Excessive Thanksgiving eating requires a plan for major calorie burn off. We hadn’t been camping in a while and Blue Jay campground fit the holiday logistics. Even better, a fabulous feast means lots of leftovers, so we only had to buy breakfast food and planned to bring leftover turkey and fixings for lunch and dinner for our 2-night trip.

Blue Jay Campground

We drove down Thursday evening after the family gathering. There are two ways to get to Blue Jay campground from the Ortega Highway. The longer route is 6 miles down the Forest Route 3S04 and is suitable for cars because it is well paved. The shorter way is 3 miles from the 74 via the Main Divide Truck Trail, however you’d be more comfortable in an off road vehicle because of the many potholes and half-deteriorated pavement.

Google Map of Blue Jay Campground

The Campground itself is fairly nice. It is large and well shaded with Oak trees, and many of the campsites are large and not too close to one another. RVs and tents both camp there, and spots do not seem to be designated for either.

We drove around in the dark for a long time trying to choose the best campsite. We had heard #13 was very good: it is a walk in site with shade and a great view of the valley below. Unfortunately it is also small and close to the neighboring campsites and I wanted something a little more private and quiet. We settled on site #19 because it was large, had shade, had a flat spot for tents, and was fairly private with only one other campsite next to it.

Midnight Wildlife Encounter

We set up in the dark, ate some leftovers, and had a few beers before turning in. I could not sleep so I stayed up reading for a few hours. When I was done, I laid back and closed my eyes waiting for dreamland. Then I heard the sound of breathing one foot from my head.

Yes, breathing.

I took a moment to determine that it indeed was not coming from Gabriel, who was asleep on my left. It was coming from directly outside the tent to my right! “Gabe! There’s an animal outside the tent!” I whispered loudly, “I can hear it breathing!”

Gabe rustled the wall of the tent and I didn’t hear the breathing anymore. A while later (not sure how long) I could hear a small animal in the brush not too far behind us. It yipped! Then again a little further away. Then again. Yip! Or bark—it sounded like a muffled bark, with none of the brassiness that a dog bark has. The animal continued to rhythmically bark at regular intervals, each one a little farther away, until it stopped completely.

We had seen foxes in the area so I checked on YouTube to hear what sounds they make. It was not a fox. We think it may have been a coyote, but it was not the typical coyote howl you hear, but more like a bark. Wildlife!

The Big Hike: Morgan Trail

The next day we prepared for our big hike! We choose Morgan Trail at a local storekeepers suggestion because it had shade and the day was hot. It started off the South Main Divide Road and ended at the Candy Store, next to the Ortega Oaks RV Park and Campground. Our plan was to walk there and back, a total of 10.4 miles.

The trailhead has a well defined parking area with a trailhead sign and topo map of the area. Interestingly, there was also a Unimog-type army vehicle parked at the trailhead.

We made our leftover turkey sandwiches, packed up water and snacks and then headed out. The first part of the trail is wooded with large Oak trees. Tall grass and green plants softly carpet the area. The shade is comfortable and the trail is well worn. I imagine in non-drought years that there would be a stream flowing through the canyon, rather than the dry river bed we witnessed.

The trail follows the valley until the scenery changes. Now the elevation increases slightly and the trees become replaced by California Chapparal. Dense, dry, gray-green brush covers everything, and is so tall you can’t see over it in places.

We continue for quite a distance through this dense shrub until the terrain flattens out and we start crossing dirt roads in places. The trail is marked on the opposite side of each road, so it would be difficult to get off track. There are several ranches out here, people with animals who opt out of the urban lifestyle.

At one dirt intersection we came across a lady on a large, brown horse. She was leading another horse, also with a western saddle (but no rider), down the trail. Quietly we stepped aside and let her pass.

A distance further, the trail reaches a peak and we can see it descends about a mile down into a deep, green valley below to meet the highway and our half-point destination, the Candy Store. Tired and hot, the thought of having to climb back up that hill was daunting. We were here for the exercise, so we made the descent.

Winding switchbacks marked the first part of the descent through the dry brush. Then it leveled off again into a woodsy, shaded area. Then a final plunge toward our turnaround goal.

The 74 Candy Store

The Candy Store is a cute little shop next to the Ortega Oaks Campground. Solely owned by a young, female proprietor, the store contains homemade deserts, gifts, drinks, food, and campground convenience items. The owner was young, and she was very friendly.

We spoke to her a bit while we rested outside. She told us that she works there alone, sometimes with the help of an assistant, and the recipe for walnut fudge was her grandmother’s. She loved living out there and had bought the store recently.

A large truck with a trailer drove up and we said good-bye as she went back to work. Our drinks were finished and it was time to start the second half our our journey. This time, uphill most of the way.

All Uphill on the Way Back

When hiking an unfamiliar trail, it always seems like the way back is shorter than the way there. I think it’s partly because you know where you are going and partly because you now have landmarks to measure your progress by.

Although it was almost all uphill, the return trip went by quickly. Now that the sun was starting to set, the temperature was much more comfortable.

Near the end, we came across three hunters who appeared out of the brush in front of us. Two young men and a child about the age of ten, all wearing camouflage, boots, and orange hats. Rifles were slung over their shoulders. One man had a Ranger patch on his uniform.

We caught up to them and they explained they had permits to hunt pigs and ducks. We asked if it was difficult to hunt in such dense brush and they agreed. After chatting a bit we bid them good luck and finished out hike back at the trailhead where we began.

The End for Now

The car was waiting for us where we left it and we went back hungry from all the exercise. Five hours of hiking would make just about anyone hungry! So we ate more Thanksgiving leftovers! I cooked a scramble of turkey and stuffing and diced celery on our Coleman stove in a cast iron pan. It was fantastically good.

I slept very well from all the hiking and fresh air. Unfortunately our furry little visitor did not return that night. I would have liked to say good-bye to him.

Overall, it was a great trip because it was easy, close, a nice campground, and a scenic area with interesting hiking. 8/10 would recommend.

10/10 would recommend with Thanksgiving leftovers!