Pine Ridge Trail

Pine Ridge Trail (USFS Trail #3E06) is a long backcountry hike in Ventana Wilderness that ties Big Sur Station to Tassajara Road at China Camp. It’s a well-known corridor route for moving between camps along the Big Sur River and for long through-hiking, not a short out-and-back.

Expect major elevation change and sustained exertion even if you’re experienced: the trail is described as strenuous and challenging. Terrain varies across chaparral, redwoods, and mixed hardwood/forest-ridge country, with the western half running alongside streamside corridors through Terrace Creek, Barlow Flat, Redwood, and Sykes camps.

The route’s standout logistics are river crossings. Multiple crossings are required to reach Sykes Hot Springs on Pine Ridge, and winter high water can make crossings unsafe or impassable; Sykes Hot Springs may be inaccessible during or after heavy rainfall.

For planning camp nights on this corridor, there are named camps along the Pine Ridge Trail. The most heavily used is Sykes Camp, while Terrace Creek, Barlow Flat, and Redwood are also on the line between Big Sur Station and Redwood Camp; Barlow Flat Camp has the most room based on posted campsite information.

If you’re targeting Sykes Hot Springs as a destination hike, a commonly described one-way distance is about 10–11 miles, and the full Pine Ridge traverse is often framed as a 20-to-23 mile day for through hikers depending on exact route/take-offs. Elevation gain estimates in published summaries run around the mid-5,000-foot range for the full through trip.

Management details matter for any overnight: parking at the Big Sur Station Multi-Agency Visitor Center costs $10 per day, and a CA Campfire Permit is required to run a small gas stove or have a campfire. Dogs are allowed on Pine Ridge Trail, with wilderness rules for leash/control and waste disposal.

More information: Wikipedia, Visitor information, Ventana Wilderness Forums - Pine Ridge Trail