Date Hiked: March 13, 2024
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
On the date I hiked cone peak trail it was definitely deserving of a difficult rating. For the first time this season the Santa Lucias finally got a decent snow storm and there was ~1in in accumulated at the trailhead to up to 12in at the summit. Starting from cone peak rd, there is a climb through jumbles of ceanothus, coffeeberry, and ~6in diameter brush skeletons across the trail for the first half mile. Some brush tunneling is required. Intermittent pink flagging helpful but id say the tread is always evident just physically difficult to get through. The trail then traverses a hillside before heading for cone peak proper. In this section there is brush free sections and then little gullies where aforementioned chaparral plants are. On my last visit to this trail, 2/14, this section was clear/passable, with almost no encroaching brush. The snow/ice accumulation on the vegetation has since weighed down trail side foliage directly into the trail. There is also one more crawl through a new ceanothus tunnel before summit trail intersection. Again tread is always intact but condition in this section was passable approaching difficult. Summit trail is clear. I took the ncrt on the way back to cone peak rd, which was in similar condition to this one, maybe a little better due to more brush free sections.
Cone Peak Trail
Re: Cone Peak Trail
Date Hiked: November 9, 2024
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Did the Sea to Summit Route to Cone Peak, passing through Twin Peak. Trail is passable with only one or two minor bushwhacking near the top of Twin Peak as the trail gets hard to follow in the brush. The traverse between Twin and Cone Peak was quite steep and took longer than expected as we didn't expect to do some light bouldering. We hiked it in just under 6 hours and had over 2 gallons of water for 3 of us. Otherwise, trail is easy to follow, but definitely use AllTrails mapping.
[Ed.: this report describes the unofficlal route from Highway One to Cone Peak. The last 1/4 mile is on the Cone Peak Trail, which is in good shape.]
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Did the Sea to Summit Route to Cone Peak, passing through Twin Peak. Trail is passable with only one or two minor bushwhacking near the top of Twin Peak as the trail gets hard to follow in the brush. The traverse between Twin and Cone Peak was quite steep and took longer than expected as we didn't expect to do some light bouldering. We hiked it in just under 6 hours and had over 2 gallons of water for 3 of us. Otherwise, trail is easy to follow, but definitely use AllTrails mapping.
[Ed.: this report describes the unofficlal route from Highway One to Cone Peak. The last 1/4 mile is on the Cone Peak Trail, which is in good shape.]
Re: Cone Peak Trail
Date Hiked: December 15, 2024
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Between Cone Peak Road and Cone Peak Summit: Passable
There is brush to push through in the first half mile necessitating the "passable" rating but it becomes much better afterwards with sporadic light brush encroachment and well defined tread.
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Between Cone Peak Road and Cone Peak Summit: Passable
There is brush to push through in the first half mile necessitating the "passable" rating but it becomes much better afterwards with sporadic light brush encroachment and well defined tread.
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dougmajor
Re: Cone Peak Trail
Date Hiked: November 23, 2024
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
· Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is now open!
With the road opening, better access is now available at Cone Peak Road/North Coastal Road. There has been some work on the road, especially the drop-off slide at about 2 miles, which is now excavated down and out with new drainage. There is no need for the rope I installed 2 years ago around the drop-off. Many dead tree blowdowns are still on the road, but all are passable today.
I did some trail location clipping on the lower portions, which were reported as unpassable below. I still need long pants, and ALL TRIALS mapping is helpful. I removed some blowdowns, and it improves as you go up the first switch back and pass. Later, I did more work up the trail, including more intruding brush removal and moving rock to mark the trail. The tread is good on all the upper levels, and now all are accessible with some push-through. I reinstalled the trail spring/summit sign, which was down.
Alone on the mountain, there is always a fantastic view and quickly changing clouds and sun. I also looked at the top of the ridge route, down from the fire lookout, which looked in good shape. I met a couple from Canada walking up the road; they were impressed by the views. The only water is the two springs on the road that always run.
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
· Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is now open!
With the road opening, better access is now available at Cone Peak Road/North Coastal Road. There has been some work on the road, especially the drop-off slide at about 2 miles, which is now excavated down and out with new drainage. There is no need for the rope I installed 2 years ago around the drop-off. Many dead tree blowdowns are still on the road, but all are passable today.
