China Camp in Los Padres National Forest is reached via Tassajara Road, which branches south off Carmel Valley Road some 24.1 miles from Highway 1. The first 3 miles are paved, but thereafter the road is dirt, and can be rough and rutted, especially as it reaches higher elevations. Set your odometer at 0.0 at the end of the pavement. One reaches the sign-posted edge of Los Padres National Forest after 3.4 miles of dirt road, pass White Oaks Camp at 4.7 miles, and reaches the road's saddle and highest pass at 5.9 miles. The turn-off to sign-posted China Camp is 1.5 miles farther on, beyond the saddle and continuing south (at odometer 7.4). China Camp is on this spur road down and to the right (west).

The Hotspot might be shortened to the "China Camp" Hotspot (and was once called that), but recent fires and storm damage has closed China Camp for several years (as of this writing in May 2023, it is still not open). Check with the Forest Service (link above) to find out if China Camp campground will be open or closed during your visit

 A very short distance south from the China Camp turn-off that is a parking area on the left-hand (east) side. This is the parking for the Pine Ridge Trail, whose trailhead is sign-posted across Tassajara Road from the parking area. The trail goes upwards and westwards initially, but eventually it winds it way all the way down to the coast. Many hikers use it to hike to Pine Valley and return. The Pine Ridge Trail is mostly a different Hotspot, but the first quarter-mile or so upwards overlooks China Camp campground, and is part of this Hotspot.

Whether or not the campground is open, you can bird in the closed campground and, more importantly, can bird the mostly level but somewhat winding Tassajara Road from about a half-mile before (north of) China Camp, and another 1.6 miles beyond towards the south. [Don't be confused by a couple of mileage posts along this stretch, marked at 6.0, for example. There are signs giving the distance to the Tassajara Hot Springs Zen Retreat at the end of Tassajara Road, which is marked as 0. So the distance to on the sign-post is the distance to Tassajara Hot Springs, and is running in the opposite direction of your odometer.]

As you drive beyond China CAmp there will be steep slopes on your right side and canyons falling off below on your left side. Ar 0.8 miles (8.2 on your odometer), there is a gap on the right-hand (west) side of the road where there is a gated, private road going downhill westerly. There is also a wide area opposite that gap on the left-hand (east) side of the road to pull-over and park. Birders call this spot "Poorwill Gap," as Common Poorwill can be heard at dusk and dawn from the chaparral slopes going west and downhill, and below the right-hand side of the road, in spring and summer. That same chaparral slope hosts a small resident population of Bell's Sparrow, but they are quite shy and elusive, but there should be lots of Anna's Hummingbirds in the flowers in spring and summer.

For the next 0.8 miles beyond Poorwill Gap, Tassajara Road follows the ridge-line, but then moves to the left-hand side of the ridge for over a half-mile, before returning to the ridge-line with canyons falling off on both the left and right-hand side of the road. You'll have your first view of Black Butte, straight ahead but slight left. Your ododmeter should be at 9.0. Here, there is a wide parking area and short stub of a road on the left (east) side. You'll see an unmarked trailhead here for a narrow trail through thick chaparral. This trail goes for a quarter-mile or so to an overlook towards Black Butte. In the past that overlook was a spot to listen for Black-chinned Sparrow in early summer, but their populations move around to different parts on successional chaparral after fires. Be careful on that narrow trail as this is rattlesnake country on hot summer days. Tassajara Road itself gently curves right and down at this point, and hereafter heads downhill to the west for five miles to Tassajara Hot Springs. For purpose of eBirding, this is the end of the "China Camp and Poorwill Gap" hotspot.

This area will get very hot on summer afternoons, so start early and choose dates wisely. Be aware that biting flies can be common in summer, and can dampen the camping experience. Ticks are also fairly numerous is summer, and beware of rattlesnakes on hot days. Watch your step.

Most resident birds of these high elevations are widespread at lower elevations also, including Band-tailed Pigeon, Steller's Jay, Acorn and Hairy and Nuttall's Woodpeckers, Oak Titmouse, White-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatch, Western Bluebird, California Thrasher, and Purple Finch. Most of the more sought-after montane breeding species are migrants, arriving in April/May and leaving about August. These include Western Wood-Pewee, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cassin's Vireo, Violet-green Swallow and Purple Martin, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Tanager, and sometimes Lazuli Bunting.

Fire has a significant impact on the environment and avifauna in these mountains. Major fires in 1977, 2009, and 2020 have created huge swathes of burnt timber. As the forest regrows, it can be good for Dusky Flycatcher and Black-chinned Sparrow at the right stage of succession. In the 1980s and 1990s, Dusky Flycatcher was annually found on territory somewhere within this Hotspot, and, occasionally, also Black-chinned Sparrow. Both have been mostly absent or incidental at this site in recent years.

Mountain Quail is a common resident here, easily heard but difficult to see. The most successful way to see a Mountain Quail is to drive Tassajara Road from White Oaks Camp to Chews Ridge and on towards China Camp and beyond slowly, either very early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and be attuned to quail parties crossing the road. This is particularly true in late summer or early fall when families still have chicks that cannot yet fly. Be aware that California Quail occurs all the way up to these elevations, but they are more easily seen on the open forest floor and are not confined to the dense chaparral.

From the 1960s into the 1990s, Flammulated Owls summered and presumably bred from White Oaks Camp to China Camp. Camping at China Camp for owls attracted birders from throughout California who hoped to hear, and perhaps see, a Flammulated or Spotted Owls By the turn of the 21st century Spotted Owl had disappeared and Flammulated had become restricted to Chews Ridge. They were last heard on Chews Ridge in 2007; it is possible that small population was extirpated by the 2009 Basin Fire. Today, local owls are primarily Great Horned and Western Screech Owls, and Poorwills call on warm summer nights. We are always hoping for recolonization of the rare owls in the future.

While most birding at these elevations is summer birding (Tassajara Road is closed in wet winters), birding for migrants in spring (April-May) and late summer (August-September) can be productive for a variety of passerines. Regular spring migrants at this elevation include Nashville and Hermit Warblers, regular in August are upslope migrant hummingbirds, including Rufous Hummingbird. In dry winters, the montane chaparral at this location has Hermit Thrush and Fox Sparrow. Influxes of Red Crossbill, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and even Cassin's Finch have occurred in late fall or winter.

China Camp campground is located 1.5 mile beyond the saddle of Tassajara Road at Chews Ridge. The Forest Service says: "Tassajara Road is a rough road and 4-wheel drive and high clearance vehicles are recommended to drive to the campground." See more about the upper reaches of Tassajara Road on the Hotspots for Chews Ridge: at either Chews Ridge--east ridge or at Chews Ridge--west ridge.

A sign-posted dirt road takes off to the right (west) side of Tassajara Road down into the China Camp campground, where the limited camping spots are shady. Check with the Forest Service (link above) to find out if China Camp campground will be open or closed during your visit.

If China Camp is closed, and if the restrooms are also closed, the nearest public restroom is 2.8 miles north, at  White Oaks Camp, if it is open.