Press Release: MCSO Currently Investigating Suspicious Death in Sykes Hot Springs Area of Los Padres National Forest

DATE/TIME: 4/10/26 at 10:25 AM

TYPE OF INCIDENT: Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Suspicious Death in Area of Sykes Hot Springs in the Los Padres National Forest

LOCATION: Ventana Wilderness of Los Padres National Forest, Monterey County, California

MEDIA CONTACT: Andres Rosas, Commander; Phone: 831-261-5492; Email: rosasae@countyofmonterey.gov

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a suspicious death that has occurred in the area of Sykes Hot Springs which is in the Ventana Wilderness area of the Los Padres National Forest.

On April 9th, 2026, California State Parks and Monterey County Sheriff’s deputies were informed of a body seen in the area of Sykes Hot Springs. Assistance was requested from the California Highway Patrol’s H70 Air Unit to transport deputies to the location on late Thursday evening. Deputies were able to locate a body.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team is actively working on retrieving the body by ground. Current weather conditions are making this challenging.

There are no current threats to the public that may be hiking or camping near the Sykes Hot Springs area. The Pine Ridge Trail is currently closed to hikers entering the wilderness area from the Big Sur Station. People returning to the Big Sur Station will still have access to return to their vehicles via the Pine Ridge Trail. California State Parks Rangers are on site to prevent the public from entry. We also ask the public to be aware of the current adverse weather conditions and consider staying away.

Sheriff Tina Nieto would like to thank California State Parks, California Highway Patrol and CalFire for their assistance thus far in this active and ongoing incident.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office is the lead investigating agency in this matter. No further information is available at this time.