I did some trail location clipping on the lower portions, which were reported as unpassable below. I still need long pants, and ALL TRIALS mapping is helpful. I removed some blowdowns, and it improves as you go up the first switch back and pass. Later, I did more work up the trail, including more intruding brush removal and moving rock to mark the trail. The tread is good on all the upper levels, and now all are accessible with some push-through. I reinstalled the trail spring/summit sign, which was down.
Alone on the mountain, there is always a fantastic view and quickly changing clouds and sun. I also looked at the top of the ridge route, down from the fire lookout, which looked in good shape. I met a couple from Canada walking up the road; they were impressed by the views. The only water is the two springs on the road that always run.
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Santa Lucia hiker
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Mon Sep 02, 2024 11:48 am
Re: Cone Peak Trail
Date Hiked: September 14, 2024
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
Made it about 1/4 mile up from the trailhead before turning around because the encroaching brush was so heavy---the worst I've seen on a trail. Didn't have GPS and was afraid of making a wrong turn and getting lost in the brush.
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
Made it about 1/4 mile up from the trailhead before turning around because the encroaching brush was so heavy---the worst I've seen on a trail. Didn't have GPS and was afraid of making a wrong turn and getting lost in the brush.
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Tony_T
Re: Cone Peak Trail
Date Hiked: September 10, 2024
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
We found the first half of the trail (ascending from Cone Peak Road) pretty bushy and so overgrown in parts that we needed our GPS to get us back to the trail more than once, but once overcome, the rest, especially the upper part of the trail was clear, though narrow in spots with steep drops to the side. This one's a lot of climbing with a lot of sun exposure, but the views are incredible and the payoff in reaching the lookout up top was well-worth the effort and the sweat.
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
We found the first half of the trail (ascending from Cone Peak Road) pretty bushy and so overgrown in parts that we needed our GPS to get us back to the trail more than once, but once overcome, the rest, especially the upper part of the trail was clear, though narrow in spots with steep drops to the side. This one's a lot of climbing with a lot of sun exposure, but the views are incredible and the payoff in reaching the lookout up top was well-worth the effort and the sweat.
Re: Cone Peak Trail
Date Hiked: August 16, 2024
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
Left Kirk Creek trailhead at 0600.... trail to Vicente Flats was much improved since my last attempt at Cone peak (stopped by huge fallen tree - i was just too old to get over! - It had a notch cut out of it this time, and some boards stacked up so a guy could get up an over- Thank You)! The usual poison oak other than that - Vicente Flats was quiet.... didn't see anyone or any tents.... Water in the creek was as low as i have ever seen it - but found a small flowing section I could fill my water containers up for the trip to the fire road and onto Cone Peak (there is not water once you leave the vicente flats area - so you have to remember to bring enough for the trip up AND back). The trail up to the Ridge road had many changes - due to all the down trees etc. It was passable but did require going over AND under some fallen trees. Thanks to the maintenance crews hanging the orange flags on branches showing the general direction of the trail It was very helpful. Once leaving the creek/trail - and heading up toward the ridge road - the trail went from very nice - to completely overgrown,.... my old man skin, which is thin, want a good match for the vegetation. It was warm, so I was in short sleeves and well - it is just a little scrape/blood. I wore long pants - mostly for the poison oak, but i was glad to have them on pushing my way thru the brush. The ridge road was clear sailing, a few down trees that previous hikers had created paths around (though there was still poison o.k. lurking).... once to the cone peak trailhead the going got very tough again. So overgrown... and I actually lost the path a couple of times, Mapsme is the ap I use to not get lost and it got me back on the trail. On the south-north traverse section after the brush - things got better - but there were still some section that need add'l work - but I have to say - it felt more like a hike with the difficulties - and not just a walk in the park. I have run this route in the past - and the trail was much much better then - so it was doable - no running this trail on this day. The day was warm - no fog - and temperature seemed to stay constant - higher elevation coincided with rise in temp? Summited right at noon - it was beautiful and could see for miles up and down the coast - well worth the effort. I decided to take the fireroad to Naciemento road on the return trip - just to do something different - and not wanting to bushwhack down to vicente flats. The decision was not easy - as i had water - but didn't know what the water situation was between vicente flat trail turn-off and the end of fireroad to Kirk creek via the naciemento road. I wanted some extra miles so i went south