Sykes Hot Springs via Pine Ridge Trail

Riatch Thebiatch

Sykes Hot Springs via Pine Ridge Trail

05/23/18

First there was the 2016 Soberanes Wildland Fire (caused by an abandoned illegal campfire). Then there were the historic winter storms of 2017 which caused widespread damage to trails and roads in the region. The lower Pine Ridge Trail from Big Sur Station to Sykes is CLOSED for safety reasons. Honestly. Don't think you can get there. Washouts abound. Whole sections of trail are gone or covered by deadfalls. See photos here:http://www.wildventana.org/why-cant-i-go-to-sykes-the-state-of-the-pine-ridge-trail-in-big-sur/ Even if you do make it without killing yourself, you will cause erosion which will further complicate repairs. That is why it is illegal to go there until repairs are complete. This is a US Forest Service decision and responsibility. Call 831-385-5434 for more information or see this link. http://www.ventanawild.org/plan-a-trip/sykes-camp-sykes-hot-springs Note: The hot springs are inappropriate structures in designated Wilderness and the Big Sur River is designated as Wild & Scenic by the US Congress which adds further protections. So do not expect dammed up hot springs and tubs when the trail is re-opened. Sorry to provide bummer information about this so-called "bucket list" destination.

1.0

Faith O'Malley

Sykes Hot Springs via Pine Ridge Trail

10/14/16

Went on a short backpacking trip here at the end of summer. My friend and I left early in the morning to beat the heat, which was a great call because parts of the trail have no shade and it gets hot! Through the 10 miles in, it was constant uphill and downhill. Once we arrived to Sykes it was so hot so we took a dip in the river. It felt amazing but I made the mistake of not packing sandals/ water shoes because it was real rocky. After we cooled off we finally made our way down the river to the springs. We picked a great weekend and there were only a few other people there, so plenty of room with there being 3 separate springs. Beautiful trip. Overall, Sykes was rad!

5.0

Lucas Chen

Sykes Hot Springs via Pine Ridge Trail

10/03/16

My wife and I have done this hike 3 times with our dog and we absolutely love it. Every time we've purposely gone right BEFORE a major holiday weekend (4th of July, Memorial Day, etc.) and have had the hot springs and adjacent river all to ourselves for at least a few hours. If you can manage it, we highly recommend going during a weekday. The peace and and forest sounds you get are perfect. The hike is nicely paced, flattening out or descending whenever the ascends seem to get a little old, and other than an exposed rocky first part, most of the trail has cooling shade cover and the smell of TREES! When you get to the river at the end, we recommend crossing to the other side to avoid campers coming through your site. There are a few fallen logs to cross and there is a particularly pristine sandy riverside spot just past the largest and longest fallen redwood if you have the fortune to get there first. Good luck and have fun!

4.0

Sean Carroll

Sykes Hot Springs via Pine Ridge Trail

08/27/16

Cool little place to go to and relax. I've crossed the river in the spring time and it wasn't that bad, I do recommend wearing river sandals though when crossing. On the first crossing there are downed trees you can use as a bridge and on the last crossing into the camp ground there's a rope for balance. I recommend when you get to the last river turn left and walk down river, it's towards the hotsprings and good camp grounds. If I remember correctly there are 4 tubs. Please hike out what you hiked in! Every time I go there I hike out a couple bags of trash people leave behind 😭

4.0

Taryn Sandulyak

Sykes Hot Springs via Pine Ridge Trail

04/14/16

We started on Sunday at 10 in the rain, which was perfect for that epic first climb. People were pouring out of the mountain heading home. We hiked all the way to Sykes the first day in about 6 hours with a stop for lunch at Terrace Creek. We found a decent, but not very flat campsite at Sykes. We were so tired by the time we got there, we chose not to keep looking for some of the "better" sites down the river, as the rain had made the river pretty deep. We had planned to stay at Terrace creek the next day but when we stopped for lunch, it seems crowded and busy so we opted for the Barlow Flat campground and we were so happy we did. After a morning soak in the hot spring, we took a leisurely 3 mile hike, enjoyed a beautiful, secluded spot right on the water. The 7 miles back are a bit arduous because of the steep descent, but the views are so worth it. It was great in the spring - all the wild flowers were out but there wasn't much poison oak. I would highly recommend it!

