Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Trip 58
VENTANA CAMP
LENGTH AND TYPE: 10.2-mile out-and-back
RATING: Moderate
TRAIL CONDITION: Well maintained to clear, poison oak
HIGHLIGHTS: Follow the Big Sur River as it cascades through steep, narrow canyon walls that shelter
deep swimming holes.
TO REACH THE TRAILHEAD:
At Big Sur Station the Pine Ridge Trailhead is at the end
of the parking lot beyond the visitor center. Self-pay parking is $4/night for overnight
guests. You'll find water, flush toilets, and maps at the visitor center.
TRIP SUMMARY:
Pine Ridge is the most heavily used trail in the wilderness, as most
hikers set their sights on Sykes Camp and the 100°F hot springs. Barely 4 miles into
that 10-mile trek is the junction to Ventana Camp, which boasts one of Ventana's finest
swimming holes. Though far from a hidden treasure, it makes a wonderful weekend
trip. If you go in spring or fall, when summer crowds have diminished and temperat-
ures are still pleasant, you'll likely have the brisk pool all to yourself.
Trip Description
The well-marked and heavily used
Pine Ridge Trail
starts from the end of the parking
lot (370'). You'll briefly skirt a fenced-in pasture, then enter the cool, damp redwood-
and fern-lined gullies high above
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground.
After a
gradual descent and crossing of perennial
Post Creek
(0.7 mile, 280'), the trail climbs
steady switchbacks to a steep ridge (0.8 mile, 850'). Pause to take in the view down
canyon, where the
Big Sur River
abruptly turns from southwest to northwest on its
final stretch to
Molera Beach.
Also notice the flats where the river meets the major
fault of the Big Sur drainage, the
Sur Thrust Fault,
which steadily slips, compresses,
and erodes rocks in its path. The river closely follows this swath of destruction to the
Pacific.
Onward, the tread turns to loose gravel along sunny slopes with scattered views
into the steep-walled river gorge. Although you'll hear cascading falls directly below,
the only way to access this section of the river is along the
Gorge Trail
(see
TRIP 21
Gorge Trail
)
. Across the canyon are the exposed south-facing slopes of
Manuel Peak,
clearly marked by the
Manuel Peak Trail,
which slices through dense chaparral thick-