on the road. In retrospect - that was a mistake.... I did NOT have enough water, and it was a warm day. There were plenty of indictions of times when there was plenty of water (lots of road washouts) but there wasn't any on Friday... I was considering turning around as i knew there was water at vincent flats when I came upon a culvert that had a trickle of water leaking out of it. I set up some rocks to allow the dribble to fill my water purification bottle and refilled all (5 liters) of water containers. It took 30 minutes, but I drank 4 liters between there and my parked car at Kirk Creek campground. It is good to be lucky. I did run into some cal fire people at the corner of the cone peak fire road and Nacimiento road - and would/could have probably begged them for water but i was full so down the 8 miles to the ocean I went. 26.7 miles total on the Garmin - 12 hours. Not unlike the Mt Whitney hike, need to get enough water on the switchbacks to last you to the summit and back and about the same distance - nicer views on the cone peak trail and you dont have to deal with the elevation affects when doing just a day hike! Anyway - thanks for working on the trails - I am lucky to live so close that I can hike on this trail. In the spring there are more flowers and more water - I only encountered 2 other people on the trail the entire day - so if you like solitude - it is a great trail for that too.
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
Left Kirk Creek trailhead at 0600.... trail to Vicente Flats was much improved since my last attempt at Cone peak (stopped by huge fallen tree - i was just too old to get over! - It had a notch cut out of it this time, and some boards stacked up so a guy could get up an over- Thank You)! The usual poison oak other than that - Vicente Flats was quiet.... didn't see anyone or any tents.... Water in the creek was as low as i have ever seen it - but found a small flowing section I could fill my water containers up for the trip to the fire road and onto Cone Peak (there is not water once you leave the vicente flats area - so you have to remember to bring enough for the trip up AND back). The trail up to the Ridge road had many changes - due to all the down trees etc. It was passable but did require going over AND under some fallen trees. Thanks to the maintenance crews hanging the orange flags on branches showing the general direction of the trail It was very helpful. Once leaving the creek/trail - and heading up toward the ridge road - the trail went from very nice - to completely overgrown,.... my old man skin, which is thin, want a good match for the vegetation. It was warm, so I was in short sleeves and well - it is just a little scrape/blood. I wore long pants - mostly for the poison oak, but i was glad to have them on pushing my way thru the brush. The ridge road was clear sailing, a few down trees that previous hikers had created paths around (though there was still poison o.k. lurking).... once to the cone peak trailhead the going got very tough again. So overgrown... and I actually lost the path a couple of times, Mapsme is the ap I use to not get lost and it got me back on the trail. On the south-north traverse section after the brush - things got better - but there were still some section that need add'l work - but I have to say - it felt more like a hike with the difficulties - and not just a walk in the park. I have run this route in the past - and the trail was much much better then - so it was doable - no running this trail on this day. The day was warm - no fog - and temperature seemed to stay constant - higher elevation coincided with rise in temp? Summited right at noon - it was beautiful and could see for miles up and down the coast - well worth the effort. I decided to take the fireroad to Naciemento road on the return trip - just to do something different - and not wanting to bushwhack down to vicente flats. The decision was not easy - as i had water - but didn't know what the water situation was between vicente flat trail turn-off and the end of fireroad to Kirk creek via the naciemento road. I wanted some extra miles so i went south on the road. In retrospect - that was a mistake.... I did NOT have enough water, and it was a warm day. There were plenty of indictions of times when there was plenty of water (lots of road washouts) but there wasn't any on Friday... I was considering turning around as i knew there was water at vincent flats when I came upon a culvert that had a trickle of water leaking out of it. I set up some rocks to allow the dribble to fill my water purification bottle and refilled all (5 liters) of water containers. It took 30 minutes, but I drank 4 liters between there and my parked car at Kirk Creek campground. It is good to be lucky. I did run into some cal fire people at the corner of the cone peak fire road and Nacimiento road - and would/could have probably begged them for water but i was full so down the 8 miles to the ocean I went. 26.7 miles total on the Garmin - 12 hours. Not unlike the Mt Whitney hike, need to get enough water on the switchbacks to last you to the summit and back and about the same distance - nicer views on the cone peak trail and you dont have to deal with the elevation affects when doing just a day hike! Anyway - thanks for working on the trails - I am lucky to live so close that I can hike on this trail. In the spring there are more flowers and more water - I only encountered 2 other people on the trail the entire day - so if you like solitude - it is a great trail for that too.
