More ambitious hikers can link these trails with a series of others and go all the way across the Forest, a four-day trip that includes Big Sur's famous jutting coastal cliffs and towering forests of giant redwoods. Bring long pants, because the brush grows fast here sometimes several feet in a matter of months. The Ranger District has some 300 volunteers, but even this determined force can't always keep up with the ferocious undergrowth. At higher elevations, of course, the temperatures are lower. So if your visit coincides with a rainy spell, head to the trails on the eastern side.
Heavy rains can cause swollen rivers that are difficult to ford.
According to rangers, the water levels recede as quickly as they rise, so you can just wait them out if you bring a couple of days' worth of extra food. The Monterey District of the Los Padres National Forest is about 30 miles south of Monterey. Work Outdoors at GORP Jobs Click Here. All rights reserved. Privacy policy .