Jerry Smith Access Corridor (Fort Ord)
Jerry Smith Access Corridor at Fort Ord is a choose-your-own-adventure kind of place. This can be an easy hike for families and dogs, a long trek, or a cycling tour.
Ecosystems: Oak woodland, open grassland, and vernal pools.
Below is the Google Map location where we parked. If you’re using Apple Maps, use the following coordinates: 36.655410, -121.757748
There are two entrances to Fort Ord trails, the north entrance near CSUMB and the south entrance near Toro Park. This hike, the Jerry Smith Access Corridor, was at the north entrance on Inter-Garrison Road, between Gigling Road and Reservation Road.
Dogs allowed! Most of the trails are wide open paths like this.
There are so many native California plants here on Fort Ord. I just saw a few since it’s just February, but there will be more popping up in just a few months.
Pacific Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) 
Padre’s Shooting Star (Primula clevelandii) 
Footsteps of Spring (Saniclua arctopoides) 
Indian Lettuce (Clayronia perfoliata)
Wide open grassland leading up to the oak woodland.
These trails are a favorite for mountain biking, so many trails to explore.
Dreamy Live Oaks line the trail.
Keep going straight to get to Watkins Gate Road.
We’re going to continue straight across this road, around the vernal pool (seasonal pond). This vernal pool is particularly large, usually they dry up in one season but this one will take a few years to dry out.
I didn’t get a picture of the huge, low oak on the right, but on our way out there were a bunch of kids playing and climbing on it.
A peek of the vernal pool.
Windy path into more oak woodlands. This is Trail 19 in Day Hikes Around Monterey & Carmel.
Trail 14, which goes along the vernal pool. Open to hiking, cycling, horses, and dogs.
The vernal pool. There were ducks in the pond and lots of birds in the bushes and trees, but I didn’t get any pictures since my hiking buddies were already so far ahead of me.
A bit of military history, the grave of Comanche, the last ceremonial horse of Fort Ord. It says the grave is located above the former parade field, which must be where the vernal pool emerges. There’s also a concrete trough off to the side.
The Woolyleaf Manzanitas are blooming!
Turn right onto Hennekin’s Ranch Road. The vernal pool extends to the left side of the road.
A view of the vernal pool from the road.
Back on Watkin’s Gate Road.
The vernal pool from Watkins Road.
Heading back on the Jerry Smith Access Corridor.
Back at the trail head. Just moments before I took this photo, we saw a coyote! I’ve also seen turkeys in this area.
