Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
descent, you'll reach the first switchback and views of
Pico Blanco, Marble Peak,
and
Ventana Double Cone.
You'll also see evidence of the 1977 Marble-Cone Fire,
which consumed thousands of acres. Covered in chaparral, the dry south-facing slopes
burned more completely than the damp, tree-lined north-facing slopes.
Past the first switchback, the trail leads north into a stand of redwoods, hairpins
south, then reaches another switchback and the
Little Sur Camp Trail junction
(1.8
miles, 1230'), on the east side of the road. Pause for views of the
Little Sur River
drainage and 3709-foot
Pico Blanco,
the largest single mass of limestone west of the
Rocky Mountains.
SIDE TRIP
To reach
Little Sur Camp,
take the 0.8-mile spur on your right, which leads south
along a shady ridge, plunging nearly 600 feet to the banks of the Little Sur. As you
meander past live oaks and Douglas firs, keep an eye on the trail for encroaching
poison oak. A series of moderate to steep switchbacks drop east into a dense forest
of bays, oaks, and madrones. Consider bringing protective head netting once temper-
atures rise above 70°F, as flies make their presence known. After descending west
on an easier grade, you'll arrive in camp (2.6 miles, 670'), which provides two small
riverside sites.
Use caution when scrambling over a couple of large fallen trees across the trail.
Due to the camp's proximity to both Bottchers Gap and Pico Blanco Boy Scout
Camp, these sites fill up quickly during spring vacation and between mid-June and
mid-August when the scouts arrive.
Past the Little Sur Camp Trail junction, the main route descends north 0.3 mile,
returning to the welcome shade of a redwood forest. The next switchback crosses a
fault-line creek beside a small waterfall and weaves through several gullies past wel-
coming signs for the Pico Blanco Boy Scout Camp. The camp's
ranger station
is on
the west side of the trail, 100 yards past the first sign. Follow signs toward the main
camp, as spur roads and trails only lead to camp structures and sites. The road gently
roller coasters down to the Little Sur, then crosses it on a wooden footbridge into Pico
Blanco Boy Scout Camp proper (3.6 miles, 820').
Just past the bridge and quartermaster's store, the road forks into three branches.
The left branch leads to
Camp Geronimo,
where it parallels the river upstream to
a crossing. The right branch leads through camp to a gravel beach with a refreshing
waist- to chest-high wading pool. Instead, follow the middle branch, which soon
passes the central kitchen and quickly climbs, passing a small sign for the start of the
Los Padres National Forest Trails
and a spur on the right marked simply
TRAIL
(3.7
miles, 950').
