Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Trip 50
HIDING CANYON & ROUND ROCK CAMPS
LENGTH AND TYPE: 18.8-mile point-to-point
RATING: Strenuous
TRAIL CONDITION: Difficult to impassable, poison oak, steep faint tread
HIGHLIGHTS: This peaceful wilderness escape leads through steep, narrow gorges to cascading water-
falls, deep emerald pools, and remote camps.
TO REACH THE TRAILHEAD:
Park at the large turnout on Tassajara Road across from
China Camp. The trailhead is on the camp side of the road, 100 feet south of the park-
ing lot and 150 feet south of the camp entrance. The trail begins on a saddle above
China Camp. It is marked, though encroaching brush often obscures the sign. There's
no water at the trailhead.
TRIP SUMMARY:
This trip offers hikers overnight excursions within the rugged north-
ern Santa Lucia Range. If you can arrange a shuttle vehicle, the 18.8-mile one-way
route takes you from China Camp to Los Padres Dam past pine-studded meadows, lush
forests, secluded canyons, narrow gorges, waterfalls, and swimming holes. Highlights
include Pine Valley, Pine Falls, the pools and waterfalls below Round Rock, Ventana
Mesa Creek Falls above Hiding Canyon Camp, Carmel River Camp, and Bluff Camp.
You can also arrange two- to four-night out-and-back trips, spending at least one
night in Pine Valley and the other night(s) at Round Rock or Hiding Canyon Camps.
Or you can take the 24.1-mile loop that leaves China Camp on the Miller Canyon Trail
and returns through Pine Valley (see
TRIP 48 Miller Canyon & Pine Valley Loop
).
These trails are ideal in spring and fall, as temperatures are moderate and storms
infrequent. Summer temps can reach the upper 90s Fahrenheit, and flies and mosqui-
toes pose a nuisance. Winter temps can dip below freezing, and snow is common above
4000 feet. Poison oak is a year-round problem on the lower Carmel River Trail.
Trip Description
See
TRIP 49 Pine Valley
for the first 5.3 miles of this route to
Pine Valley.
The
Carmel River Trail
crosses Pine Valley's broad meadow to a four-way junc-
tion with the
Pine Falls spur
and
Pine Valley-Pine Ridge Trail
(3140'). Consult
TRIP
49 Pine Valley
for the route to
Pine Falls
and
TRIP 52 Pine Ridge, Sykes Hot Springs,
& Big Sur
for a description of the Pine Valley-Pine Ridge Trail. This route leads north-
west along the Carmel River Trail.
