🏊 Natural Swimming
🔴 Difficult $10/day parking fee at Big Sur Station (no wilderness permit needed for hiking) ⚠️ Safety Note
🌊 About Sykes Hot Springs (Big Sur)
A remote, backcountry hot spring destination requiring a serious overnight backpacking trip through the Ventana Wilderness — access has been repeatedly disrupted by Big Sur-area wildfires (Soberanes Fire and others) in the past decade.
📋 Visit Details
Entry Fee
$10/day parking fee at Big Sur Station (no wilderness permit needed for hiking)
Water Temperature
💧 Warm/hot mineral water at the springs; the adjacent Big Sur River is cold
Best Season
📅 Spring–fall
Water Type
Remote backcountry hot spring pools
Managed By
US Forest Service (Los Padres National Forest) / Ventana Wilderness
County
Monterey County, California
Access Difficulty
🔴 Difficult
🗺️ Getting There
Address / Access Point:
Pine Ridge Trail, Big Sur Station, Big Sur, CA
Access Notes:
Genuinely strenuous ~10-mile backpacking trail each way; trail and access have been affected by multiple Big Sur wildfires and subsequent closures in recent years
✅ Before You Go — Checklist
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Check current water conditions — especially after recent rain
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Save GPS coordinates offline before leaving — cell service may be limited
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Bring cash or card for entry: $10/day parking fee at Big Sur Station (no wilderness permit needed for hiking)
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Pack reef-safe sunscreen, dry bag, water shoes and plenty of drinking water
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Tell someone where you are going before heading to a remote location
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Pack out everything you bring in — leave no trace