Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ets (see
TRIP 20 Manuel Peak Trail
). This vegetation stands in stark contrast to this
trail's forested north-facing slopes.
The trail continues through shady redwood gullies and tanoak groves devastated
state park boundary and your entry into the
Ventana Wilderness
(2.3 miles, 900').
You'll climb north nearly 300 feet in the next 0.3 mile to the trail's high point,
then turn east for a quick descent through two gullies. The second gully (3.3 miles,
1240') boasts a seasonal 40-foot waterfall that cascades from trailside cliffs in winter
and spring, though by summer barely a trickle is heard. Onward, the trail climbs half
a mile past several overlooks, then descends to a nearby ridge and the
Ventana Camp
Trail junction
(3.9 miles, 1500'), marked by a dilapidated sign.
Ventana Camp Trail
is a strenuous 1.2-mile spur that drops 840 feet down a
series of short switchbacks to the river. From the junction, turn left down the trail
and you'll quickly reach an unofficial campsite. Though waterless and not as scenic
as Ventana Camp, this is where those unwilling to slog heavy gear down the steep
grade choose to camp. It can hold up two tents on sloping ground. After a series of
14 switchbacks, the trail emerges at
Ventana Camp
(5.1 miles, 660'), perched atop a
broad terrace on the upper Big Sur.
Shaded by oaks, madrones, and redwoods, the camp can accommodate large
groups at 10 sites that flank the river. In summer, a large swimming hole in the river
bend offers respite from the heat. Just past this bend, the river turns south-southwest
through a steep-walled gorge, where the collective flow of the watershed's tributar-
ies and runoff funnel through a notch less than 10 feet wide and plunge into one of
Ventana's most alluring swimming holes.
If you're eastbound on the Pine Ridge Trail, refer to the following trip description
for the remaining 1580-foot gain and 970-foot loss in elevation over the next 5.7 miles
to
Sykes Camp.
The strenuous 900-foot vertical toil back to the Pine Ridge Trail is
best done in early morning or late afternoon.
JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED
While artifacts found in the Santa Lucia Range date back 10,000 years to the Esselen,
Salinian, and Ohlone-Rumsen people, Big Sur remained largely unexplored through
the early 20th century. A flood of settlement and industry at the end of the 19th cen-
tury emphasized the need for a direct trading route in and out of the region.
Frustrated with the time it took to reach his Big Sur patients from Monterey, Dr.
John Roberts dreamed of an efficient, safe road, and even conducted early surveys.
Entering the political arena as county supervisor, then state legislator, he lobbied for
the construction of what would become America's most scenic roadway. Construc-
tion began in 1919, and Highway 1 opened to the public in 1938.
