Peak 4465 (1361 m)

Where: Ventana Wilderness, Santa Lucia Mountains

Trail head: Ventana Double Cone trail head, near China Camp

Length: 14 miles round trip

Cumulative elevation gain: 6500 ft

Difficulty: Strenuous, due to bushwhacking

Reservations required: No

Advance planning typically required for permit: N/A

Permit requirements: No

Price: Free

Report date: 2007-03-03

Reported by: Silviu

Driving directions: Take Route 1 South, then Tassajara Road to China Camp. Approximately 3 hours from the Bay Area.

Maps: Bob Burd's topo map

Trail condition: Good until reaching the Carmel River Trail, then no trail and a lot of bushwhacking.

Description and other notes: Peak 4465 is not an important peak, but it's located centrally in Ventana Wilderness and you are rewarded with beautiful views. If you plan to do the whole hike from China Camp to Ventana Cone, or even further to Venting Double Cone, Peak 4465 is a good point from where you should consider turning back, if the bushwhacking is too much for you. The bushes grow fast and there is no trail from the intersection between Pine Ridge Trail and Carmel River Trail, approximately 1.2 miles to Peak 4465. You can read more details about this beautiful area and its crazy hikes on Bob Burd's web site . Note that China Camp is free and has no water or other facilities. The dirt road to it is long, but you will be surprise how many people choose to camp there.

Comments

If you cannot make it to China Camp, 2 miles earlier there is White Oaks Campgroung.

After one mile uphill, beautiful views of Ventana Wilderness can be experienced along the Pine Ridge Trail

Who expects to see so much snow in Ventana?

Because of the overgrown bushes, this is no longer a simple hiking trip.

Ventana Cone.

South Ventana Cone.