The Laguna Mountain Area consists of somewhat rugged terrain with rolling
hills covered in dense brush. The area's vegetation is characterized by
classic chapparal habitat, oak forests, and grassy meadows. Laguna Creek flows
through the area most of the year, accompanied by a series of scenic
waterfalls in the Gorge.

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/blmcalifornia/51066387071/in/dateposted/" title="Laguna Mountain" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Laguna Mountain" height="323" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51066387071_71252a977e.jpg" width="500"/></a>

The Laguna Mountain Area consists of somewhat rugged terrain with rolling hills covered in dense brush. The area's vegetation is characterized by classic chapparal habitat, oak forests, and grassy meadows. Laguna Creek flows through the area most of the year, accompanied by a series of scenic waterfalls in the Gorge.

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/blmcalifornia/51066471387/in/dateposted/" title="Laguna Mountain" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Laguna Mountain" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51066471387_a8970eb9db.jpg" width="500"/></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/blmcalifornia/51101162206/in/dateposted/" title="Sweetwater Campground" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Sweetwater Campground" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51101162206_4297a0ce47.jpg" width="500"/></a>

Bird's eye view of the park

Laguna Mountain

Click here for more information on fire restrictions and the permitting
process

## Overview of Clear Creek Management Area

Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) encompasses approximately 75,000 acres, of
which 63,000 acres are public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management
Central Coast Field Office. Topography is rugged with elevations ranging from
1,830 feet at Pine Canyon to 5,241 feet on San Benito Mountain. The
Mediterranean climate is punctuated by cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers.
Annual precipitation occurs primarily as winter rain with some snow occurring
most years at the highest elevations on San Benito Mountain.

Recreational opportunities include hunting, camping, hobby gem/mineral
collecting, mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking/backpacking, and
sightseeing. Hobby gem and mineral collectors are drawn to the Clear Creek
area, one of the most highly mineralized areas in California, by the presence
of over 150 semi-precious minerals and gemstones. Among these are serpentine,
jadeite, cinnabar, tremolite, topazite, neptunite, and the extremely rare
California state gem, benitoite.

There are two developed campgrounds in the CCMA, Oak Flat and Jade Mill, both
with picnic tables, shade structures, fire rings, and pit toilets.

You will find great views of the Central Valley and the Sierras in some areas,
and you'll find yourself deep in the forest at others. Many places show
evidence of past human activity, while others are so remote you might wonder
if you are the first to travel there. Please be aware that there are many
parcels of private land interspersed with the public land. Tread lightly and
be courteous of the interests of others.

## Visiting Clear Creek Management Area

Permits are required when visiting the CCMA. Please note that you may need
multiple permits to access areas within the CCMA. Carefully read each permit
description and use this chart to help you decide which permit(s) you may
need. The following permits are available for advanced reservation:

Serpentine Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) Permit: This free
permit allows an individual to access the Serpentine ACEC within the Clear
Creek Management Area for the duration of one day. Each person, regardless of
age, entering the Serpentine ACEC is required to have a permit in their name
and on their person. An individual is allowed a total of five permits per
calendar year.

Clear Creek Vehicle Permit: Vehicles entering the Clear Creek Management Area,
including the Condon Peak campground and trailhead, are required to have a
Clear Creek Vehicle Permit. The permit is $5 per vehicle and allows the
vehicle to enter the Clear Creek Management Area for seven days from the date
of entry. Each vehicle must display the permit on its dash while in the Clear
Creek Management Area.

Condon Peak All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Permit: Every ATV or Utility Terrain
Vehicle (UTV) entering Condon Peak’s trail network is required to have a
permit. The permit cost is $10 and allows the ATV/UTV driver, age 16 and
older, access to the route network at Condon Peak for seven days from the
entry date.

<a href="https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/permits-and-passes/lotteries-and-permit-systems/california/clear-creek-management-area" rel="nofollow">Click here for more information on fire restrictions and the permitting process</a>

 

<h2>Overview of Clear Creek Management Area</h2>

Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) encompasses approximately 75,000 acres, of which 63,000 acres are public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management Central Coast Field Office. Topography is rugged with elevations ranging from 1,830 feet at Pine Canyon to 5,241 feet on San Benito Mountain. The Mediterranean climate is punctuated by cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Annual precipitation occurs primarily as winter rain with some snow occurring most years at the highest elevations on San Benito Mountain.