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birguslatro
Re: Cone Peak Trail
Date Hiked: July 20, 2024
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
We didn't go far on the Cone Peak Trail but went up a ways from the trailhead on Cone Peak Road. Judging just by this first ~half mile, the trail is heavily overgrown. We were able to follow it but it was difficult in many sections, more brush than trail. Expect slow going, wear long pants. But we met some others who had done it the day before, so it's possible if you're looking for an adventure!
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
We didn't go far on the Cone Peak Trail but went up a ways from the trailhead on Cone Peak Road. Judging just by this first ~half mile, the trail is heavily overgrown. We were able to follow it but it was difficult in many sections, more brush than trail. Expect slow going, wear long pants. But we met some others who had done it the day before, so it's possible if you're looking for an adventure!
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laksboy
Re: Cone Peak Trail
Date Hiked: May 26, 2024
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
My 16 boy and his buddy hike Cone peak from Vicente Flat trail. It's extremely overgrown but passable and they made it back with only junior level navigation skills... The FLIES at the summit were outrageous.
If everyone who hiked Cone peak (or anywhere in Big Sur) carried Fiskars power level sheers, and did a little snip snip as they walked, the trail conditions would be 90% awesome everywhere with just relatively minor (but specialized and dangerous) deadfall and bench maintenance required by the USFS/VWA. Why is that not encouraged?
[ED: there is a lot that regular hikers could do but without some minimal training, they tend to "snip snip" the ends of branches right in the middle of the trail, or lop off small trees 3 feet above the ground. The snipping results in dead branches which harden and become sharp pokers. The topping of trees causes them to branch out sideways into the trail, making it worse, not better. We have a hard time explaining to people that the trees need to grow tall, but the side branches need to be cut back to the main trunk. ALSO: leaving the cut ends in the middle of the trail, where they dry out and become hard and scratchy, and someone else has to clean up your mess, is not ideal.]
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
My 16 boy and his buddy hike Cone peak from Vicente Flat trail. It's extremely overgrown but passable and they made it back with only junior level navigation skills... The FLIES at the summit were outrageous.
If everyone who hiked Cone peak (or anywhere in Big Sur) carried Fiskars power level sheers, and did a little snip snip as they walked, the trail conditions would be 90% awesome everywhere with just relatively minor (but specialized and dangerous) deadfall and bench maintenance required by the USFS/VWA. Why is that not encouraged?
[ED: there is a lot that regular hikers could do but without some minimal training, they tend to "snip snip" the ends of branches right in the middle of the trail, or lop off small trees 3 feet above the ground. The snipping results in dead branches which harden and become sharp pokers. The topping of trees causes them to branch out sideways into the trail, making it worse, not better. We have a hard time explaining to people that the trees need to grow tall, but the side branches need to be cut back to the main trunk. ALSO: leaving the cut ends in the middle of the trail, where they dry out and become hard and scratchy, and someone else has to clean up your mess, is not ideal.]
Re: Cone Peak Trail
Date Hiked: January 13, 2024
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
From the summit to the fire road, it kind of just got progressively worse. The first 0.5-1 mile down from the summit was actually decent, but then it got brushy. Never awful, but consistent. No trees down, but lots of live oak and yerba santa growing and ripping at the shins. Certainly passable, and certainly worth it, but maybe don't wear shorts like we did.
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
From the summit to the fire road, it kind of just got progressively worse. The first 0.5-1 mile down from the summit was actually decent, but then it got brushy. Never awful, but consistent. No trees down, but lots of live oak and yerba santa growing and ripping at the shins. Certainly passable, and certainly worth it, but maybe don't wear shorts like we did.
