This Hotspot is most likely to be accessed by birders hiking the through route from Chews Ridge [see the separate Upper Pine Ridge Trail Hotspot for montane birding], or possibly birds one happens to notice while enjoying the Sykes hot springs revelry. If you are specifically birding, get a very early start. The birds will be more active then, and the day can become very warm, especially in summer and early fall.

Expect typical birds of chaparral, oak woodland, and redwood riparian habitats. You will pass through each of those along the route. American Dipper is regular along the river. You might hear or spot a Canyon Wren in the gorge areas, and encounter Pacific Wren in redwood groves. High above might be California Condor.

This Hotspot covers the lower portions of the Pine Ridge Trail, from the Big Sur Station trailhead (370' elevation) to Redwood Creek Camp (1800' elevation). See the Upper Pine Ridge Trail hotspot for details on the higher elevation areas of this spectacular trail. [There is a gap between our Hotspots -- from Redwood Creek Camp to Pine Ridge Camp -- where there is steep ascent.] Although this lower segment of the trail is extremely scenic and one of those most popular--and heavily used--trails in the Los Padres National Forest, it is of only moderate interest for birders. The birds seen along this long and strenuous trail can all be found at other locations that have easier access and fewer people.

Much of this area has been burned by a series of fires over the last few decades. It is an interesting area to see habitat regeneration.

This is not a hiking guide. For that see https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/lpnf/recarea/?recid=10951 and https://www.ventanawild.org/trails/ventana-wilderness-trails/pine-ridge-trail (basic information on the trail, with user trail reports), among many other trail guide websites and books. 

The trail starts at the US Forest Service's Big Sur Station on Highway 1 just south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. The trail winds its way up and down (but mostly up) over a shoulder of the Coast Ridge and into the Big Sur watershed. For most of the way the trail is not actually on the river, but is on the side of the steep Big Sur River gorge, with the river far below. A very steep 1.2 mile side access trail leads to Ventana Camp on the river (5.3 in total one way from the trailhead). The trail follows more closely by the river past Barlow Flats Camp (6.9 miles from the trailhead), then back up over hill and dale to (in)famous Sykes Camp (9.8 miles from the trailhead). Sykes is a scenic, but very heavily used and often noisy camp, known for the hot springs that leaks out of the hillside adjacent to the river. From there the trail again ascends yet another steep ridge, dropping into Redwood Camp (12.1 miles from the trailhead). Redwood Creek Camp is a beautiful camp set on Redwood Creek, a main tributary of the Big Sur River. It is generally a much more peaceful location than Sykes, and makes a preferable campsite for those hiking the full trail from China Camp to Big Sur Station.

There are trail camps along the route, all first-come, first-serve, and often full or in any case crowded and lively. With thoughtful planning and calendar flexibility, the worst of the crowds are avoidable, perhaps other than Sykes Camp.

Those planning to hike the full distance from Chews Ridge to Pfeiffer/Big Sur Station are advised to hike it from top to bottom — even in the cooler months the climb from the Big Sur River to the top of Pine Ridge is a long and grueling hike through mostly open terrain, nicknamed, somewhat facetiously, “the Golden Staircase” (approximately 5.5 miles and 3500 feet of elevation gain from Sykes to Pine Ridge Camps). The full hike requires a long car shuttle or a good friend to drop you off and pick you up, not to mention good gear, plenty of water, excellent physical conditioning, and an understanding of how to move safely through rugged wilderness.

Always get up-to-date advance information on the access road and trail conditions. Both the upper access road and the trail itself might be closed at any season.