Experience Guide

VENTANA PUBLIC ACCESS
& CAMPGROUND
EXPERIENCE GUIDE
www.ventanacampground.com
831-667-2712
COASTAL
DESTINATION MAP
Access provided in cooperation with the
California Coastal Commission
HISTORY
NATIVE AMERICANS
Three tribes of Native Americans—the Ohlone, Esselen,
and Salinan—were the first people to inhabit the area
now known as Big Sur. Archaeological evidence shows
that they lived in Big Sur for thousands of years,
leading a nomadic, hunter-gatherer existence.
THE POST LEGACY
Among Big Sur’s early pioneers, the most remarkable is
William Post. In 1848, 13-year-old boy Bill Post arrived
in Monterey. A native of Connecticut, he was the son of
a retired sea captain, and was himself in love with the
sea. Bill had sailed the Atlantic as a cabin boy on The
Brooklyn before he came ashore at Magdalena Bay
with a friend. The next morning, the two lads found their
vessel gone, so they walked barefoot to La Paz, where
they got onto The Mizzen Top, a government ship
heading to Yerba Buena (San Francisco). The boys
disembarked at Monterey. Penniless, Bill fished in the
bay with an old fisherman, trading his fish in town for a
dollar. In 1849, the gold rush started and Bill followed
everyone to Sacramento. However, when he returned to
Monterey, Post was just as poor as he had left.
In 1858, he married Anselmo Onesimo, a Rumsen Indian
girl from the Carmel Valley. Together, they found a piece
of land at Soberanes Creek and decided to head to Big
Sur. On March 1, 1859, Charles Francis Post was born
in the cabin his father had just finished building. The
Posts then had Joseph W. Post in 1862, and later two
daughters, Mary and Ellen. Today, the Post legacy is
integral to Big Sur. The Post House, located on the
Ventana Inn’s highway turnoff still remains. The Post
Ranch Inn, across on Highway One, is built on Post land.
BEATNIKS & HIPPIES
In 1937, Highway One brought the 20th century to Big
Sur. Built by convict laborers, the highway paved the
way for Big Sur’s modern culture of artists, beats,
hippies, tourists and yuppies. Henry Miller moved to
Big Sur in 1944, and his 1958 Big Sur and the
Oranges of Hieronymous Bosch inspired a generation
of Beat writers to follow in his foot steps. The Hippies
followed the Beatniks in the 1960s, thus contributing to
Big Sur’s bohemian counterculture. While the 1960s
are no longer, the culture of New Age Mysticism and
experimental psychotherapy still thrives to make Big Sur
an all-American haven of modern eclectic natureattuned spirituality.
COAST REDWOODS (Sequoia sempervirens)
It's an evergreen tree that lives anywhere from
1,200 and 1,800 years or more. This specific
Species includes the tallest trees on Earth, Reaching
up to 379 feet. The tallest and oldest trees are
found in deep valleys and gullies, where year-round
streams can flow, and fog drip is regular. Coast
redwoods occupy a
narrow strip of land
approximately 470 miles
of the pacific northwest.
The most southerly grove
is in Monterey County,
while the most northerly
grove is in the extreme
southwestern areas of
Oregon. Coast redwood
lumber is highly valued
for its beauty, light
weight, and resistance to
decay. Its lack of resin
makes it resistant to fire.
CALIFORNIA CONDOR
(Gymnogyps californianus)
The California condor is the largest North
American land Bird, weighing from 15 to 31
pounds, they also have the largest wingspans of
any North American bird of up to 10 feet. The
adult California condor is a uniform black with the
exception of large triangular patches or bands of
white on the underside of the wings. California
condors are often found near cliffs or large trees
which are used for nesting sites. One of the two
sanctuaries dedicated to this bird is right here in
the Los Padres National Forest, Sespe Condor
Sanctuary. They live off
large mammalian
carcasses and can live
up to 60 years. As an
adaptation for hygiene,
the condor's head and
neck have few feathers,
which exposes the skin to
the sterilizing effects of
dehydration and solar
ultriviolet light at high
altitudes.
HIKING TRAILS & STATE PARKS
California Campfire Permit required for any fire in the
back country and can be obtained at the Big Sur
Station or at www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/
FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5443507.pdf
POST CREEK TRAIL
Wind your way through the lovely box canyon to the
campground entrance where you will find the Post Creek
Trail head. Meander south along the hillside above
scenic highway one, through the Bay laurels to Cadillac
Flats trail head parking area. From this convenient
location you can access the Coast Ridge Road, the
Coast Ridge Trail and The Restaurant at Ventana.
