Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Santa Lucia fir,a rare species endemic to the Santa Lucia Mountains, inhabits the steep,
rocky slopes along the Black Cone Trail.
Trip Description
See
TRIP 52 Pine Ridge, Sykes Hot Springs, & Big Sur
for the first 7.3 miles of this
route to the
Black Cone Trail junction
atop
Pine Ridge
(4540').
If you're in desperate need of water, you can either descend 0.3 mile farther along
the
Pine Ridge Trail
to
Pine Ridge Camp
(a spring runs year-round in all but the
driest years) or hike 0.8 mile along the
Black Cone Trail
to the
Mosquito Springs
Trail junction
(a half-mile spur leads to year-round water at
Mosquito Springs
Camp
).
At the Black Cone Trail junction, a metal plaque nailed to a charred snag points
the way. Veer left and head south along the western flanks of 4965-foot
South
Ventana Cone.
Over 0.8 mile the loose-packed trail passes low-lying thickets of
manzanita, scrub oak, ceanothus, yerba santa, and a few yuccas. The first prominent
saddle marks the
Mosquito Springs Camp Trail junction
(8.1 miles, 4470').
SIDE TRIP
