Pine Ridge Trail

[kmahony1]

Date Hiked: June 16, 2021
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

Hiked the entire Pine Ridge Trail in 4 nights and 5 days beginning at China Camp starting on Wednesday, June 16, 2021. Campsites at which we stayed were, in order: Divide Camp, Pine Ridge Camp, Redwood Camp, Terrace Creek Camp.

Condition of Trail to Divide Camp 80% Clear with some downed trees.

No water in the creek at Divide Camp * The two small "trickles" on the PRT on both sides of the trail leading down into the Divide Camp are now "puddles" where one could get water, if needed, by scooping it, or by, very delicately, suctioning via a water filter.

There is water a 1/2 mile west on the PRT in a small stream that crosses the trail.

Trail conditions from Divide Camp to Pine Ridge Camp: 60 % clear with more fallen trees, and more brush encroaching on the trail.
** There is water at Pine Ridge Camp via the piped-in spring 200 or so feet beyond the campground.

Trail Conditions from Pine Ridge Camp to Sykes Camp:
* Very Bushy first 2 miles between Pine Ridge Camp and Sykes, although there were signs of someone clearing out helpful amounts of brush that would have otherwise severely impeded passage of this section if not had been removed. We did have to pay close attention to where we placed our feet and our poles during this section due to the tread of the trail being right on the outside edge of the contour of the ridge heading down.


* Some very EXCELLENT trail work evident the last mile or 3/4 of mile heading west before reaching Redwood Camp and onward to Sykes Camp. (Kudos to the trail workers!)

Trail Conditions between Sykes and Ranger Station: Very much passable. Well worked trail.
** The reroute at Barlow Flats was clearly marked and easy to navigate.
** I was not aware to the reroute at the end of the trail which now leads into Big Sur Campground before being rerouted back to the original trail for the last 1/4 of the trail leading back to the ranger station.

Some General Observations:

All in all, I thought trail was in good condition. (Better than when I went in July, 2016 - right before the fire a few weeks later.)

The only difficult section remains between Pine Ridge Camp and the area right before Redwood Camp.

Toilets at Sykes and Terrace Creek are the best backcountry toilets I have ever seen, by the way.

Thanks to all who do the trail work and keep us informed!

[Betsy M]

Date Hiked: May 2, 2021
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

SECTION: Big Sur Trail Junction to Pine Ridge Camp Trail Junction

As reported by others, the section between the Big Sur Trail junction (.8 miles above Redwood Camp) and the Pine Ridge Camp Trail junction is super brushy. Not so brushy that you could lose the trail. But enough that you really have to focus on watching where you are going, pushing brush out of the way, and watching your step so you don't trip on low branches. I day-hiked this section and it was annoying. With a backpack it would be even more so. When you reach the end of the brush, it is amazing how much easier it is to walk on open trail with good tread.

There is a good bit of tread slump in the lower sections, caused by chamise, scrub oak, and other chaparral species growing on the uphill side of the trail, making hikers step off on the downhill side and eroding the tread.

In the upper sections, manzanita bushes growing in on both sides make the trail corridor tight. Someone has been working on the upper sections of the trail which has really kept it from being completely impassible. There are also quite a few stretches up top where the trail has wandered from its original (straight) route. Watch for clipped brush to find the trail.

For a while in the middle, more rocky section, the trail remains fairly open, with good tread and not so much brush.

You can see the work that went into construction of this beautiful rock wall (right side of photo).

There was lots of creeping sage on the middle, more open part, of this section, with beautiful fragrant flowers.

Note 1: If you are hiking up this section, watch for the switchbacks. After a long straightaway above the Big Sur Trail junction, hikers have been continuing straight at the first switchback. I tried to pile chamise clippings to block the wrong route. The sticks laid across the trail here were not doing the job, as a pretty good trail had been established continuing straight at this switchback. Then at the next switchback, there are some odd jogs in the trail. Just watch to make sure you are staying on what looks like tread and you should be fine.

Note 2: The trail clearing coming up from Redwood Camp reached about a half mile above the junction with the Big Sur Trail. After that it is 2 miles of brush before the trail opens up again on Pine Ridge.

