Day One

Leave SF by 9 AM and swing by Big Sur Bakery for lunch

• Diners love their fresh ingredients and baked goodies
• Located at 47540 California 1 in Big Sur
• Open Wed. to Sun. from 9 AM to 3 PM
• Last pit stop · Chevron - 47047 CA-1 in Big Sur

Drive to Big Sur Station Visitor Center and park at Pine Ridge Trailhead

• Overnight parking costs $10 a day per vehicle
• Drinking water, restrooms, and trash cans are available at Big Sur Station Visitor Center

Hike along Pine Ridge Trail to Ventana Camp

• Pine Ridge Trail (PRT) reopened in April 2021 after a five-year closure. It's the trail that accesses the popular Sykes hot springs, but during the winter season, the creeks run rapid, deep and are dangerous to cross. This is an intro backpacking trip along PRT, but you can extend or shorten your trek however you'd like.
• It's a five-mile hike with 1,519 feet of elevation gain to Ventana Camp, a beautiful designated campsite in the backcountry.
• This portion of the trail is mostly exposed so wear a sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and fill up your water bottles

Arrive at Ventana Camp and cool off by the river

• Find a campsite near the river and dip your toes into the river

Prep dinner and set up camp

• YAY! Chow on some dinner and s'mores, and enjoy your first night in Ventana Wilderness!
• Fully extinguish your campfire before you head to bed and store all of your food and scented items in a bear canister, not your tent!

Car to camp - 5 miles with 1,519 feet of elevation gain - 3 to 4 hours

Los Padres used to be named Santa Barbara National Forest, but locals complained about it referencing a single county, so they changed the name in 1936

Day Two

Make brekkie, pack a lunch, and choose your own adventure along Pine Ridge Trail

• Fill up on water, bring your water filter, snacks, sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat, bug spray, down jacket, a book, lunch and a headlamp just in case!
• ​Leave any food and scented items in the bear canister back at camp
• Return to Pine Ridge Trail and go on a day hike towards Terrace Creek or Barstow Flat campsite. It's a 7.3 mile round-trip hike, with 2,661 feet of elevation gain, to Barstow Flat Camp so make sure you head back to Ventana Camp before it gets too dark!
• Find a cool mid-way spot for lunch and chill for the rest of the afternoon

Return to camp and prep dinner

• Clean up from the day hike

Enjoy a sunset dinner

• Savor your last evening in the wild and spend the rest of the night stargazing around the campfire. More s'mores, plz.

Camp to camp - 7.3 miles with 2,661 feet of elevation gain - 4 to 5 hours

Thousands of years ago, the Ohlone, Esselen, and Salinan tribes were the first inhabitants in Ventana Wilderness. They lived a nomadic life, migrating to the coasts during winter

Day Three

Cook up breakfast, pack up, and hike back to Pine Ridge Trailhead

• It's a five-mile hike, with 1,503 feet of elevation gain, back to the trailhead and parking lot

Return to your car and grab lunch at Coast Big Sur Gallery and Cafe

• Diners love their local, organic ingredients, and soft-serve ice cream!
• Located at 49901 Highway 1 in Big Sur
• Open Thursday to Monday from 11 AM to 4 PM

Head home!

Camp to car - 5 miles - 1,503 feet of elevation gain - 3  hours

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Los Padres means "the Fathers", which refers to the Catholic missionary priests who lived in the area around the 18th and 19th centuries