Local And Regional Weather Conditions – Ventana Wilderness Alliance

Weather, Road & Trail Conditions

THANK YOU FOR READING THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION - updated August 2, 2021

FIRE RESTRICTIONS: Effective July 15, 2021, COLD CAMPING ONLY IN THE BACKCOUNTRY. NOT ONLY ARE CAMPFIRES AND SMOKING PROHIBITED IN THE BACKCOUNTRY, SO IS STOVE USAGE. If you are going backpacking, take food that does not require any sort of open flame to prepare. Campfire use and smoking are also prohibited at Designated Use Sites but stoves are OK at those few locations for now.

The Willow Fire Forest Closure Order has been revised. See this link for what trails and camp remain closed and a map.

(NEW) The Dolan Fire Forest Closure Order has been revised (effective July 30, 2021). In short, the Kirk Creek Trail is now open to the public. See the order revision here and the map here.

Highway One is Open.

Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is Closed -- This road -- which connects Highway 1 at Kirk Creek with Fort Hunter Liggett on the eastern side of the Coast Ridge -- is significantly damaged but it is open to bicycle and foot traffic. No camping!

The Pine Ridge Trail from Big Sur Station to Redwood Camp IS OPEN. Remember ... NO campfires or stoves!

For now, most trails and backcountry camps in the Monterey Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest are open.

Roads closed to vehicular traffic: Arroyo Seco Road at Carmel Valley Road, Tassajara Road at Carmel Valley Road, Nacimiento-Fergusson Road, South Coast Ridge Road to Prewitt Ridge, Cone Peak Road, Arroyo Seco - Indians Road from Memorial Park to Escondido Camp

Know Before You Go: Please enjoy your public lands responsibly. Pack out everything you pack in (including toilet paper). Leave this special place better than you found it. Call the U. S. Forest Service, Monterey Ranger District office if you need more information: 831-385-5434.

Current Fire Restrictions: NO CAMPFIRES OR STOVES. Stoves are permitted only at a few Designated Use Sites in Los Padres National Forest. A permit is required for stove use at the very few "designated use sites." Click here for a permit and take it with you.

State Parks: Check with individual State Parks to confirm access and for additional information.
Open for day use: Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Garrapata State Park - Soberanes Canyon Trail, Andrew Molera State Park, Point Sur State Historic Park (tours only), Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.

Closed: John Little State Natural Reserve

Weather

weather You'll find here a number of links to some pretty informative internet weather sites relevant to the northern Santa Lucia backcounty traveler. They should be helpful in determining what the weather's going to do while you're out there. But regardless of what these folks say, it's always smart to prepare for the worst.