[PDunn]

Date Hiked: May 1, 2021
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

Started at China Camp:
After the first few hundred yards of clear trail the bushes closed in again. Very brushy but worth the effort to enjoy the lupines and poppies.

[sfrake]

Date Hiked: April 14, 2021
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

My son and I hiked the length of the trail from China Camp to Big Sur Station. The section from China Camp to Pine Ridge Camp is described well in the previous posts. From there, for about 2.5 miles, it is very brushy, with poison oak to dodge at times. I would rate it passable, but pushing through growth for that long becomes a bit of a chore (fortunately the incredible views are distracting). Then, maybe 1/4 mile above the Big Sur Trail junction, the trail opens up and is wonderfully clear, the result of recent trail work. It remains so the rest of the way to Big Sur. This is indicated on Jack Glendening's map so is not news (though I suppose the green section on his map could extend just a bit north/west of the Big Sur Trail junction). I can't thank enough those who worked so hard to clear and repair the western portion of the trail.

I should note that the re-route at Barlow Camp was confusing for us; when we reached the creek there wasn't an obvious trail on the other side. We crossed where it looked like the trail continued and indeed it did, so it wasn't a big deal, but for a moment we were flummoxed. If you're traveling east there is detailed signage of the re-route so this isn't an issue, and then on the return you'd of course have experience. So this only applies to anyone heading west on the re-route for the first time.

[BP22]

Date Hiked: April 15, 2021
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

so nice to have the this wilderness playground back from BSS to Sykes. the trail is immaculate, so many thank you's to trail crew. The Terrace Creek Trail also looks great. The slide re-route through Barlow Flat is very nice and gives us two river crossings. I only saw like 5 other hikers and nobody at Sykes, NO TRASH. Not missing those hot springs. Very enjoyable hike.

[Jim Ringland]

Date Hiked: April 12, 2021
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

I did an in-and-out from China Camp to Pine Valley on April 12, 13, and 14. On the layover day I day hiked. This report draws from all three days. I did various parts in various directions but I’ll describe all from east to west.

Section: China Camp to Church Creek Divide Junction – Clear

Most of this trail is wide open, some of Wilderness Freeway quality. There are a few places where the brush is lapping over the trail and a very few places where it’s come in from both sides and you have to swish through. The trail bed is in pretty good shape, with a few sloped or rocky spots here and there.

Section: Church Creek Divide Junction to Black Cone Trail Junction – Passable

This is more interesting. The gloss is that this is brushier than the first section, and there are numerous deadfalls, but most are easily managed. There are large stretches of open trail.

But George Graybill’s April 1, 2021 report was spot-on in using the word “awful” for the bit just west of the Church Creek Divide Junction. The half mile from there to Divide Camp has three messy obstacles. First (heading west from the Church Creek saddle), a piece of hillside trail above a small stream bed has partly washed out. There’s now big drop on one side. You can stay safe but have to move over into the brush to do so. Second, there’s deadfall that came straight down on the length of the trail so there’s 50-100 feet of stepping over various branches. It’s quite a log pile. No one step is all that hard, but there are lots of them. Finally, there’s a big deadfall that completely blocks the trail in an area that mixes open and denser brush. Even with just a day pack, I decided climbing over/through the mess wasn’t a good option and detoured. The go-around was slow, annoying, and longer than expected to find a workable way back to the trail. All three of these were within maybe a quarter mile. The rest of way still has the occasional brushy spot and lots of deadfalls, but almost all of the latter were simple step-overs or duck-unders. On one, a four foot log, I did have to climb up, scooch over the top, then slide down the other side. But I recall only one of those.

I walked down to Divide Camp. There’s one simple main camp with a fire ring and some sitting logs plus a lower, much less used camp, with a few pieces of an old icemaker stove. Water is limited. There is a trickle in the Woodwardia ferns above the main camp, but none lower down. On the other hand, back up on the Pine Ridge Trail, there a better rill a few hundred feet east of the Divide Camp Trail junction. There’s also muddy water about the same distance west where the gully feeding the water-and-woodwardia mix in camp crosses the trail above. If worst comes to worst, the small stream half a mile or so west of Divide Camp on the Pine Ridge Trail was running well.

