WELCOME to the Ventana Wilderness Alliance's Visitor Information Page, a resource for visitors to the public lands of the northern Santa Lucia mountains and the Big Sur Coast.

For the benefit of visitors from outside the region or others who might not be familiar with the Ventana Wilderness or the Big Sur area, we provide here some information and links that we feel might be useful in planning your visit and in getting the most out of your experience in this magical part of the world.

Below, you'll find contact info for the Federal and State agencies that administer the area's public lands. These agencies provide the permits that users of public lands are required to purchase, as well as information about campgrounds, trails, activities and attractions, and environmental issues affecting the public lands of California's Central Coast.

In addition, you will find links to information on such topics as local amenities, weather and road conditions, wildlife, and the Ventana Wilderness Alliance's excellent resources for finding the best maps and guidebooks and learning about local Wilderness and State Park hiking trails.

GENERAL INFORMATION

US Forest Service Information

The US Forest Service, Monterey Ranger District Office, can supply a wide range of information regarding Adventure Passes, fire permits and restrictions, trailhead parking, etc. They may be contacted at:

The Los Padres National Forest website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres/ provides a wealth of information regarding the LPNF in general, including a regional map and visitor information for hikers, equestrians, anglers, hunters, etc.

State Parks Information

The California State Parks website offers pages devoted to each of the local State Parks, with brief descriptions of the parks' features and facilities:

• Garrapata State Park
• Andrew Molera State Park
• Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
• Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

The Ventana Wilderness Alliance's Trails Page provides up-to-date trail condition reports for the most popular hiking trails in these State Parks. Check them out: Garrapata - Andrew Molera - Julia Pfeiffer Burns.

California Department of Fish and Game Information

The California Department of Fish and Game website provides complete information pertaining to hunting and fishing regulations and licensing.

LOCAL INFORMATION

Nature and Wildlife

Without a doubt, what draws folks to the Big Sur Coast and the northern Santa Lucia mountains is the astonishing natural beauty to be found in abundance wherever one chooses to look: leopard lilies blooming amid a carpet of sorrel in a shady redwood canyon, a California condor effortlessly riding the thermals above the oak-clad ridges, gray whales breaching and spouting beyond the crashing breakers of the Pacific shore. These and many another wonder are here for those who care to look. Here are a few links to help you explore the rich and varied natural heritage of this very special place:

BOTANY

The Santa Lucia mountains and the Big Sur coast are home to extremely rich and varied communities of flora - from the world's southernmost groves of coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) and mountainside stands of bristlecone or Santa Lucia fir (Abies bracteata), one of the world's rarest conifers, to a wealth of wildflowers and rare native bunchgrasses.

There is no better online guide to this floral wealth than the Ventana Wilderness Alliance's quarterly journal, the Double Cone Register. In its environment-friendly digital pages, VWA botanist-in-residence David Rogers regularly treats us to fascinating excursions into the world of Central Coast plant lore. Take a look at some samples of his work:

• Unique and Noteworthy Plant of the Santa Lucia Mountains, Part Four: Burn Species
• Native Irises of the Santa Lucia Mountains
• Unique and Noteworthy Plants of the Santa Lucia Mountains Part Three:
  Ribes (Gooseberries and Currants)
• Perfect Pattern of Silvan Perfection on the Symmetrical Plan: the Rare Santa Lucia Fir.
• An Addendum on the Botanical History of Santa Lucia Fir, Abies bracteata

And there are many more where these came from! If you want to learn more (a lot more) about the botany of the Big Sur area, or about its geography, history, or just about any other subject relating to our spectacular landscape, the Double Cone Register is a great resource to explore.

MONARCH BUTTERFLIES

Between October and January, Monarch butterflies come to Big Sur to roost for the winter. The best place to observe these beautiful creatures is at Andrew Molera State Park, where they roost in the eucalyptus trees of Cooper Grove on the Big Sur River.

CONDORS

The fortunate visitor to the Ventana Wilderness or the Big Sur Coast might be blessed with a glimpse of a California condor, one of the world's rarest and most majestic birds, slowly circling in the thermals rising up the face of the Santa Lucia from the sea. In 1987, with the species poised on the brink of extinction, the last wild condor was taken into captivity to join a total population of 26 remaining birds.

Thanks to the efforts of organizations like the Ventana Wildlife Society (formerly the Ventana Wilderness Society) there is now a total population of 158 California condors, 53 of them living in the wild.

Learn more about the California condor and the ongoing reintroduction program in the Ventana Wilderness in the Ventana Wildlife Society's condor pages.

BALD EAGLES

Since 1986, the Ventana Wildlife Society has also been involved in the reintroduction of bald eagles into the Central Coast area. Read all about in at their bald eagle pages.

WHALE-WATCHING

Whale-watching is a popular activity all along the coast of California (indeed, along the entire west coast of North America), and nowhere is it more popular, or more pleasant, than in the Big Sur area. Between approximately December and April every year, gray whales pass along the Big Sur Coast during their migrations between from their breeding grounds in Mexico to their feeding grounds in Alaska. The most fruitful period is generally from February through April, when the northward-bound whales, some with newborn calves at their sides, swim close inshore. During this period, especially at weekends, the turnouts along Highway One can be crowded with binocular- and camera-toting whalewatchers.

But even outside the gray whale season, be sure to bring your binoculars. In addition gray whales, blue whales, humpback whales, and occasionally right whales and even orcas (killer whales) have been spotted off the Big Sur Coast or in Monterey Bay. Keep your eyes peeled!

Weather

Don't get caught on the trail without your rain gear when one of those big winter storms blows through - or without your Tilley hat when summer temperatures hit three figures. Check the VWA's Weather Page for the latest forecast.

Road Conditions

Highway one along the Big Sur Coast is prone to closure by landslides, especially during the winter, and there can be traffic-slowing roadwork going on any time of year. Check the California Department of Transportation website for the most current road conditions. You can also get CalTrans updates by phone at (800) 427-ROAD (7623) within California and (916) 445-7623 from out-of-state.

Lodging, Restaurants, and Events in the Big Sur Area

The Big Sur Chamber of Commerce website has a wealth of information on local amenities. There's an Events calendar, information on shopping and sightseeing, and a message board where you can get answers to your specific questions.

TRAILS & TRAILHEAD INFORMATION

The most up-to-date information on trails, trail conditions, trailheads and popular hikes in the Ventana Wilderness, Silver Peak Wilderness, and area State Parks is available at the VWA's Trails Page.

There are a number of excellent maps and trail guides available: check out the VWA's maps page for details.

ADVENTURE PASS INFORMATION

As of May 28, 2004, US Forest Service Adventure Passes are no longer required in the Monterey Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest. For more information, please see the press release on the subject.

General information about the controversial Adventure Pass program, admittedly from the Forest Service perspective, is a available at http://www.fsadventurepass.org. For an opposing viewpoint, take a look at http://www.wildwilderness.org/docs/sierra.htm.