weekends.
The campground was privately owned and operated until 2006 therefore it has amenities not common to national parks - a swimming pool and electricity at all of the sites. The campsite rate is higher than normal but is still half price with Access and Senior Passes. The sites are close together without vegetation for privacy. None of the sites are designated as accessible but all have tables with extended tops and fire rings with high sides. The ground is hard packed dirt. Park 36.49178, -121.14834
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