Читать книгу 101 Hikes in Northern California. Exploring Mountains, Valleys, and Seashore онлайн

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Best Times April–November

Agency Ventana Wilderness, Los Padres National Forest

THREE MILES FROM the ocean, Cone Peak rises a mile to the sky. In summer 1999, most of Ventana Wilderness burned. Cone Peak, the dominant mountain of the southern wilderness, burned with it. Life has since rebounded on these sheer slopes, yet does little to hide the seamless joining of ocean and sky, the towering coastal vistas, or the sweeping panorama of the Santa Lucia Mountains.

The Hike climbs to the fire lookout atop Cone Peak (5,155') on steep but short Cone Peak Trail. It’s important to time your visit correctly. The 5-mile dirt access road closes after the first heavy winter rains (typically in December) and usually reopens in March, though this varies from year to year; call ahead to check if you’re planning a trip in early spring or late fall. Crowds and coastal fog are heaviest in the summer. No water is available at the trailhead.

Looking south from mile-high Cone Peak

To Reach the Trailhead Take Nacimiento Rd. east from Hwy. 1—the turnoff is by Kirk Creek Campground 4 miles south of Lucia. Be aware that Hwy. 1 is subject to washouts and closures, especially in the winter. Follow sinuous Nacimiento Rd. as it climbs 2,800 feet in 8 miles to the divide, and turn north on rough and unpaved Cone Peak Rd. Low-clearance vehicles should have no problem making it to the trailhead, 5.2 miles down this road by a small turnout.