Ventana Series: Vicente Flat Trail (16 Mi., ~3,200 Ft)

In continuance of our further exploration of the beautiful Ventana Wilderness, let's hike the Vicente Flat Trail which most consider to be the quintessential hike of the Big Sur region that offers an impressive variety of scenery. The first half of the hike climbs an open hillside with spectacular ocean vistas to the north and south. The trail then turns inland and enters an oak woodland with several very attractive redwood groves tucked into folds in the hillside, offering majestic views of the rugged Hare Canyon far below and the sheer granite face of Cone Peak high above. Finally, the trail descends to the old-growth redwoods of Vicente Flat. Other than Highway One and the Kirk Creek Campground, which are visible during the initial part of the hike, there are no signs of development along this trail. This is not a trail for casual hiking. Although the Basin Complex Fire did burn through this area extensively in 2008, there are areas of overgrown brush and poison oak encounter is likely. Most of the narrow trail is cut into a very steep hillside, and near the end there's an alarmingly sheer drop-off that will test the holding power of your boot tread. However, compared to many other Big Sur trails, the Vicente Flat Trail is fairly popular, is usually in decent condition, and is clearly visible throughout. HIKE SUMMARY: Location: Kirk Creek Campground Start Time: 8:00 a.m. Hike Duration: 6 to 8 hours Pace: Moderate (2.5 to 3 mph) Total Distance: ~15 miles Total Elevation Gain: ~3,200 feet Trail Configuration: Out & Back Difficulty: Challenging for Distance and Elevation Gain For Trail Map & Elevation Profile: http://files.meetup.com/355866/Vicente%20map%20all.jpg HIKE DESCRIPTION: The trail starts out wide and well-maintained, immediately beginning a gentle climb. About a mile in we'll pass a "Ventana Wilderness" sign after which the trail becomes narrower and partially-overgrown with brush. The trail climbs high above the coast, offering magnificent views both north and south as it winds its way through the folds of the steep hills. The effect is a little like a glass elevator ride, with better and better views of the coast as you ascend. Soon the trail enters a redwood grove, providing a refreshing break from the coastal chaparral. The small grove seems to be old-growth and has a few good-sized trees. The trail resumes its climb eventually reaching the very rugged and steep Hare Canyon. At this point the trail turns to right and enters a forest. There are a few nice upland redwood groves, although these trees have all been blackened from recent forest fires. The dramatic vistas of redwoods against a backdrop of sheer granite mountains is reminiscent of the giant sequoias in the Sierra Nevada. The trail begins a gentle descent, exiting the woods several times and clinging to a steep hillside high above the canyon floor. From far below comes the sound of a rushing creek. The final descent has a few scary spots where the narrow trail is perched on the edge of a menacing drop-off. Finally, the trail levels out at the Vicente Flat campsite area that is populated with numerous redwoods. The grove is strikingly quiet, although in places you'll hear the pleasant cascading of a creek. After passing through the campsite, the canyon becomes very narrow and the trail starts to climb alongside a small creek. There are some good-sized and attractive redwoods in this area, both on the canyon floor and, somewhat surprisingly, on the north-facing hillside. At this point, the trail continues on up the canyon another 2.5 miles until it reaches Cone Peak Rd. WHAT TO BRING: Sturdy hiking shoes, layered clothing, wind & rain gear, lunch/snacks, hat (for sun protection), 4-6 liters of water, long pants and long sleeve shirt (for poison oak protection). Bring your trekking polls if desired. WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Very fit, disciplined hikers who can successfully negotiate a 15 mile hike over steep/twisty trail with drop-offs, and unpredictable surface condition with potential for overgrown brush and poison oak encounter. Members who have NOT recently completed a hike of similar caliber and intensity should consider attending another event. DIRECTIONS: We will meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Kirk Creek Campground. From Carmel (at the intersection of Rio Rd. and CA-1), proceed south on CA-1 for approximately 55 miles until you reach the Kirk Creek Campground which will be on the right (West) side of the highway. Plenty of free parking is available along the side of the highway. RESPONSIBILITY: Please be aware that we expect you to take responsibility for your safety while we are out on the trails. This means being prepared with adequate hiking gear and making sure the difficulty level of the event IS NOT beyond the limits of your health & conditioning. We understand that your "Yes" RSVP to this event means you accept this.