Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER
nineteen
Cone Peak
T
OPPING OUT BELOW 6000 FEET
, the Santa Lucia Range by no means approaches the
lofty reaches of the Sierra Nevada, which soars more than 14,000 feet above the San
Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys. But the rugged Santa Lucias certainly surpass any of
the Lower 48 coastal ranges in terms of topographical relief. These peaks drop so pre-
cipitously to the rocky coves and pounding Pacific, their vertical canyon walls appear
to fold in upon themselves.
No mountain illustrates this better than Cone Peak. Within 3 miles of the coast,
Cone rises nearly a mile. The astonishing grade from the beach at Limekiln to the
summit is the most extreme coastal slope in the contiguous United States. This abrupt
change in elevation, along with a variety of soil types, supports impressive ecological
diversity, including old-growth redwoods, ancient oak woodlands, endemic stands of
Santa Lucia firs, and an isolated grove of sugar pines.
Despite the rugged terrain, Cone Peak and its flanks are accessible via many trails
and roads. When it opens in spring, Cone Peak Road (aka Central Coast Ridge Road)
enables hikers to reach the summit in less than two hours. Four trailheads start along
this road: the Cone Peak Summit Trail, Vicente Flat Trail, Coast Ridge Trail, and San
Antonio Trail. A network of trails also wind through Limekiln and Hare Canyons,
while other trails lead to upper San Antonio Creek and Devils Canyon.
