Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
summit (3682'), then descends to two smaller saddles. At the second saddle, you'll
reach the
Big Pines Trail junction
(5.1 miles, 3500'), which connects the southbound
Comings Camp Trail
and northbound
San Clemente Trail
and leads to the east-
bound
Ventana Trail.
SIDE TRIP
From the Big Pines Trail junction, the
Comings Camp Trail
descends southeast for
half a mile into a mature forest dominated by oaks, madrones, and the occasional
massive ponderosa pine. This shady, viewless trail reaches a minor gully before the
final descent to
Comings Camp
(5.6 miles, 3200'). Nestled beneath several enorm-
ous trees, the first campsite is big enough to accommodate a large group, perhaps as
many as 10 tents. A smaller second site lies about 100 yards down the trail along-
side willows and a large black oak. The camp offers little other than stone fire rings.
Water is not provided, though in wet months, a small creeklet may trickle past the
willows at the second site.
For a second side trip: From the Big Pines Trail junction, the faint
San Cle-
mente Trail
branches left and descends 1.5 miles northwest to
Pine Creek Camp
.
This trail is so overgrown with poison oak and brush, you'd be better off skipping it
altogether.
From this four-way junction with the San Clemente and Comings Camp Trails,
the Big Pines Trail continues straight, climbing east to a minor ridge, then descending
to a saddle with impressive views north across the
Carmel
and
Salinas Valleys.
Passing live oaks and a few massive black oaks, the trail emerges amid ponderosa
pines and an open grassy knoll atop a 4052-foot ridge. From here steep switchbacks
drop to a major saddle and the
Ventana Trail junction
(6.3 miles, 3620').
You'll veer right onto the Ventana Trail along a well-graded slope past tanoaks,
madrones, and lone ponderosa pines to the headwaters of the south fork of
Danish
Creek
(7 miles, 3560'). From here a spur darts left across the creek and returns down-
stream a half mile to the Big Pines Trail. Pass the spur and continue upstream 0.1
mile to a spacious,
unnamed camp
that many mistake for Pat Spring Camp. The
first campsite lies beneath an impressive madrone amid scattered ponderosa pines and
oaks. Another site sits across Danish Creek atop a flat saddle 50 yards northeast of the
first site. In summer and fall the creek may run dry. To find water, head downstream a
half mile toward
Big Pines Camp
or upstream toward
Pat Spring,
0.3 mile past the
divide.
Past the camp, the route rises 0.2 mile southeast to a prominent saddle and a
four-way junction with the
Pat Spring Camp Trail
and
Pat Spring Trail
(7.3 miles,
3740'). Pay attention at this potentially confusing junction. The trail straight ahead
leads 100 yards downslope to
Pat Spring
—but this is
not
the Ventana Trail. Many