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/blmcalifornia/41543855934/in/photolist-2jdnB8k-2bESw4s-29F7NL5-ahPQX9-28yAAAz-2gasKWa-256cGrW-26AqG3d-J3gSsc-26AqGDd-J3gSa8-KyriRd-MiSB7c-26i681b-Y5zZCa-hJH5b6-LFrRLa-MsHTZL-LFrS8n-LFrSoc-LFmrsS-MzL1Mw-LFmrcG-LFrSzK-LFmrnw-LFmr69-MB6ftf" title="Condon Peak CG" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Condon Peak CG" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/911/41543855934_f05680c7ef.jpg" width="500"/></a>

Recreational opportunities include hunting, camping, hobby gem/mineral collecting, mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking/backpacking, and sightseeing. Hobby gem and mineral collectors are drawn to the Clear Creek area, one of the most highly mineralized areas in California, by the presence of over 150 semi-precious minerals and gemstones. Among these are serpentine, jadeite, cinnabar, tremolite, topazite, neptunite, and the extremely rare California state gem, benitoite.

There are two developed campgrounds in the CCMA, Oak Flat and Jade Mill, both with picnic tables, shade structures, fire rings, and pit toilets.

You will find great views of the Central Valley and the Sierras in some areas, and you'll find yourself deep in the forest at others. Many places show evidence of past human activity, while others are so remote you might wonder if you are the first to travel there. Please be aware that there are many parcels of private land interspersed with the public land. Tread lightly and be courteous of the interests of others.

 

<h2>Visiting Clear Creek Management Area</h2>

Permits are required when visiting the CCMA. Please note that you may need multiple permits to access areas within the CCMA. Carefully read each permit description and use this chart to help you decide which permit(s) you may need. <a href="https://www.recreation.gov/vehiclepermits/250848" rel="nofollow">The following permits are available for advanced reservation:</a>

Serpentine Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) Permit: This free permit allows an individual to access the Serpentine ACEC within the Clear Creek Management Area for the duration of one day. Each person, regardless of age, entering the Serpentine ACEC is required to have a permit in their name and on their person. An individual is allowed a total of five permits per calendar year.

Clear Creek Vehicle Permit: Vehicles entering the Clear Creek Management Area, including the Condon Peak campground and trailhead, are required to have a Clear Creek Vehicle Permit. The permit is $5 per vehicle and allows the vehicle to enter the Clear Creek Management Area for seven days from the date of entry. Each vehicle must display the permit on its dash while in the Clear Creek Management Area.

Condon Peak All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Permit: Every ATV or Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) entering Condon Peak’s trail network is required to have a permit. The permit cost is $10 and allows the ATV/UTV driver, age 16 and older, access to the route network at Condon Peak for seven days from the entry date.

Clear Creek

Located on the outskirts of the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA), Condon
Peak offers rolling grass-covered slopes with a few tall pines and shrubs, as
well as steep slopes and rocky outcrops covered with pine and brush. With the
opening of the summer deer-hunting season, Condon Peak experiences a surge in
public use.

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/blmcalifornia/51103024819/in/dateposted/" title="Condon Peak Campground" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Condon Peak Campground" height="325" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51103024819_1d0dbf6ca8.jpg" width="500"/></a>

Located on the outskirts of the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA), Condon Peak offers rolling grass-covered slopes with a few tall pines and shrubs, as well as steep slopes and rocky outcrops covered with pine and brush. With the opening of the summer deer-hunting season, Condon Peak experiences a surge in public use.

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/blmcalifornia/51102978486/in/dateposted/" title="Condon Peak Campground" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Condon Peak Campground" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51102978486_fa1e9076bc.jpg" width="500"/></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/blmcalifornia/51103027234/in/dateposted/" title="Condon Peak Campground" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Condon Peak Campground" height="273" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51103027234_3ed7980d84_z.jpg" width="640"/></a>

Condon Peak

Within the steep and rugged Griswold Canyon, BLM land straddles both sides of
the road. Visitor service improvements are now complete at the new day use
facility, which features a parking area, a shade structure, picnic benches, a
vault toilet, and a kiosk providing an interpretive panel, a map, and
information about the area.

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/blmcalifornia/51099661874/in/dateposted/" title="Griswold Hills" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Griswold Hills" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51099661874_2cc95e5225.jpg" width="500"/></a>

Within the steep and rugged Griswold Canyon, BLM land straddles both sides of the road. Visitor service improvements are now complete at the new day use facility, which features a parking area, a shade structure, picnic benches, a vault toilet, and a kiosk providing an interpretive panel, a map, and information about the area.

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/blmcalifornia/51099695337/in/dateposted/" title="Griswold Hills" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Griswold Hills" height="307" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51099695337_14499a29fb.jpg" width="500"/></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/blmcalifornia/51100401255/in/dateposted/" title="Ridge Hike at Griswold Hills" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Ridge Hike at Griswold Hills" height="284" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51100401255_0bb0ff2016_z.jpg" width="640"/></a>

Laguna Mountain

Directions

Reviews

Nearby Parks

Clear Creek

Condon Peak

Griswold Hills