Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Past camp the trail ascends through shaded gullies, then climbs a series of switch-
backs more than 800 feet in 1.3 miles to the first of two saddles. Pause for views down
Willow Creek canyon and beyond to the
Salinas Valley.
From here you'll head south
0.1 mile to the second, more prominent saddle (8.2 miles, 2770') at the head of Wil-
low Creek canyon, overlooking the headwaters of Willow and
Zigzag Creeks.
Ahead, the Marble Peak Trail descends one of the most level, well-graded routes
in the Ventana's chaparral landscape. The trail traverses two major side canyons and
contours past numerous smaller gullies before crossing reliable
Camp Creek
(10.4
miles, 2760'). You'll climb from this canyon to the fourth saddle, then descend to less
reliable
Shovel Handle Creek
(11.3 miles, 2720'). After a steep climb 200 feet across
a minor ridge, you'll pass a fairly reliable small spring and reach the second saddle.
From here the trail descends 0.2 mile to the
South Fork Trail junction
(11.8 miles,
2750').
At the junction, turn right onto the 5.2-mile
South Fork Trail,
which quickly
crosses
Strawberry Creek
and climbs gently upstream 0.3 mile into
Strawberry
Valley
and
Strawberry Camp
(12.1 miles, 2840'). The sole site lies on slightly slop-
ing ground and is big enough for up to three tents. This is a popular camp among
equestrians due to the small open valley and it's proximity to water through late sum-
mer. In fall the creek may seem more like a seep, though you can usually find water a
few feet downstream.
Directly above camp lies the
Black Cone Trail junction
(12.1 miles, 2840').
This incredibly scenic 7.8-mile route traverses some of Ventana's highest ridges and
mountains, connecting the trails of the Arroyo Seco drainage with the trails of the
Big Sur River
and
Carmel River
drainages. If you're bound for the coast, the Black
Cone Trail links up with the
Pine Ridge Trail
at
Pine Ridge
(see
TRIP 53 Black
Cone Trail to Arroyo Seco
). For a broader wilderness tour, the Pine Ridge Trail leads
west 15.8 miles to
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
and east 5.4 miles to
Pine Valley
(see
