Big Sur Hiking Trails

Salmon Creek Falls Trail

Distance-0.6 mile round trip

Hiking Difficulty-easy

dogs-allowed

Trailhead Location-On Highway 1 drive north 3.7 miles from Ragged Point Inn to the Salmon Creek trailhead sign on the right.

The trail starts out by the picturesque Salmon Creek Falls and continues on through forests and views down to the ocean.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

Soda Springs Trail

Distance-3 miles round trip

Hiking Difficulty-easy to moderate

dogs-allowed

Trailhead Location-Drive north on Highway 1 for 5.3 miles from Ragged Point Inn to the trailhead on the right (1.6 miles past the Salmon Creek Trail)

The Soda Springs Trail goes along Soda Springs Creek to a fork connecting you to the Buckeye Trail, take the trail to the right (the trail to the left is the Buckeye Trail taking you to Buckeye Campground 2.4 miles to the north) going to the closed Salmon Creek Ranger Station at Highway  1 (the Buckeye Trailhead)  and this is the turn around point taking the trail back.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

Buckeye Trail

Distance-7 mile round trip

Hiking Difficulty-moderate to strenuous

dogs-allowed

Trailhead Location-Drive north on Highway 1 for 3.9 miles from Ragged Point Inn to the Buckeye trailhead by the closed Salmon Creek Ranger Station.

The Buckeye Trail goes 3.5 miles in to the Buckeye campground, (turnaround point for 7 mile roundtrip hike) the trail continues for another 1.5 miles to the Upper Cruickshank Campground and .25 miles past that is the Villa Campground. Watch out for poison oak.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

Salmon Creek Trail

Distance-6.5 miles round trip

Hiking Difficulty-strenuous

dogs-allowe

Trailhead Location-On Highway 1 drive north 3.7 miles from Ragged Point Inn to the Salmon Creek trailhead sign on the right.

Take the Salmon Creek falls Trail to the fork in the trail, the left goes to the falls, the right goes to Spruce Creek Trail and Campground, turn back here for a 3.4 round trip hike or continue on to Estrella Campground for a 6.5 mile round trip hike-the trail continues on for another 2.5 miles where it ends at the South Ridge Road for an additional 5 miles more onto the round trip (for a total of 11.5 miles round trip)  if you are really ambitous. The trail goes through the Silver Peak Wilderness in the Santa Lucia Mountains.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

Ragged Point Inn Trail

Distance-1 mile round trip

Hiking Difficulty-nature trail easy-cliffside trail strenuous

dogs-allowed

Trailhead Location-19019 Highway 1 (Ragged Point Inn) 21.2 miles north of Cambria Pines Rd. in Cambria.

Two trails starting from the Ragged Point Inn, the Nature Trail is easy and runs along the blufftop with picturesque ocean views and the Cliffside trail goes down a steep clifside to the beach below.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

Big Sur Hiking Trails

Mill Creek Trail

Distance-3 miles round trip

Hiking Difficulty-easy to moderate

Dogs-allowed

Trailhead Location-From Ragged Point on Highway 1 go 20.3 miles-turn right onto Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd. for 0.8 miles to the trailhead sign right at where there is a hairpin turn in the road and a parking area.

The trail winds alongside the Mill Creek through Mill Creek Canyon and the beautiful countryside is filled with giant redwoods, maples and sycamore trees. The trail ends a a campsite. The area was named after an old sawmill that used to make railroad ties.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

Pacific Valley Bluff Trail

Distance-2 miles round trip

Hiking Difficulty-easy

Dogs-allowed

Trailhead Location-On Highway 1 from Ragged Point go 16 miles north to the trailhead that is right across the road from the Pacific Valley Ranger Station

The trail is an easy flat trail going through the grassy marine terrace to the coastal bluffs with scenic views of the ocean and rock formations.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

Prewitt Loop North Trail

Distance-8 miles round trip

Hiking Difficulty-moderate to strenuous

Dogs-allowed

Trailhead Location-On Highway 1 from Ragged Point go 16.7 miles north to the trailhead sign on the right about ½ mile past the Pacific Valley Ranger Station

The trail goes up to Prewitt Creek Canyon through grassy meadows, oak, pine, laurel woodlands and groves of redwoods with views spanning the coastline. The trail goes to Stag Camp, a primitive campground and this is the point to turn around because the trail beyond that is overgrown and not clear to follow.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

Big Sur Hiking Trails

Prewitt Loop South Trail

Distance-9.8 miles round trip

Hiking Difficulty-strenuous

Dogs-allowed

Trailhead Location-On Highway 1 drive 16 miles north from Ragged Point to the Pacific Valley Fire Station, the trail starts behind the fire station

