Hike notes: 
Kirk Creek Trail to Vicente Flat Camp

Round Trip: 10 miles, 2900 ft.gain
Map+Photos 
Route metrics & trail conditions 
Printable map 

Attractions are iconic coastal views and Cone Peak view enroute.  Popular destination (so can get overcrowded) with dispersed camp spots in large redwood grove.  Can combine with dayhike to Cone Peak or do the Cone Peak Loop (aka Stone Ridge Loop) for views. 

Attractive campspots amid redwoods.  Perennial water but in summer can require going upstream in Hare Creek.  Vicente Camp can get crowded, especially on weekends, so not a place for solitude/privacy/quiet - especially at the southern-most campspots.  An alternative with more privacy and a view of Cone Peak is meadow with flat shadeed spots 0.4 up the Stone Ridge Trail (but water must be carried water up there). 

72 hour parking along Route 1 at trailhead. 

Disambiguration:  in below, "Vicente Flat Trail" really means the officially-named "Kirk Creek Trail" (from Route 1 to Vicente Flat)
Cone Peak Hiking Guide (very detailed)
Vicente Flat Trail (Hiking in Big Sur)
The Vicente Flat Trail (Redwood Hikes)
Vicente Flat Trail, Big Sur (Bay Area Workers Guide to Backpacking)
Cone Peak "Sea to Sky" - Vicente Flat (mostly photos)

Excursion to Cone Peak:  Photomap   Route metrics & trail conditions   Printable map
Cone Peak Loop (aka Stone Ridge Loop):  Photomap   Route metrics & trail conditions   Printable map
Jim Ringland's photos with descriptions for Kirk Creek Trail and Cone Peak Loop  

Backpacking Big Sur's Cone Peak- Sea to Summit
Big Sur Backpacking - Cone Peak, Sea to Sky

Local Trail Conditions Map
Big Sur hiking information