Ventana Wilderness, Protected wilderness area in Los Padres National Forest, California

The Ventana Wilderness covers a large area of dense forests, steep canyons, and mountain ridges in the northern Santa Lucia mountains. The protected land includes varied habitats with different elevations and vegetation types.

The Ventana Primitive Area was first set aside by the U.S. Forest Service and enlarged to about 87 square miles in 1937. The Ventana Wilderness was formally established on August 18, 1969, at roughly 153 square miles. Later laws added land in 1978, 1984, 1992 and 2002, bringing it to 375 square miles.

The name Ventana comes from the Spanish word for window, referring to a notch on a ridge near Ventana Double Cone that local legend describes as a former natural stone arch. The Esselen lived in Big Sur from as early as 3500 BC, moving between the coast in winter for mussels and abalone and inland slopes in summer and fall to harvest acorns. Pico Blanco, which splits the north and south forks of the Little Sur River, was held sacred by the Rumsien and Esselen as the place from which all life originated.

Visitors need permits for overnight stays, and motorized equipment plus aircraft landings are prohibited. Good footwear and preparation are essential because trails are demanding and weather conditions can be rough.

The Ventana Wilderness takes its name from a notch called "The Window" (ventana in Spanish) on a ridge near Ventana Double Cone; local legend holds that the notch was once a natural stone arch. The wilderness boundary reaches about 5,750 feet (1,750 m) near Junipero Serra Peak, while the Big Sur River leaves it at roughly 600 feet (180 m).