Date Hiked: May 23, 2026
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
Faint tread for the most part but not too overgrown. The last section between "spring" and NCRT is "difficult", with a lot of deadfall. The final stretch to NCRT I just bushwhacked, I could not identify the trail at all.
Cook Springs Camp Trail
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NGeddes
Re: Cook Springs Camp Trail
Date Hiked: February 16, 2025
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
There's some very large downed trees at the junction to NCRT that make it difficult to find the trail, we followed the GPS trace and scrambled over downed trees and eventually were able to find the trail 100ft lower down. Once on the trail it was passable, spring was flowing.
Leaving Cook Spring Camp, there's a small cairn near a downed tree at the beginning of Carrizo-CookSpring Connector Trail.
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
There's some very large downed trees at the junction to NCRT that make it difficult to find the trail, we followed the GPS trace and scrambled over downed trees and eventually were able to find the trail 100ft lower down. Once on the trail it was passable, spring was flowing.
Leaving Cook Spring Camp, there's a small cairn near a downed tree at the beginning of Carrizo-CookSpring Connector Trail.
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Guest
Re: Cook Springs Camp Trail
Date Hiked: December 7, 2024
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
This spur down to the camp is passable, but several old burn blowovers challenge it. One significant fall changed my route up to the Coastal Trail. Cook spring dripping, the smallest amount of water I have seen in years but quickly filled my bottle.
The Campsite table is almost flat now, and a large, fully branched-out downfall has come down parallel to the existing large log in camp. I came via the Carrizo Spring trail connection, which was in good shape past the post. Then, up to the Coastal Trail. It is still a magical place with its gigantic sugar pine trees and birds.
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
This spur down to the camp is passable, but several old burn blowovers challenge it. One significant fall changed my route up to the Coastal Trail. Cook spring dripping, the smallest amount of water I have seen in years but quickly filled my bottle.
The Campsite table is almost flat now, and a large, fully branched-out downfall has come down parallel to the existing large log in camp. I came via the Carrizo Spring trail connection, which was in good shape past the post. Then, up to the Coastal Trail. It is still a magical place with its gigantic sugar pine trees and birds.
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evan_p
Re: Cook Springs Camp Trail
Date Hiked: June 2, 2024
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
We took this route from the North Coast Ridge Trail to the Carrizo connection, and did not stop by the camp. Although some impressively large pine deadfalls obscured the road, for the most part it was easy going with relatively little brush.
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
We took this route from the North Coast Ridge Trail to the Carrizo connection, and did not stop by the camp. Although some impressively large pine deadfalls obscured the road, for the most part it was easy going with relatively little brush.
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Jim Ringland
- Posts: 149
- Joined: Sat May 07, 2011 12:02 pm
- Location: Oakland, CA
Re: Cook Springs Camp Trail
Date Hiked: May 11, 2023
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
I was on this several times on the 11th, 12th, and 13th.
In general, this old road is mostly open, but one must work around various small-to-medium sized deadfalls and shrubs growing in the trail. I pushed anything I could easily move by hand off to the side. It’s not physically hard to get through. Unfortunately, enough debris remains that it is not always obvious where the trail is, especially on some of the turns. Even on the last time through on the 13th – maybe my sixth time through – I found myself checking the GPS with the Big Sur Trail Map to verify where I was. I don’t think I would have gotten lost for long without that electronic aid, but still, that’s illustrates the issue. Someone who had never ever been in the area before might not find the way.
The sign on the NCRT is intact, but the trail down is steep and is one of the most debris-laden sections. Even with the sign, it may not be obvious where the trail lies.
Cook Spring Camp itself is intact. I stayed there the night of the 11th. That table is still there, unburnt, but beginning to break down. The big oaks and pines are still there. But much of the understory burned. Some of old big downed logs have charred. The camp doesn’t have the charm it once had.
The trail/road to the spring is blocked by fallen trees from both sides, one on top of the other. One must go up on the steep hillside to get around. It’s do-able, but enough of a mess that getting water is a decided effort.
Note the Big Sur Trail Map show that Cook Spring Camp Use Trail going to the spring. It actually leads down to the camp on the north end, paralleling the trail to spring but a bit higher on the hill.
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
I was on this several times on the 11th, 12th, and 13th.
In general, this old road is mostly open, but one must work around various small-to-medium sized deadfalls and shrubs growing in the trail. I pushed anything I could easily move by hand off to the side. It’s not physically hard to get through. Unfortunately, enough debris remains that it is not always obvious where the trail is, especially on some of the turns. Even on the last time through on the 13th – maybe my sixth time through – I found myself checking the GPS with the Big Sur Trail Map to verify where I was. I don’t think I would have gotten lost for long without that electronic aid, but still, that’s illustrates the issue. Someone who had never ever been in the area before might not find the way.
The sign on the NCRT is intact, but the trail down is steep and is one of the most debris-laden sections. Even with the sign, it may not be obvious where the trail lies.
Cook Spring Camp itself is intact. I stayed there the night of the 11th. That table is still there, unburnt, but beginning to break down. The big oaks and pines are still there. But much of the understory burned. Some of old big downed logs have charred. The camp doesn’t have the charm it once had.
