(updated: Apr 29, 2026)
I've been asked about places and things particularly special in the Big Sur wilderness areas.
The below illustrates the variety available.
Access depends upon trail conditions, which after recent fire and storm
damage can now be difficult for some locations.
And trails/roads
can be closed.
To display color-coded trail conditions on a map,
click/tap its ⇒ Trail Conditions button.
(To hide magenta route, click ⇒ Overlay:hide button)
Accessing some of these places will be only for more adventurous souls.
Orderings below are roughly north-to-south.
Ventana Wilderness
•
Redwood Forest:
Many camps and trails lie within a redwood forest, iconic to the coast.
Easiest access:
· (Old) Coast Road
(dirt, seaonally gated):
· Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park: Pfeiffer Falls Trail:
· Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park: Ewoldsen Loop Trail:
· Limekiln State Park: Limekiln Trail:
Notable backcountry examples:
· Western and eastern ends of Little Sur Trail:
· Western end of Pine Ridge Trail:
· Redwood Camp:
· Vicente Flat Camp:
•
Ridge views of Big Sur coastline:
Any trail which climbs steeply upward from CA Route 1.
Notable examples:
· Boronda Trail:
· North Coast Ridge Road
(dirt, gated):
· Cone Peak Sea-to-Sky Route:
•
Waterfalls:
Click on waterfall icons on
Big Sur Trailmap.
Flow varies greatly between wet and dry seasons
State Parks:
National Forest with nearby trails:
· Pico Blanco Public Camp Falls:
A falls not high but considered one of the most beautiful in the Ventana, with its pool set midst surrounding redwoods.
(but its beauty currently marred by fallen redwood trunks)
· Last Chance Falls:
Dramatic vertical drop over cliff with overhang.
(Slows to trickle in dry season)
· Salmon Creek Falls:
Split falls with dramatic drop and downstream pools. Very popular since close to Route 1.
· Upper Salmon Creek Falls:
Less frequented alternative to Salmon Creek Falls.
•
Endemic Santa Lucia Fir:
Rarest fir in North America,
possibly the world, found only in the Santa Lucia Mountains - with scattered growth on steep northeast-facing slopes.
Recognized by its distinctive spire-like shape with dropped branches.
Photo
Notable examples:
· Pine Ridge Trail:
· Big Sur Trail:
Map
Fly 3D
Photo
· Cone Peak area
(Gamboa & North Coast Ridge Trails):
Map
Fly 3D
Photo
•
Native mortars:
Used by natives to grind acorns for food, found all over the wilderness, generally near water.
Usually found in large bedrock stone, hence generic name "Bed rock mortars", but can also be found in large individual rocks.
Accompanying pestles have been removed.
Bed Rock Mortar photo
Rock Mortar photo
Example:
· Upper Indian Valley:
•
Pat Spring Camp:
Wonderful view of iconic Ventana "The Window" ridge
(Ventana Double Cone to Kandlbinder) from ridgeline, where can camp if not windy.
•
Ventana Double Cone:
View into the heart of the Ventana Wilderness.
The traditional route is overnighting at Pat Spring with a out-and-back dayhike to the peak.
•
Carmel River Trail:
Hiking along
(and in, for its many crossings), an quintessential Big Sur stream. Hot in summer.
•
Pine Valley:
Meadowed valley with pines and rocks. A favorite with many due to its relatively easy access from Tassajara Road
(dirt).
•
Lost Valley:
Isolated large meadowed valley. For those seeking more solitude than Pine Valley.
•
Sykes Hot Spring:
The iconic redwood hot spring, but often overcrowded so not a "wilderness experience".
See
Sykes Camp info.
•
"Wind Caves":
Sculpted sandstone along southern end of Church Creek Trail.
•
Arroyo Seco Gorge:
Deep canyon narrows in gorge, isolated swimming holes
•
"The Rocks":
Sandstone formation around Santa Lucia Memorial Campground.
Best viewed from above on the surrounding Santa Lucia Trail or Carrizo Trail.
(Not to be confused with similar "The Rocks" formation in inaccessible eastern end of Ventana Wilderness.)
•
Cone Peak:
Steepest rise from ocean to mountaintop on Pacific Coast.
Accessible via:
· Vicente Flat Camp
(for redwood experience):
· Stone Ridge direct, via "Sea-to-Sky" Route
(off-trail, steep!):
· Cone Peak Road
(gated during rainy season):
•
Cone Peak Loop: (aka Stone Ridge Loop)
Map+Photos
Contouring above ocean amid redwoods with Big Sur ocean views.
Silver Peak Wilderness
•
Redwood Forest:
Many camps and trails lie within a redwood forest, iconic to the coast.
Notable examples:
· Mansfield Ravine Trail:
· Villa Creek Camp:
•
Ridge views of Big Sur coastline:
Any trail which climbs steeply upward from CA Route 1.
Notable examples:
· Prewitt Ridge Usetrail:
· County Line Road and Ridge Usetrail
(dirt, gated):
· Baldwin Ranch Road
(dirt, gated):
•
Endemic Santa Lucia Fir:
Rarest fir in North America,
possibly the world, found only in the Santa Lucia Mountains - with scattered growth on steep northeast-facing slopes.
Recognized by its distinctive spire-like shape with dropped branches.
Photo
Notable example:
· Lion Den Botanical Area
(Cruikshank Trail):
Map
Fly 3D
Photo
Also in Lion Den Botanical Area, rare serpentine endemic
Sargent Cypress
•
Prewitt Ridge Campground:
Map
Fly 3D
Photo
Fabulous views of coast plus iconic Stone Ridge with Cone Peak and Twin Peak
(considered the steepest mountain slope to an ocean in the US)
•
Salmon Creek Falls:
Split falls with a large flow
(and many visitors since it is close to a highway).
•
Salmon Creek Trail:
Hiking along a river with several falls/rapids in addition to Salmon Creek Falls
•
Dutra Flat:
Map
Fly 3D
Photo
Large grassy meadow - tenacious pear and peach trees at Dutra homestead site
(but unpleasant when cattle present)
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