How long to hike to sykes hot springs

The route passes under oaks, around lilacs and through stands of redwoods with trunks still charred from the wildfire. A series of shaded creeks and streams that feed the Big Sur River provide ideal stops for snack breaks and water filtering. Several hikers and backpackers had already ventured out to Sykes two days after the trail reopened. More are sure to follow in short order. On Thursday, a couple in their 30s from Washington, D. The Forest Service, which oversees the Ventana Wilderness, has taken steps to guard against Sykes devolving into its former state.

The service says it is recommitted to patrolling the trail and removing any man-made structures at Sykes. The Ventana Wilderness Alliance is doing its part as well. It is asking hikers to self-register at the Big Sur Station trailhead — hoping to gain a clearer picture of how many people set foot on the trail.

It is also posting volunteers at the trailhead to educate users on Leave No Trace principles. If Sykes again becomes a problem area, the Forest Service may eventually have to step in with stronger rules, Splain said. The first is Ventana Camp over 4 miles from the trailhead , the second is Terrace Creek Camp 5 miles from the trailhead , the third is Barlow Flat Camp 7 miles from the trailhead , and the fourth is Sykes Camp 9 miles from the trailhead.

Sykes Camp is the most popular and visited campsite because it is located next to the hot springs. It has seven sites. You can also stay beyond the hot springs at a fifth campground, Redwood Camp 12 miles from the trailhead. You cannot make a reservation at the campsites, so this is first-come, first-served. If the backcountry campgrounds are full, you can stay at nearby campgrounds in Big Sur.

There are restaurants and cafes on Highway 1. Indigenous people local to the Big Sur used these hot springs. These hot springs were spaces for warmth, healing, and bathing. The Esselen nation, the first people of this land, continue to live in the area as they have for over 6, years and recently purchased back part of their homeland in Big Sur.

Historically, the springs have been so popular that people have littered and over-visited them. In addition, there were heavy storm rains and wilderness fires that destroyed the trail and hot spring pools. The U. Forest Service closed the trail and restored it before reopening it. Sykes Hot Springs is wilderness camping, so you cannot drive to it. The trailhead is located at Big Sur Station, a 2. From San Francisco or San Jose, drive the South and 1 South freeways for to miles long, approximately a couple of hours.

The trail will be challenging with water crossings, fallen trees, poison oak, and potential bear encounters. It is over nine miles to Sykes Camp and approximately 19 miles round-trip. Here is a video I made about the trip. Below is a summary of the route to Sykes Hot Springs, though you can find more detailed information in the Trip Report section below. Los Padres is about 2. The trailhead is at Big Sur Station, which is directly off of Highway 1 and very easy to find. Traditional Territory : This trail is located on the traditional territory of the Esselen source.

Hot springs are the result of geothermal activity. Subsurface magma located below the ground heats groundwater. Since hot water is less dense than cold water, it rises to the surface along with steam.

If the water breaks through the surface of the ground, it can create hot springs, geysers, mudflats and fumaroles source. At Sykes Camp, there are a few places where heated was has broken through the surface and flows down the sides of the riverbank, toward Big Sur River. In a few places, the uneven nature of the ground causes the hot water to accumulate, causing small pools too small for humans to enjoy. Some people have strategically placed rocks around the naturally forming pools so more water accumulates, making the pools large enough for a few people to sit and enjoy.

I used the AllTrails Map. I recommend getting the Pro version of AllTrails so you can download the map to your phone. There is also a paper map available. You do not need any permits or reservations for this route. There is a self-registration for hikers at the trailhead there is a short form to fill out and place in a wooden box. At the parking lot, you put cash in an envelope, rip the permit from the envelope and place the envelope in a wooden box. The permit has two parts to it: one part goes on your dash and the other stays with you.

I drove from Monterey to Big Sur on Saturday morning. After paying for parking at the station remember to bring cash! The trail began at the large sign at the southeast corner of the parking lot.

Here you can view the map but you should have your own copy and register. The first part of the trail was quite tedious. I descended into Pfeiffer Beach State Park and walked through the park to access the trailhead.

The trail normally scoots around the perimeter of the park, however, there are rewilding efforts in that area right now so that part of the trail was closed. There was a well-marked detour cutting through the park. After about 10 minutes, I found the Pine Ridge Trail again. The first section of the trail was surprisingly gruelling. It was a hot, sweaty slog.

Between KM 4 and KM 9 , the trail was absolutely beautiful. There were regular ups and downs though the trail mostly trends upwards , but I was on a ridge with a great view of the mountains and the redwoods throughout. At KM 6 there was a sign pointing out the turn for Ventana Camp. This is a side trail you can take down the ridgeside to Big Sur River and camp at. However, I was going much further so I stayed along the main part of the trail.

This is a great place to refill your water bottle filter or purify before drinking, of course. I had about 1. Between KM 9 and KM This is where the trail got confusing. First, the trail cuts over Logwood Creek. That much is straightforward. Both the paper map and the AllTrails map have the trail continuing on the south side of the river. This is incorrect.