The Stone Ridge Trail in the Ventana Wilderness offers hikers the quintessential “Big Sur experience.” This incredibly scenic trail takes backcountry travelers through deep old-growth redwood forests, over sunny, oak-studded ridges, through grassy meadowlands, and across babbling mountain streams, while offering some of the best coastal views to be found anywhere in the northern Santa Lucia Mountains. It also makes possible, in conjunction with the historic Gamboa (Carrizo) Trail, a popular weekend loop trip that circumnavigates 5,155-foot-high Cone Peak.
From where it starts on Cone Peak Road, the Stone Ridge Trail descends to spacious, redwood-shaded Vicente Flat Camp before contouring north across the coastal slope. It eventually crosses each and every fork of Limekiln Creek as well as its namesake—Stone Ridge—with its stunning views of the Big Sur Coast. Along the way to Goat Camp on the west fork of the creek, the trail passes through the Cone Peak Gradient Research Natural Area, offering not only exceptional recreational opportunities but important scientific research access as well.
Update 1-11-2010 - the Stone Ridge trail is not currently passable except for the most die hard Ventanaphiles who have also previously successfully traversed this trail. Work is planned for the Spring of 2010 and should be passable by May 2010 if not sooner.
Update 7-15-2011- The section of the Stone Ridge trail from Stone RIdge north to Ojito Saddle is the final section that VWA is currently raising funds to restore. This section is extrememly rough, with portions of the trail covered by brush or obscured by erosion. The Kirk Creek trail from HWY1 to Vicente, as well as from Vicente to Cone Peak Road, are in better shape than they have been in decades, and a joy to walk. This is a result of VWA trail funding and the dedicated vounteer leadership of Mike Heard. To help us complete this magnigficent loop, please support the final phase of the Cone Peak Project by clicking here to donate and writing 'Cone Peak Project' in the 'notes' section after checkout.
Trail Conditions for Stone Ridge Trail
The Buckeye Trail is arguably the most scenic trail in the entire Silver Peak Wilderness. With a long history of use dating back to the 1880s under the name “Upper Coast Trail,” the Buckeye Trail was the main travel route to the Los Burros Mining District from points south along the coast. Today, the Buckeye Trail begins at the abandoned Salmon Creek Guard Station next to Highway 1 and winds its way north-northwest along the coastal slope, offering the traveler sweeping vistas of the Big Sur coastline. After passing above and within viewing distance of the Southern Redwood Botanical Area—the southernmost grove of naturally occurring Sequoia sempervirens in the world—it arrives at spacious Buckeye Flat, one of the more accommodating backcountry camps in Big Sur. From Buckeye Flat it continues north through Cruikshank Camp before dropping down to redwood-rich Villa Creek Camp, then climbs up and contours through the Alder Creek Botanical Area to reach its northern terminus at Alder Creek Camp. 
Planning a Trip 
The Carrizo Trail is one of the most historically important trails in the Ventana Wilderness. Prior to the completion of Highway 1 in 1937, many of the south coast Big Sur homestead families, including the Harlans, Danis, Gamboas, and Lopezes, used the Carrizo Trail as their main connection with civilization at Jolon and King City in the Salinas Valley. Several times a year they herded cattle, pigs, goats, and even turkeys to market over the Coast Range via the Carrizo Trail, returning with the necessary supplies to sustain their remote existence. 
Completely traversing the Ventana Wilderness from 5,000-foot-high Chews Ridge to Big Sur Station, the Pine Ridge is the most popular trail in the Ventana Region. Built in 1916 by the Post family of Big Sur, the Pine Ridge Trail offers hikers and equestrians a 
Winter travelers in the Ventana Wilderness are particularly fond of the Ventana Double Cone Trail, due to the fact that its entire length runs along high, warm, sunny ridgelines rather than the deeper, cooler canyon alternatives. From the trailhead at Bottchers Gap, the Trail climbs up and over Skinner Ridge and Devils Peak, passing through some of the most impressive madrone forest to be found anywhere. It follows the forested ridge between the Little Sur River and Carmel River watershed to the north, passing by a number of excellent camps— Comings, Pat Spring, Little Pine, and Lone Pine— before arriving at its namesake, the summit of Ventana Double Cone. If any specific location could be considered the heart of the Ventana Wilderness, the Double Cone summit is it. With lofty views in every direction, including the vast Pacific Ocean to the west, this remote mountaintop was once the site of a fire lookout—and for good reason. 
