The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a suspicious death of a woman at Sykes Hot Springs in the Ventana Wilderness area of Big Sur.
On Thursday, April 9, California State Parks and sheriff’s deputies were informed of a body seen in the area of Sykes Hot Springs. Assistance was requested from the state Highway Patrol's H70 Air Unit to transport deputies to the location late Thursday evening, where deputies were able to locate a body.
"The reason it's deemed suspicious is because we don't know what the cause of death is," says Sheriff's Office Cmdr. Andres Rosas.
The sheriff’s search and rescue team is actively working to recover the body from the ground, according to a press release, adding that current weather conditions are making the mission challenging.
"Communication up there is extremely limited," Rosas says. "The hope is that we can get a helicopter out there. The weather conditions keep changing."
The Pine Ridge Trail, which is the primary route that leads to Sykes Hot Springs through the Big Sur backcountry, is currently closed to hikers entering from Big Sur Station. The rest of the area, including Big Sur Station and the parking lot remain open. Outbound hikers now returning to Big Sur Station will still have access to their vehicles via the Pine Ridge Trail.
Sykes Hot Springs is an increasingly popular hiking destination in the Los Padres National Forest, especially since the Pine Ridge Trail reopened in 2021 after being closed for five years. The man-made springs, located about 10 miles into the backcountry, have been difficult to manage over the years.
State parks rangers are currently on site to prevent the public from entry. County officials ask the public to be aware of the current adverse weather conditions and consider staying away.