Fort Ord National Monument -
Creekside Terrace Trailhead
📍Located in the heart of the Monterey Area, Fort Ord National Monument has a rich history and a diverse habitat. Made up of over 14,500 acres and 86 miles of trails, the Fort Ord National Monument offers many options for outdoor recreation. Hiking, biking, horseback riding, running, nature watching and flower sniffing are all great options here.
The Creekside Terrace Trailhead is one of the main entry points into the area. The parking lot is located off of Creekside Terrace Road, near the intersection of Hwy 68 and Portola Road. This is a popular trailhead and the parking fills up quickly. Please be courteous and watch how and where you park to avoid “boxing” someone in or getting “boxed in” where you park, and always be aware of stowing your valuables out of sight. The area is open from dawn until dusk and is a great place for family fun and exercise, including your pets. Check the BLM “Know Before You Go” website for more information.
⛰ There are many trails to hike from this trailhead. The trail we call the “Creekside Loop” is a popular trail. It is a little less than 4 miles and has a little elevation gain, nothing to difficult for children or adults pushing a good stroller. We rate this trail as a “Green” or easy trail. The trail is well marked, has a short section of single track at the beginning but opens to a dirt road for the remainder of the hike. This trail offers views of the Salinas Valley and Hwy 68 corridor, a lookout spot where the views stretch from Marina and Moss Landing across and down the Salinas Valley. You’ll also find a seasonal frog pond, wildflowers and wildlife such as deer, turkey, bobcats, coyotes and possibly mountain lion.
🥾The Creekside Loop Trail is a “loop” trail and can be hiked either way. Starting at the Creekside Terrace Trailhead dirt parking lot, on your left as you enter the area, the single track trail directly behind the restrooms is where we start. Depending on the time of year, you may find many types of wildflowers growing in this area under the oaks. The trail soon opens to a much wider path and beautiful views of the Salinas Valley. This is a great location for a picture, especially at sunrise. Follow the trail along El Toro Creek to Oil Well Road. Here you’ll find the seasonal frog pond. Follow Oil Well Road tot he right. If the pond is full, sneak up to the edge and you may get a glimpse of some bullfrogs or toads just before they jump into the water to hide.
Continue up Oil Well Road until you get to the “Y” in the road. Here Oil Well Road meets Jack’s Road and Engineer Canyon Road, stay right, up the hill on Engineer Canyon Road. A short climb up Engineer Canyon Road will take you to another trail intersection. Turn right, uphill onto Sandy Ridge Road. After another short climb the trail opens up alongtheu Ridgeline where you can take in some views of the Hwy 68 corridor and Toro Park. Continue on Sandy Ridge Road about a mile, to Trail 33, on your right. Follow Trail 33 through the brush, stay left at the “T” and look for the scenic overlook bench. This is a great place for a rest stop and to take in the views of the Salinas Valley. Once you’re all rested up, head back to Sandy Ridge Road and turn right. It’s all downhill from here.
Keep your eyes up as the views to the west open up. You can see into Marina, Moss Landing and on a clear day, along the coastline to Santa Cruz. It’s a beautiful view! Stay on Sandy Ridge Trail as it winds downhill back to the paved Old Reservation Road. You can follow Old Reservation Road to the right to walk back to the parking lot or take the dirt trail across the road, Trail 30, to wind your way along the dirt path back to the parking lot. Both routes will get you back to your start.
🍔🍺 If you’ve got time for food and drinks after your hike you can head west on Hwy 68 to the Toro Cafe or Castle Rock Coffee, two great stops featured in the Meyer’s Loop blog post, or you can try something new. Head towards Salinas on Hwy 68 to Stonies Taphouse and Bistro. A locals favorite for low & slow firewood smoked barbecue meats, appetizers, burgers, salads, sandwiches and more. They also have a great selection of craft beers and local wines. Dine inside or out, Stonies is a great place to enjoy the rest of your day.
If you’re looking for good Mexican food, Salinas has a great assortment of restaurants to meet your need. Look no further than the Guadalajara Grill, located near Stonies in the Nob Hill center. Guadalajara Grill welcomes you with great food and drinks. They’ve got a great menu full of flavorful favorites. For the healthier eaters in the group, try the new Blue Zones Menu, featuring the Tiffany Bowl or the Veggie Burrito “wet” with green or red sauce…YUM!
Fort Ord National Monument has a lot to offer. It’s very scenic with a diverse ecology that has become a very popular spot for locals to get out and explore. I hope you enjoyed the “Dirt” on this spot. You’ll likely see parts of this National Monument in upcoming blogs. We hike here a lot! Enjoy!!
