Adventure Weekend: Hike Big Sur, California

I hiked this area at the end of June '12. This place is very magical and extremely beautiful. I didn't do the whole hike described above, but hiked from the ocean to sykes camp. The area and the diversity of plant life is so prestine and wonderful, and is definitely worth checking out. However, being that pine ridge trail is the highway of ventana there are some downsides, but don't be discouraged.

The people who hike this trail are apparently some of the most thoughtless, careless, and lazy hikers I've seen. There was an abundance of sh*t and toilet paper littered everywhere. Granted there are a couple of nasty toilets at a sykes camp and barlow which not all of us want to use, bury your shit! And bury it deep because its very difficult to get a safe distance away from the water cause the foliage is very thick, and most of the time cliffs surround you.

Poison oak is always a threat. I made it out ok, but just be weary.

It can get crowded, but everyone seems to stay near the hot sprite and near the trail. We ventured far off trail and never saw anyone for 6 days. Plus, all the best gems are always hidden off the beaten path.

On the plus side: no bears and very little worry to be had about hanging your food!!!

Check this area out, if pine ridge trail, somewhere else. The area is magical!!!!

I soaked in the top pool above the river at Sykes and it was contaminated with poison oak resin. I was hospitalized and it took me a month to heal. Don't soak too long, and make sure to rinse well in the river when you're done.

I agree with anon. Most of this trail is straight up.The water is very cold year round, and it is very difficult to find the hot spring.

A lot of this area is shut down because of the fires there 2 years ago. I went through part of the Ventana last year and it's pretty rough. We lost the trail quite a few times, and we'd been there before.

I do like the area a lot, but if you are looking for an easy, casual trip this isn't it.