White Oaks Campground North Los Padres National Forest

White Oaks Camp is a car-accessible campground located along the Tassajara Rd.  Tassajara Rd can be impassable in the wet months, best to check with the Forest Service or ask us if you are unsure if the road will be open. White Oaks is located high along the road amongst a thick forest of oak trees.

There are seven campsites at White Oaks all of which are no fee, first-come, first-served campsites. Each site include picnic tables, fire pits, and access to vault toilets. All of the campsites are located in a small teardrop shaped loop.

This camp is located next to the MIRA or the Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy which is a non-profit astronomical observatory founded in 1972 and dedicated to research and education in astronomy. It is the first independent professional observatory founded in the 20th century. The offices, library, and shops are located on the Richard W. Hamming Astronomy Center on the old Ft. Ord site near the new California State campus at Monterey Bay. The Astronomy Center includes a main building, electronics and machine shops, and the Bette M. and William R. Weaver Student Observatory.The Institute operates the Oliver Observing Station atop 5000 foot Chews Ridge. The station houses a 36-inch reflecting telescope used for astronomical research. Because of the excellent atmospheric conditions in the Santa Lucia Mountains, the first to intercept the smooth airflow from the Pacific Ocean, and the dark skies of the Los Padres National Forest, the observing conditions are among the best measured in the world.

Directions:

From Highway 101, exit at Arroyo Seco road near the city of Greenfield and proceed 16.2 miles to the junction of Carmel Valley Road and Arroyo Seco Road and bear right. Take Carmel Valley Road 17.2 miles to the junction with Tassajara Road and turn left and go 8 miles to White Oak. From Highway 101 south, south exit at Arroyo Seco road and make an IMMEDIATE LEFT at Elm Ave. (If you get to the ""Entering Greenfield"" sign you have passed the left turn.) Follow Elm Street for 6 miles and turn left at the ""T"" onto Arroyo Seco Road. Proceed 6.5 miles along Arroyo Seco Road to the junction with Carmel Valley Road and bear right. Take Carmel Valley Road 17.2 miles to the junction with Tassajara Road and turn left and go 8 miles to White Oak.