🥾Itinerary for Big Sur Womens Beginner Backpacking Trip

Day 1 – Hike In & Camp Setup

We’ll meet at Salmon Creek trailhead for a gear check before hiking up Salmon Creek Trail. Along the way, we’ll pass Spruce Creek Campground and continue toward Salmon Creek Falls. From there, we’ll take a lesser-traveled trail down to a hidden waterfall, where we’ll set up camp for the next two nights.

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Day 2 – Lion’s Peak Day Hike

After a relaxed breakfast, we’ll head out on a day hike up to Lion’s Peak, passing Estrella Camp along the way. We’ll enjoy lunch at the summit before returning to camp for an afternoon of swimming and relaxing at our nearby waterfall and local watering hole.

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Day 3 – Hike Out

We’ll pack up camp and begin our hike back to the trailhead. On the way, we’ll stop at Salmon Creek Falls for a refreshing dip (if you're feeling brave!) before heading home.

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Distances & Elevation

• Day 1: Salmon Creek Trailhead to Upper Salmon Creek Falls
  3 miles | +1500 ft gain | -300 ft loss

• Day 2: Upper Salmon Creek Falls to Lion’s Peak and back (day hike)
  7 miles round trip | +2100 ft gain | -2100 ft loss

• Day 3: Upper Salmon Creek Falls to Trailhead (with a stop at Salmon Creek Falls)
  3.5 miles | +500 ft gain | -1700 ft loss

Note: If our first-choice campsite is full, we may hike a little farther and encounter more elevation change. As a group, we may also choose an alternate route depending on conditions and preferences.