The trail begins in Prewitt Valley winding up through a remote canyon through chaparral into oak, pine and redwood trees with coastal views. The trail goes to Kelly Camp, a primitive campground and this is the turnaround point because the trail becomes too overgrown to follow after that.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

Sand Dollar Beach Trail

Distance-3.5 mile round trip

Hiking Difficulty-easy

Dogs-allowed

Trailhead Location-On Highway 1 from Ragged Point drive 15 miles north to Sand Dollar Day Use Parking lot (fee required or park in a pullout on the road for free)

The trailhead is at the north end of the parking lot. Sand Dollar Beach is protected between two rocky headlands that stick out into the ocean and is a horseshoe shoe shaped beach. The trail crosses over a grassy meadow and the chaparral marine terrace.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

Jade Cove Trail

Distance-1.5 mile round trip

Hiking Difficulty-easy with some rock scrambling

Dogs-allowed

Trailhead Location-On Highway 1 from Ragged Point drive 14.6 miles north to the trailhead (3 miles north of Gorda) look for the Jade Cove Beach Area sign and a parking pullout is just across the highway from it.

The Jade Cove Trail is an easy flat trail that goes across the grassy marine terrace to the coastal bluffs with a short scramble down the rocks to the water to an isolated cove with smooth ocean tumbled stones and jade. Regulations do not  allow you to collect any rocks that are above the mean high tide level.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

Willow Creek Trail

Distance-3.4 miles round trip

Hiking Difficulty-moderate

Dogs-allowed

Trailhead Location-On Highway 1 drive 12.5 miles north from Ragged Point to Willow Creek Rd. (1 mile north of Gorda) Willow Creek Road shares the same entrance as Treebones Resort with the paved road going to the resort and the dirt road going to Willow Creek Road. A high clearance car or truck is needed to drive the road. Drive 2.4 miles to the unmarked dirt road which is the trailhead and park.

Willow Creek Trail starts at the unmarked dirt road and has several campsites along the way.  This is a remote and seldom hiked trail and has some history to it with the area used for gold mining by the Kinder family and known as the Kinder Mine. There is an old 80 yard suspension bridge crossing the gorge and you will pass the old homestead.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

Cruickshank Trail

Distance-5 miles round trip

Hiking Difficulty-strenuous

Dogs-allowed

Trailhead Location- On Highway 1 from Ragged Point drive 8 miles north to the parking pullout on the right side of the road by the trailhead sign.

Picturesque mountain, ocean and creek views the trail runs along the canyon above the Villa Creek going through giant redwoods and several small waterfalls. The trail goes to several remote campsites. The turn around point for this hike is Cruickshank Camp but the hike can be made longer by continuing on to several other camps.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

Redwood Gulch Trail

Distance-0.4 miles

Hiking Difficulty-easy

Dogs-allowed

Trailhead Location-On Highway 1 from Ragged Point drive 7 miles north to the trailhead on the right

The Redwood Gulch Trail is a short trail with small waterfalls and giant redwoods. The trail goes to an old rock fire pit and this is the turn around point because the trail is not well developed beyond this point and becomes steep and hard to follow.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

Limekiln Trail

Limekiln State Park

Distance-1 mile round trip

Hiking Difficulty-easy

Dogs-not allowed

Trailhead Location-On Highway 1 from Ragged Point drive north for 22.2 miles to the Limekiln State Park  on the right and park in the day use parking lot (fee required)

To start the Limekiln Falls Trail walk up the Campground road to the north end and cross the bridge over the Hare Creek to a fork in the trail with trail sign and take the fork to the left that follows the Limekiln Creek through a redwood forest. Limekiln State Park is on 716 acres and has a campground. The trail goes to four old stone and steel kilns from the 1880’s that would purify the quarried limestone into powdered lime used in cement. The trail follows the old wagon route used to haul the limestone out. Return back the same way you came.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

Limekiln Falls Trail

Limekiln State Park

Distance-1.3 mile round trip

Hiking Difficulty-easy

Dogs-not allowed

Trailhead Location-On Highway 1 from Ragged Point drive north for 22.2 miles to the Limekiln State Park  on the right and park in the day use parking lot (fee required)

To start the Limekiln Falls Trail walk up the Campground road to the north end and cross the bridge over the Hare Creek to a fork in the trail with trail sign and take the fork to the left that follows the Limekiln Creek through a redwood forest. Limekiln State Park is on 716 acres and has a campground. The trail ends at the base of a waterfall. Return back the same way you came.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

