(last update: Sep 20, 2023)
I've been asked about places which are particularly iconic to visit in Big Sur wilderness areas.
The list below illustrates the variety available, but is not all inclusive.
Access depends upon trail conditions, which unfortunately after recent fire and storm
damage can now be difficult for some locations.
And trails/roads
can be officially closed for repair with no known opening date.
So the maps display trails with color-coded trail conditions
(to show trail conditions along a route overlaid in magenta, click "Overlay:hide" button - click "Display Legend" for color meanings)
Some of these will be only for more adventurous souls.
The ordering below is roughly north-to-south.
Ventana Wilderness
•
Redwood Forest:
Many camps and trails lie within a redwood forest, iconic to the Big Sur coast.
Easiest access:
· 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.
Notable examples:
·; Pico Blanco Public Camp Falls:
Map
A falls not flashy or tall, but considered one of the most beautiful in the Ventana with pool set midst surrounding redwoods.
· Last Chance Falls
Map+Description Dramatic vertical drop over cliff with overhang.
•
Pat Spring Camp:
Map
Nice view of iconic Ventana mountains
(Ventana Double Cone, Kandlbinder, The Window) from ridgeline, where can
camp if not windy. If hiked from Bottchers Gap, route includes many
ridge views.
•
Ventana Double Cone:
Map
Iconic view into the heart of the Ventana Wilderness. Last trail section brushy, connection to other routes via Puerto Suelo Trail
is very brushy. Backpackers doing a large loop should consider staying
at Lone Pine Camp and day packing to the peak.
•
Carmel River Trail:
Map
Hiking along
(and in, for its many crossings), an iconic Big Sur stream. Hot in summer.
•
Pine Valley:
Map
Meadowed valley with pines and rocks. A favorite with many due to its relatively easy access from Tassajara Road.
•
Lost Valley:
Map
Isolated large meadowed valley. For those seeking more solitude than Pine Valley.
•
Sykes Hot Spring:
Map
The iconic redwood hot spring, but often overcrowded so not a "wilderness experience".
See
Sykes Camp info.
•
"Wind Caves":
Map+Photos
Sculpted sandstone along southern end of Church Creek Trail.
•
Arroyo Seco Gorge:
Map
Deep canyon narrows in gorge, worth a short backtrack if on a long loop hike.
•
"The Rocks":
Map
Sandstone formation around Santa Lucia Memorial Campground.
Nicely viewed from Arroyo Seco or Rodeo Flat Trails.
(Not to be confused with similar "The Rocks" formation in inaccessible eastern end of Ventana Wilderness.)
•
Stone Ridge Trail:
Map
Contouring above ocean amid redwoods with iconic Big Sur ocean views.
•
Cone Peak:
Map
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
(closed during rainy season)
Silver Peak Wilderness
•
Redwood Forest:
Many camps and trails lie within a redwood forest, iconic to the Big Sur 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
· Baldwin Ranch Road
(dirt, gated)
•
Prewitt Ridge Campground:
Map
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:
Map
Split falls with a large flow
(and many visitors since it is close to a highway).
•
Salmon Creek Trail:
Map
Hiking along a river with several falls/rapids in addition to Salmon Creek Falls
•
Dutra Flat:
Map
Large grassy meadow - pear and peach trees at Dutra homestead site
(but unpleasant when cattle present)