The Pine Ridge trail cuts point-to-point through the remote and rugged heart of the Ventana Wilderness of Big Sur, CA. The trail runs east to west between Big Sur state park at Highway 1 and China Camp off of Tassajara road, high up in the inland and hard to access mountains. Access is straightforward at both ends of the trail so one may choose to start at the higher elevations and finish at Big Sur Station, or begin at the coast and finish at China Camp up on Tassajara Rd.
This trail offers one of the most iconic backcountry routes in Big Sur. Over its ~20 miles, the trail moves through a striking spectrum of biomes: towering redwood groves along the Big Sur River, oak-dotted chaparral slopes, shaded creek crossings, open pine ridges, and wind-swept summits with panoramic views of the Pacific and interior valleys. Along the way, hikers encounter impressive rock formations, remnants of historic use, and the allure of hidden hot springs deep in the wilderness.
Pine Ridge is an institution of wilderness exploration. It’s a passage through the wild heart of Big Sur, where each mile demands the utmost reverence for the beauty of nature and reveals newfound appreciation for Big Sur's untamed beauty which most will never get to experience in their lives, statistically and unfortunately because (this is satire) Bixby Bridge is the only thing that matters in Big Sur.
