Hiking and Backpacking Big Sur: A Complete Guide to the Trails of Big Sur, Ventana Wilderness, and Silver Peak Wilderness

by Analise Elliot Heid, 2013. Paperback, 328 pages.

From the back cover: "California's Big Sur country hugs the Central Coast some 90 miles, from Carmel south toward San Simeon. And it stretches east and southeast, to the lesser-known Ventana and Silver Peak Wilderness areas. On 74 diverse trips, Hiking & Backpacking Big Sur takes you throughout this dramatic land and seascape. Trails include popular destinations such as Sykes Hot Springs and Andrew Molera and Pfeiffer Big Sur state parks, as well as gems such as the impressive Salmon Creek Falls and the remote Ventana Double Cone."

Includes day hikes and longer backpacking routes in Big Sur, the Ventana Wilderness, and the Silver Peaks Wilderness, plus precise details on trail facilities, easy-to-read topographic maps, natural and cultural history, plant and animal communities, and a helpful guide to services along Hwy 1. More than half of the hikes in this book are in the Los Padres National Forest.

NOTE: Roads and trails in the Big Sur region are often closed due to damage from fire and flood. Before you plan your trip, visit the Monterey Ranger District website for updated conditions.