Jug Handle Creek Farm
Dates: July 8-10, 2022
Jug Handle Creek Farm and Nature Center
Jug Handle State Natural Reserve, Caspar, CA (above Mendocino)
Campsite 2
Potable water
Picnic tables & fire rings
Short hike to a really nice beach!
Booked via Hipcamp app
Now that we found out Harley loves camping, we booked even more camping trips for this summer. This past weekend, we went to Jug Handle Creek Farm. It was special because we celebrated my 35th birthday, and our nephew’s 6th birthday. We didn’t have much time to explore much, as this was a quick trip and most of our time was spent on the beach. But this was definitely a great spot for beginners or small families with toddlers/kids.
Of all the campsites in this campground, our Campsite #2 was definitely the best for kids. It’s next to a beautiful large meadow, perfect for running around and playing games.
So many wildflowers!
The campsite is huge. Tons of shade, lots of parking space and space for tents It’s also next to the shared outdoor kitchen, which has potable water! There’s also lots of trees to climb. This campsite is a kid’s dream!
Every campsite has it’s own fire rings, with grills! (The campgrounds owners had a lot of precut firewood for grabs near the entrance. Each bundle was $10 cash, which you just leave in the box when you grab the wood). For dinner, we heated Grandma’s pre-cooked home-cooked vegan chili. And then roasted vegan marshmallows.
Because the campground is so close to the ocean, it got pretty cold and foggy in the evening.
The boys drove back to the entrance to get more wood before the sun went down.
The next morning, we packed some things and hiked to the beach! The hike was BEAUTIFUL! Lush greenery, wildflowers, and we even saw banana slugs! It was a really short hike, maybe 10-15 minutes. The terrain wasn’t bad either, so it was very kid-friendly.
A couple minutes into the hike, there was a split in the trail. To the left, was where we’d continue down to the beach. To the right, was the Ecological Staircase Trail, where you can take a two to three hour walk through the redwood and Pygmy Forest. We most definitely didn’t have time for a 3-hour hike but would love to explore that area next time we’re here!
After a couple minutes more, we see the ocean! OMG the view was breathtaking. Photos do not do it justice!!
At the bottom of the hill, when getting onto the beach, it is slightly steep and slippery (with loose rocks). So it’s best to hold your toddlers for that area. But HOLY MOLY, the beach is freaking AMAZING. The sand was so fine, so clean, and so bright. But first, a cousin photo session lol.
We had the beach to ourselves for the first part of the morning. And even in the afternoon, only a couple other families showed up. So spacious and so private! Behind us, there was a beautiful view of the bridge of Highway 1.
As usual, our beach tent saved us from the beaming sun. It wasn’t too hot but was nice to get a break from the sun rays especially during nap time.
This beach was so relaxing. I wish it was hotter so that we could enjoy the water. But it was nice to play in the sand, and take naps. After the beach, we hiked back to the campsite and enjoyed more family time by the fire. Was such a great trip!