On my dayhike day, I actually went a short distance west from the Black Cone Trail junction, but not quite all the way to the Pine Ridge Camp junction. All clear there.

[George Graybill]

Date Hiked: March 26, 2021
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

Beginning at Tassajara Road the trail changes from very good to awful at Church Creek Divide. Tread is fairly good, but there is a lot of brush and deadfalls. Passable but annoying. I only went as far as Divide Camp, where I spent the night.

[rcmd8418]

Date Hiked: March 25, 2021
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Hiked the Pine Ridge Trail between China Camp and the Church Creek Divide (on the way to Pine Valley). The trail was extremely easy to follow, but there are several spots that you have to push through brushy overgrowth. However, we didn't see any poison oak on/around the trail.

Tassajara Road was passable. We took a Jeep given the road reports, which was helpful because it had rained and was muddy in the morning. The deep ruts are avoidable, and the Honda and Chevy 2WD sedans parked next to the Jeep the following day when we hiked out show that you don't necessarily need a 4WD SUV if you're experience and careful.

[VWA_Ranger]

Date Hiked: February 28, 2021
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

*** VWA/USFS Volunteer Ranger/Trail Crew Report ***

Forest/Trail Status: PARTIALLY OPEN, Los Padres Monterey Ranger District is partially open per Forest Order 05-07-51-21-02
Current Fire Restrictions: Campfires and Stoves are permitted in the backcountry with a valid Campfire/Stove Permit.

Description:

The Monterey Ranger District Forest has partially reopened, VWA/USFS Volunteer Rangers continue to prepare opening other parts of the closed forest and are continuing their regular patrols. Today volunteer Rangers returned to the Upper Pine Ridge Trail to remove the two downed logs in the first mile of trail, they then continued to the Miller Canyon Trail to remove 5 logs right at the junction.

Trail conditions are as follows:

Tassajara Road. - Lots of ruts and mud. High clearance, 4x4 and experience to reach the camp.

China Camp to Pine Valley Camp - Passable, a large Oak Crown near mile 5.5. Encroaching brush can be found all along the trail.

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DISCLAIMER: This report is for informational purposes only. Trail conditions may change at any time. The Ventana Wilderness Alliance assumes no liability for the use of this information.
The Los Padres National Forest Website can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf/
To learn more about the Volunteer VWA/USFS Ranger and Trail Crew Programs visit https://www.ventanawild.org/stewardship.

[VWA_Ranger]

Date Hiked: February 21, 2021
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

*** VWA/USFS Volunteer Ranger/Trail Crew Report ***

Forest/Trail Status: PARTIALLY OPEN, Los Padres Monterey Ranger District is partially open per Forest Order 05-07-51-21-02
Current Fire Restrictions: Campfires and Stoves are permitted in the backcountry with a valid Campfire/Stove Permit.

Description:

The Monterey Ranger District Forest has partially reopened, VWA/USFS Volunteer Rangers continue to prepare opening other parts of the closed forest and are continuing their regular patrols. Today volunteer Rangers patrolled from Tassajara Road(China Camp) to Pine Valley Camp. They cleared several small trees, did spot brushing, checked Pine Valley Camp for smoldering fires and trash. They also repaired a small slide found along the trail.

Trail conditions are as follows:

Tassajara Road. - Lots of ruts, mud and some snow. High clearance, 4x4 and experience to reach the camp.

China Camp to Pine Valley Camp - Passable, two trees down (12 " and 20") within the first mile. A large Oak Crown near mile 5.5. Encroaching brush can be found all along the trail

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISCLAIMER: This report is for informational purposes only. Trail conditions may change at any time. The Ventana Wilderness Alliance assumes no liability for the use of this information.
The Los Padres National Forest Website can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf/
To learn more about the Volunteer VWA/USFS Ranger and Trail Crew Programs visit https://www.ventanawild.org/stewardship.