Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
This trail serves as an important link between the northern and southern Ventana
Wilderness, connecting the trails of the Carmel, Little Sur, and Big Sur watersheds
with those of the Arroyo Seco watershed. The route from China Camp offers at least
three point-to-point trips. If you can arrange a shuttle vehicle, destinations include:
(1) Arroyo Seco Campground (26.2 miles); (2) Church Creek Trailhead (24.1 miles);
and (3) Horse Pasture Trailhead (27.6 miles). The latter two trips can also be loop
trips if you're willing to hike several steep miles up Tassajara Road (5.4 miles from
the Church Creek Trailhead and 5.2 miles from the Horse Pasture Trailhead). Or your
loop can begin and end at the Church Creek Trailhead via the Church Creek, Pine
Ridge, Black Cone, Marble Peak, and Horse Pasture Trails (see
TRIP 54 Church
Creek to Pine Valley Camp
). The Black Cone Trail descends (albeit gently) more than
1700 feet in the 7.8 miles between Pine Ridge and Strawberry Camp—if you're will-
ing to return along the trail and regain this elevation, several point-to-point trips lead
through the heart of the wilderness.
Out-and-back destinations from China Camp include: (1) Mosquito Springs
Camp (17.2 miles round-trip); (2) South Fork Camp (36 miles round-trip); (3) Straw-
berry Camp (30.2 miles round-trip); and (4) Willow Springs Camp (38.4 miles round-
trip).
