Sykes Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Closed: Forest Order 05-07-51-26-10 (Aug 29, 2026) shut nearly all of the Monterey Ranger District incl. Pine Ridge Trail until the Timber and Plaskett fires are declared out; the built soaking tubs were removed years ago anyway.
Field notes — checked September 2026
- Hazard: Active wildfire area closure
- Hazard: Big Sur River crossings can run high/dangerous
- Hazard: Landslide reroute section
- Hazard: Poison oak, ticks, rattlesnakes on trail
- Entire Monterey Ranger District emergency closure in effect until Timber/Plaskett fires declared out — no legal entry to Sykes Camp or Pine Ridge Trail 3E06
- Original rock tubs were destroyed by 2016-17 winter floods and removed by USFS as an 'attractive nuisance'; springs still seep but no maintained tub
- Even when open: ~10 mi strenuous hike each way, wilderness self-issue permit + campfire permit required, Big Sur Station parking ~$10/day
- Post-fire route uses Barlow Flat reroute with two extra Big Sur River crossings
- Hwy 1 driving access has intermittent fire/slide closures — check Caltrans
Current status
Closed: Forest Order 05-07-51-26-10 (Aug 29, 2026) shut nearly all of the Monterey Ranger District incl. Pine Ridge Trail until the Timber and Plaskett fires are declared out; the built soaking tubs were removed years ago anyway.
Checked September 2026 · verified against an official source · 4 sources ↓
About this spring
Rustic backcountry hot springs — a few user-built tubs (~100-105°F) beside the Big Sur River at Sykes Camp in the Ventana Wilderness of Los Padres National Forest, reached by a ~10-mile hike on the Pine Ridge Trail. CLOSED: the Monterey Ranger District (including Pine Ridge Trail and Sykes) is closed under a forest emergency order tied to the Timber/Plaskett fires — verify current status before planning. CLOSED by USFS emergency order — entry prohibited (fines up to $5,000). When open: river crossings can be life-threatening after rain. Post-2016 Soberanes Fire and floods destroyed the former man-made tubs — the springs are now small creekside seeps; access remains limited by trail closures.
Directions & trailhead access
Access is restricted; do not use historical directions to plan a visit.
California geothermal context
California spans several geothermal provinces: the volcanic Cascades and Modoc Plateau in the northeast, Sierra Nevada granite seeps along the eastern front, Mojave and Colorado Desert springs in the south, and the famously mineral-rich Big Sur coast. Fire season (roughly June–November) closes access to many backcountry springs without warning — always check for current fire restrictions.
What a primitive site means here
Primitive springs have no facilities: no changing rooms, no trash service, often no maintained road to the pool. Expect natural rock or gravel bottoms, water temperature that varies by spot and season, and other visitors who may treat the site informally. Pack out everything you bring, test the water before entering, and leave the pool cleaner than you found it.
Fact sheet
| Source temp (historical) | Not reported |
|---|---|
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported free — verify locally |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | USFS — Monterey Ranger District Emergency Closure Order 05-07-51-26-10 |
Sykes Hot Springs FAQ
Is Sykes Hot Springs open right now?
Closed: Forest Order 05-07-51-26-10 (Aug 29, 2026) shut nearly all of the Monterey Ranger District incl. Pine Ridge Trail until the Timber and Plaskett fires are declared out; the built soaking tubs were removed years ago anyway. (Status verified against an official source, last checked September 2026.)
Can I soak at Sykes Hot Springs?
Closed: Forest Order 05-07-51-26-10 (Aug 29, 2026) shut nearly all of the Monterey Ranger District incl. Pine Ridge Trail until the Timber and Plaskett fires are declared out; the built soaking tubs were removed years ago anyway.
Where can I check access to Sykes Hot Springs?
Check USFS — Monterey Ranger District Emergency Closure Order 05-07-51-26-10: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/lospadres/alerts/monterey-ranger-district-emergency-closure-order-exceptions
Sources & references
- USFS — Monterey Ranger District Emergency Closure Order 05-07-51-26-10 — official · 2026-08
- Ventana Wilderness Alliance — Sykes Camp/Hot Springs status — community · 2026-02
- strideroot.com — Sykes Hot Springs hike closure tracker (checked 2026-09-11) — community · 2026-09
- bigsurtrailmap.net — Sykes Camp history (tubs removed 2016-17) — community · 2021-10
Details above were verified against the named sources on their listed dates — conditions change, so recheck before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction