A cartel possibly leaving dead bodies in a pickup truck in the vicinity does not sound like a great place to hike.
wait until you hear about the roaming hungry grizzlies spotted along the trail...
That park is more known for tech executives, than cartel operations. Usually, the "grows" are off trail, so people won't see them. If they start shooting hikers, it's not going to last long,
I did see three men in camo jackets with bolt action rifles on a hiking trail in Big Sur's Ventana Wilderness.
In 2005, they raided a big plantation somewhere on Mount Umunhum. I later met the ranger who got shot in that operation.