Pine Ridge Trail

Pine Ridge Trail 3E06 is a 22.3-mile, one-way crossing of the Ventana Wilderness from Big Sur Station to China Camp on Tassajara Road. It begins among the Big Sur River’s redwood camps, climbs onto high ridges, then descends to a remote road end. This is a point-to-point trip, not a loop, and the two ends are far apart by road: arrange a pickup or a second vehicle before starting. A strong hiker can push it in one long day, but plan about 14 hours on foot; many people make it a two- or three-day backpacking trip using the camps along the way.

The western stretch climbs out from Big Sur Station, then follows the river corridor through shaded camps such as Terrace Creek, Barlow Flat, Sykes and Redwood. Expect several creek and river crossings. High winter water can make them dangerous or impossible to cross, so the season matters even when the route is otherwise passable. Sykes Camp is an intermediate stop on the through-route; the hot springs are a side trip, not the trail’s endpoint.

From Redwood Camp, the trail makes a long, strenuous climb toward Pine Ridge Camp. This is one of the most scenic parts of the crossing, but it also marks a change in the hike: leave the river shade behind and gain a lot of elevation over rough, remote ground. The climb is dry, and Pine Ridge Camp can lack water in very dry years. Treat any water you collect, and don’t count on a refill at camp.

Beyond Pine Ridge, the trail passes Divide and Pine Valley camp areas through higher conifer and mixed-hardwood forest, ridges and open meadows. The route keeps climbing and dropping rather than giving you an easy downhill finish, and reaches about 4,300 feet at China Camp. The payoff is the change in landscape: creekside redwoods at one end, cooler high-country forest and exposed ridges in the middle, then a remote road access at the other.

The Forest Service dates the trail to 1916, when the Post family of Big Sur built it. Today it remains a serious wilderness traverse rather than a maintained park stroll. No Los Padres backcountry permit is required. Dogs are allowed on this route when leashed or kept under voice control; carry that rule through the State Park approach as well.

Start at Big Sur Station, which has a 55-space lot. The eastern end is at China Camp, off Tassajara Road, with limited parking. There’s no confirmed public shuttle between the ends, so sort out your ride before committing to the crossing. The trail’s scale, repeated climbs and remote water access make this a better fit for experienced hikers than for a casual day out.