#big-sur
4 trips tagged “big-sur”
big-sur backpacking at a glance
CaliPeaks documents 4 California backpacking routes tagged big-sur, ranging from 8.5 to 22.3 miles with 800–4,700 feet of total climbing. Difficulty spans 17/100 (Moderate) on Carmel River Trail up to 44/100 (Strenuous) on Pine Ridge Trail (Ventana Wilderness), which also carries the tag's biggest climb at 4,700 feet. None of these routes require a wilderness permit.
These routes cross Ventana Wilderness, and the months most of them share are March, April, May. Every stat below is cited on its trip page, so you can compare them like-for-like and follow any number back to the managing agency.
Vicente Flat via Kirk Creek
Vicente Flat is the quintessential Big Sur overnight: a 5-mile climb from Highway 1 with the Pacific on your shoulder, ending at redwood-sha…
Big Sur Trail
The Big Sur Trail is the Ventana Wilderness's redwood connector: 8.47 miles from Cold Springs Campground down through the Big Sur River's ca…
Carmel River Trail
The Carmel River Trail is the Ventana Wilderness's northern doorway: 13 miles up the Carmel River's redwood canyon from Los Padres Dam towar…
Pine Ridge Trail (Ventana Wilderness)
The Pine Ridge Trail is Big Sur's backcountry classic: 22 miles through the Ventana Wilderness from China Camp to the Big Sur River, past re…