overland

Big Sur Adventure Route (California)

OTG Ben

OTG Principal Explorer
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Admin
Joined
Apr 24, 2021
Messages
469
Location
NorCal
Please post trail status for the Big Sur Adventure Route here.
Link to Big Sur Adventure Route

Include the Following for all Status Updates

Date:
Current Status:
Additional Details:


Example of a Trail Update for a Route

Date:
4/30/2021

Current Status: Open with some issues

Additional Details: Recent rains have caused the river levels to rise substantially. Buffalo River is approximately 3' deep. Lifted vehicles with larger tires (33" +) may find it difficult and/or dangerous to cross Buffalo River. There's another crossing that's about 30" deep 1/2 mile north of the main crossing. We recommend checking water levels first, but this is typically the alternative crossing point. Aside from water levels, the rest of the trail is running fantastic!
 

OTG Ben

OTG Principal Explorer
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Apr 24, 2021
Messages
469
Location
NorCal
Date: 4/25/2021

Current Status:
Large portions of the route remain closed by the National Forest.

Additional Details: Following a recent fire in the Los Padres National Forest in 2020, Los Padres NF has closed many of the dirt and other roads in the ranger districts within Big Sur. Currently. there is no public access to:

- Nacimiento Road
- Del Venturi and Milpitas Road (leading to the Indians)
- South Coast Road and Prewitt Ridge
- Plaskett Ridge
- Los Burros Road

Old Coast Road at the Northern Section of Big Sur remains open (outside of National Forest Lands). More info on campground and road closures is available at Los Padres National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/lpnf/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5347980
 

CAchief

Weekend Warrior
Joined
May 12, 2021
Messages
44
Location
San Luis Obispo, CA
Approximately one month ago I visited Sand Dollar Beach and decided to see if there was some sort of closure of Los Burros Road while I was in the area.

I can confirm a new (don't remember it there before) closure gate was installed at the entrance of Los Burros Road opposite the entrance to Treebones Resort. Gaia GPS shows a gate going towards Treebones, but not the opposite direction on Los Burros Road which leads to San Martin Peak. Just an FYI to add to the above post.
 

OTG Ben

OTG Principal Explorer
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Apr 24, 2021
Messages
469
Location
NorCal
Approximately one month ago I visited Sand Dollar Beach and decided to see if there was some sort of closure of Los Burros Road while I was in the area.

I can confirm a new (don't remember it there before) closure gate was installed at the entrance of Los Burros Road opposite the entrance to Treebones Resort. Gaia GPS shows a gate going towards Treebones, but not the opposite direction on Los Burros Road which leads to San Martin Peak. Just an FYI to add to the above post.

I'd have to guess that's in line with the current closure. There are a number of private residences in the old los burros mining district, so they probably have a key or lock code to get through. Ironically, I called Los Padres NF this week to try and get some more info about the rationale behind the decision to close these roads following last year's fire (especially since these roads aren't in the burn area?!). I was assured they will open these roads back up to the public again, but I don't have a lot of faith in LPNF, as they have a long history of throwing up gates and keeping motor vehicles off trails in the lands down by SLO and Santa Barbara (they could learn a thing or two from Mendocino NF). But on the bright side, they did open up the Indians / Santa Lucia Memorial Park area again.

Here's what's open now:
- Del Venturi and Milpitas Road (leading to the Indians)
 
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