2003.05.24

Ventana Wilderness

Over Memorial Day Weekend I backpacked in the Cone Peak area of Ventana. Hare Canyon and Vicente Flat are quite beautiful, but can draw a crowd on a holiday weekend. Limekiln Canyon and beyond, however, are a world apart, with far fewer footprints.

3 pages / 45 photos

Big Sur Coast, Ventana Wilderness photo

Big Sur Coast

The trailhead is across Route One from Kirk Creek Campground, which is on a high bluff overlooking the Pacific. Roadside parking on Route One is free, so all you need is a fire permit. That's free too.

Rattlesnake Grass, Ventana Wilderness photo

Rattlesnake Grass

Gopher Snake, Ventana Wilderness photo

Gopher Snake

Morning Glory, Ventana Wilderness photo

Morning Glory

Crimson Columbine, Ventana Wilderness photo

Crimson Columbine

Snake in the Grass, Ventana Wilderness photo

Snake in the Grass

Bull Thistle, Ventana Wilderness photo

Bull Thistle

Looking North, Ventana Wilderness photo

Looking North

Looking north along the coast, high up near the mouth to Hare Canyon.

Cone Peak, Ventana Wilderness photo

Cone Peak

Cone Peak is just shy of one mile high, yet it's only three miles inland. The huge elevation change rivals the Grand Canyon in depth.

Big Sur Coast, Ventana Wilderness photo

Big Sur Coast

Looking north along the coast, high up near the mouth to Hare Canyon.

Fairy Lantern, Ventana Wilderness photo

Fairy Lantern

Fairy Lanterns were everywhere.

Cliff, Ventana Wilderness photo

Cliff

One of the canyon's many cliffs. For scale, note the size of the trees growing on the cliff edge.

Ventana Wilderness photo
Cone Peak, Ventana Wilderness photo

Cone Peak

Trail Junction, Ventana Wilderness photo

Trail Junction

Around the six mile mark you reach Vicente Flat, which is in an old growth redwood forest. Some of the trees at Vicente Flat camp are enormous.