COAST RIDGE TRAIL
From Cadillac Flats trail head parking area, head
southeast onto Coast Ridge Road. Continue uphill to
enjoy epic views of Ventana, Post Ranch Inn, Pacific
Ocean and on a clear day, experience a view of the
Big Sur Lighthouse. This trail eventually becomes
Cone Peak Road which takes you above the
Ventana Campground into the Ventana Wilderness.
PFEIFFER BIG SUR STATE PARK
HOURS Sunrise to sunset
DIRECTIONS From Ventana, drive north on Highway
One for 2.3 miles. The entrance is on the east side of
the highway.
INFO 831.667.2315; parks.ca.gov
PFEIFFER BEACH
DIRECTIONS From Ventana, drive north on Highway
One for 1.1 miles. Turn off at Sycamore Canyon Road
(west side of the highway) to access the beach.
JULIA PFEIFFER BURNS STATE PARK
HOURS Sunrise to sunset
DIRECTIONS From Ventana, drive south on
Highway One for 8.8 miles. The entrance is on the
east of the highway.
INFO 831.667.2315; parks.ca.gov
PFEIFFER RIDGE LOOP
LENGTH: 7.4 miles
DIRECTIONS Drive north on Highway One for 7
miles. Enter the Andrew Molera State Park on the
west side of the highway. Turn right at the park’s
entrance.
PFEIFFER FALLS TRAIL
LENGTH: 1.4 miles
DIRECTIONS Drive north on Highway One for 2.3
miles. The Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park entrance is on the
east side of the highway. Pass the entrance kiosk and
follow signs for Pfeiffer Falls.
DINING
The Restaurant at Ventana
THE RESTAURANT AT VENTANA
HOURS Lunch: Noon – 3 p.m. Mid-Day: 3 – 5 p.m.
Dinner: 6 – 9 p.m. Reservations strongly
recommended.
INFO 831.667.4242; ventanainn.com/dining
BIG SUR BAKERY & RESTAURANT
HOURS Bakery: daily from 8 a.m.
Dinner: Tuesday – Saturday from 5:30 p.m.
(closed Sunday and Monday).
Brunch: Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
DIRECTIONS From Ventana, drive north on Highway
One for 0.3 miles. The entrance is on the west side of
the highway.
INFO 831.667.0520; bigsurbakery.com
BIG SUR ROADHOUSE
HOURS Open for dinner, 5:30 – 9 p.m. Closed
Tuesdays. Call for reservations.
DIRECTIONS From Ventana, drive north on Highway
One for 3.6 miles. The entrance is on the west side of
the highway.
INFO 831.667.2264; bigsurroadhouse.com
NEPENTHE
HOURS Open daily, 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
DIRECTIONS From Ventana, drive south on Highway
One for 1 mile. The entrance is on the west side of the
highway.
INFO 831.667.2345; nepenthebigsur.com
VENTANA
CAMPGROUND
Ventana Campground, located approximately
65 miles north of San Simeon and 30 miles
south of Carmel, is an amazing 40 acre
redwood canyon. All sites follow the existing
contour of the canyon and Post Creek without
disturbing its natural beauty. We have three
modern bath houses and each campsite has a
picnic table and fire ring with water faucets a
short walk away. Our camp store provides
firewood, ice and miscellaneous sundries for
your convenience. Campers can access scenic
and convenient trails to The Restaurant at
Ventana and the Ventana Wilderness. We
are centrally located near general stores,
restaurants, cafes, gift shops, delis, taverns,
and the post office in the Big Sur community.
Ventana Campground
www.ventanacampground.com
831-667-2712
CAMPGROUND SAFETY
REGULATIONS
• Respect the peacefulness and quiet of the redwoods.
• QUIET HOURS 10 PM – 7 AM.
• No loud noise or loud music at any time.
• Tent camping only.
• All fires must be in fire rings, under control at all
times and extinguished before departure.
• Please do not DEFACE TREES or STUMPS.
• Please purchase your firewood in Big Sur. Collecting
ground wood is forbidden.
• No fireworks or firearms permitted on property.
• LEAVE NO TRACE on campsites or facilities.
• Conserve water. Firmly close water taps when
not using.
• Dogs must be quiet, on leash at all times and stay in
campsites or roads. PLEASE clean up after your dog.
No dogs left unattended.
• Recycle bins are available for plastic bottles, cans
and glass. Please recycle.
• Maximum 5 people, 1 vehicle, 2 dogs
It is the responsibility of each camper to understand
and comply with the safety regulations. They are
strictly enforced to ensure a peaceful, safe experience
for each guest. Anyone found in violation of these
regulations will be asked to leave.
PREMISES ARE PATROLLED BY
SECURITY AT NIGHT.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY PLEASE
CONTACT 831-667-2712.
ENJOY THE REDWOODS.