The trail/road to the spring is blocked by fallen trees from both sides, one on top of the other. One must go up on the steep hillside to get around. It’s do-able, but enough of a mess that getting water is a decided effort.
Note the Big Sur Trail Map show that Cook Spring Camp Use Trail going to the spring. It actually leads down to the camp on the north end, paralleling the trail to spring but a bit higher on the hill.
Re: Cook Springs Camp Trail
Date Hiked: January 9, 2022
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Hiked down and then back up the next morning. The trail was covered in most places with a few inches of snow, probably deposited during the storms over the holidays. It was low-angled and soft enough for my boots to make good steps.
There was one large downed log that I think was also there in 2017 (the last time I visited), but the trail was pretty easy going otherwise.
The spring was flowing well, as you might expect. The camp itself was snowed in except for the area around the table, and one campsite that I typically use. Perfect !
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Hiked down and then back up the next morning. The trail was covered in most places with a few inches of snow, probably deposited during the storms over the holidays. It was low-angled and soft enough for my boots to make good steps.
There was one large downed log that I think was also there in 2017 (the last time I visited), but the trail was pretty easy going otherwise.
The spring was flowing well, as you might expect. The camp itself was snowed in except for the area around the table, and one campsite that I typically use. Perfect !
Re: Cook Springs Camp Trail
Date Hiked: November 13, 2021
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
From NCRT down to the camp: Plenty of leaves, needles and burned debris on the trail but the tread is evident and passable. Cook Spring itself has a decent flow (20 oz bottle filled in <30 seconds). The immediate camp area was largely spared fire with picnic table unharmed and many of the mature trees around the camp looking good. Most of the mature Sugar Pine forest in the area is intact with the fire predominantly an understory burn affecting the tanoaks and young pines.
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
From NCRT down to the camp: Plenty of leaves, needles and burned debris on the trail but the tread is evident and passable. Cook Spring itself has a decent flow (20 oz bottle filled in <30 seconds). The immediate camp area was largely spared fire with picnic table unharmed and many of the mature trees around the camp looking good. Most of the mature Sugar Pine forest in the area is intact with the fire predominantly an understory burn affecting the tanoaks and young pines.
Re: Cook Springs Camp Trail
Date Hiked: October 27, 2019
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Conditions are largely clear except for the sugar pine running the length of the trail described in the prior report. Flow in the spring has slowed down considerably. The only easily capturable water (other than a stagnant puddle below the spring) is a steady drip coming off the old pipe. I excavated mud and leaf litter underneath the pipe to insert a cup or small bottle underneath. From past experience during the drought the steady drip persists so I don't expect Cook Spring to go totally dry (and hopefully it rains soon!).
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Conditions are largely clear except for the sugar pine running the length of the trail described in the prior report. Flow in the spring has slowed down considerably. The only easily capturable water (other than a stagnant puddle below the spring) is a steady drip coming off the old pipe. I excavated mud and leaf litter underneath the pipe to insert a cup or small bottle underneath. From past experience during the drought the steady drip persists so I don't expect Cook Spring to go totally dry (and hopefully it rains soon!).
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sur_nic
Re: Cook Springs Camp Trail
Date Hiked: May 11, 2019
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
Trail was clear from the sign (slightly off from the USFS 2016 map w/ Gaia GPS), the switchback and use trail were both clear minus one downed pine running the length of the trail but was easy to climb up and walk.
spring was flowing pretty well, filled a platypus ~500ml in <30 seconds. camp looks in good condition for anyone staying overnight and in need of a picnic bench.
flies present as is common this time of year and head net was clutch.
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
Trail was clear from the sign (slightly off from the USFS 2016 map w/ Gaia GPS), the switchback and use trail were both clear minus one downed pine running the length of the trail but was easy to climb up and walk.
spring was flowing pretty well, filled a platypus ~500ml in <30 seconds. camp looks in good condition for anyone staying overnight and in need of a picnic bench.
flies present as is common this time of year and head net was clutch.
Re: Cook Springs Camp Trail
Date Hiked: December 10, 2017
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
The Cook Spring Camp Trail is clear. The junction with the North Coast Ridge Trail has a nice relatively new sign. One switchback down from the junction sign north coast ridge trail is an unsigned junction. The main path goes right and does a wide switchback down to the camp while a usepath on the left takes a more direct, steeper descent. The usepath has a minor step-over blowdown. This is a beautiful area in the "Sugar Bowl" forest of old-growth Sugar Pines. The Cook Spring is flowing but fairly slowly (20oz takes about a minute). There's a nice incense cedar right above the spring and the Sugar Pines surrounding the camp are beautiful.
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
The Cook Spring Camp Trail is clear. The junction with the North Coast Ridge Trail has a nice relatively new sign. One switchback down from the junction sign north coast ridge trail is an unsigned junction. The main path goes right and does a wide switchback down to the camp while a usepath on the left takes a more direct, steeper descent. The usepath has a minor step-over blowdown. This is a beautiful area in the "Sugar Bowl" forest of old-growth Sugar Pines. The Cook Spring is flowing but fairly slowly (20oz takes about a minute). There's a nice incense cedar right above the spring and the Sugar Pines surrounding the camp are beautiful.