5.0

Keegan Jones

Sykes Hot Springs via Pine Ridge Trail

03/24/16

We went on a Thurs-Sat. Stayed night #1 5 miles in at Terrace Creek then day hiked the 10 mile out and back to Sykes and spent night #2 at Terrace before hiking out at sunrise Sat morning. We avoided the bulk crowds at Sykes and had no problem finding a quiet site at Terrace. And spreading it over two nights allowed us to chill, take our time and not have to worry about the time, or crowds. Definitely recommend going during the week if you can make it happen. The crowd is real. Great trail, super fun, challenging, but would do it again.

5.0

Adam Ewing

Sykes Hot Springs via Pine Ridge Trail

01/15/16

Trash or no trash, people or no people, backpacking to Sykes Hot Spring is something you should definitely take part in if you have the opportunity. It truly is a unique nook of the forest; a gift to those who travel there, and thus it should be taken care of and not abused, as it so often is. But if you are reading this-you already know that. My usual plan is to drive down to Big Sur at night and hike the first stretch of trail to the Ventana Camp, at the crest of the initial long and arduous uphill section of the Pine Ridge Trail. You will wake up to views of the distant ocean to the west, and to the east upcanyon you will see the Double Cone. You will also be miles ahead of anyone starting from the trailhead that morning. As you up-and-down your way through old growth trees, keep an eye out for those in which the acorn woodpeckers have made their home. You are sure to see a few of these rare and beautiful birds. At this point, you will have begun to cross paths with those on their way back out to civilization, knowing that the more you encounter, the fewer there will be when you reach your destination. It is rare that people spend more than one night at Sykes. Stop and fill your bottle at Terrace Creek, a low elevation point where you may see a tent or two. You'll know that you are nearly to the springs when you begin a long descent, and the welcome sound of the Big Sur River visits your ears once more. You will most likely get your feet wet as you head north (left) up the river. The springs will be on the bank to the left. There could be anywhere from 3 to 5 tubs depending on what state things are in. They are usually very well kempt. The water is clear and less odoriferous than most hot springs. Camping is available across from the springs and the best spots are a bit further past them. I don't recommend proceeding on up to Redwood Camp-the trail is way less traveled and you are sure to bring home ticks and some of that poison oak everyone is talking about. I find that Sykes is a nice with a group or as a solo hike. You are sure to find plenty of people to talk to; I've passed as many as 65 people coming out. Many of them are large groups of college students. Therefore, weekdays are always better if you can swing it. Have a great trip.

5.0

Gaby Colletta

Sykes Hot Springs via Pine Ridge Trail

11/11/15

The hike itself is beautiful, winding along the ridge. The first 2 miles are the most difficult but once you conquer the incline, the rest is a nice balance of up and down til you reach the springs. The trail is lined with all sorts of foliage and has a decent amount of coverage winding into the Redwoods. Started the hike on Sunday and many folks were heading out. Hit the springs on Monday and had it almost entirely to ourselves! Since it's a popular trail, try to plan for a weekday if you have the flexibility. If you have trouble finding the springs when you reach Sykes, head downstream and cross the river a few times. You'll find the beautiful stone springs perched on the side of the river.

4.0

Grant

Sykes Hot Springs via Pine Ridge Trail

11/08/15

The hikes is worth the reward once you get here...simply amazing.

5.0

Wallace Chane

Sykes Hot Springs via Pine Ridge Trail

10/16/15

We try to do this hike every year. It's been a constant favorite as it's just far enough from the bay area but not far enough that we can do it over 3 days, not to mention it differs every year due to weather, water levels and trail conditions. This said, it used to be a gorgeous and easily hikable trail. Since the Santa Cruz fires there's a few trees to hop over and the path to the actual springs are now obscured. We still go as often as we can and leave the place a bit better than we find it. If you're considering - go early. As in go early in the year, we try to go as soon as the rain stops. Also start-early, because we go in a group with new people nearly every year it takes us anywhere from 4-8 hours to reach camp, I recommend starting no later than 8 or 9am if you want a decent camp site.

5.0