Hare Creek Trail

Limekiln State Park

Distance-0.9 mile round trip

Hiking Difficulty-easy

Dogs-not allowed

Trailhead Location-On Highway 1 from Ragged Point drive north for 22.2 miles to the Limekiln State Park  on the right and park in the day use parking lot (fee required)

To start the Hare Creek Trail walk up the Campground road to the north end and cross the bridge over the Hare Creek to a fork in the trail with trail sign and take the fork to the right, the left goes to the waterfall and kiln. Limekiln State Park is on 716 acres and has a campground. The trail ends at a waterfall. Return back the same way you came.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

Kirk Creek Beach Trail

Distance-0.5 miles

Hiking Difficulty-easy

Dogs-allowed

Trailhead Location- On Highway 1 from Ragged Point drive north for 20.4 miles to Kirk Creek Campground one the left. (fee required) or park along the highway pullout for free.

The Kirk Creek Beach Trail starts from the north end of the campground. Follow the campground road the trailhead by campsite #23. The trail goes down to a sandy beach cove. Return back the same way you came.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

Vicente Flat Trail

Ventana Wilderness

Distance-10.6 mile round trip

Hiking Difficulty-strenuous

Dogs-allowed

Trailhead Location- On Highway 1 from Ragged Point drive north for 20.4 miles to Kirk Creek Campground on the left. (fee required) or park along the Highway pullout for free.

The Vicente Flat Trail starts across from the campground at the trail sign. The trail winds in and out of redwoods, madrones and grassland with panoramic views of the area. The trail goes to the Vicente Flat camp that is along the Hare Canyon Creek and this is the turn around point. Return the same way you came.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

East Vicente Flat Trail

Ventana Wilderness

Distance-4.5 mile round trip

Hiking Difficulty-moderate to strenuous

Dogs-allowed

Trailhead Location-On Highway 1 from Ragged Point Inn drive 20.2 miles north to Naciemento-Fergusson Road and turn right and drive 7.1 miles and turn left  onto South Coast Ridge Road, a dirt road (also known as Cone Peak Road) and drive 3.7 miles on the narrow dirt road to the trail sign and park in a pullout. South Ridge Road is closed from November through May and may not be drivable in wet weather.

This trailhead starts from the east end of the Vicente Flat Trail off of South Coast Ridge Road and this hike goes the first 2.2 miles to the Vicente Flat Camp. This is the turn around point for this hike. The trail continues on for another 5 miles to the Kirk Creek Campground.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

San Antonio Trail

Ventana Wilderness

Distance-3 miles round trip

Hiking Difficulty-moderate

Dogs-allowed

Trailhead Location-On Highway 1 from Ragged Point Inn drive 20.2 miles north to Naciemento-Fergusson Road and turn right and drive 7.1 miles and turn left  onto South Coast Ridge Road, a dirt road (also known as Cone Peak Road) and drive 3.7 miles on the narrow dirt road to the trail sign and park in a pullout. South Ridge Road is closed from November through May and may not be drivable in wet weather.

The San Antonio Trail starts from the trailhead sign on the right. The narrow trail goes to Fresno Camp and this is the turn around point for this hike. The trail continues on for a further hike to San Antonio Camp for another 2 miles but the trail is not well maintained and becomes hard to follow.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

Cone Peak Trail

Ventana Wilderness

Distance-4.6 miles round trip

Hiking Difficulty-moderate to strenuous

Dogs-allowed

Trailhead Location-On Highway 1 from Ragged Point Inn drive 20.2 miles north to Naciemento-Fergusson Road and turn right and drive 7.1 miles and turn left onto South Coast Ridge Road, a dirt road (also known as Cone Peak Road) and drive 5.3 miles on the narrow dirt road to the trail sign on the left and park in a pullout. South Ridge Road is closed from November through May and may not be drivable in wet weather.

Cone Peak is a 5,155 foot high peak with 360 degree panoramic views of the Big Sur coast and the surrounding areas of peaks and valleys of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range. The trail goes to a fire lookout that is at the top of the peak. Just below the peak there is a fork  in the trail with the sign showing the fork to the left goes down to the Trail Spring Camp and the right fork goes to the peak top and lookout tower. Return back along the same route.

Big Sur Hiking Trails

North Coast Ridge Trail

Ventana Wilderness

Distance-5 miles round trip

Hiking difficulty-moderate

Dogs-allowed

Trailhead Location-On Highway 1 from Ragged Point Inn drive 20.2 miles north to Naciemento-Fergusson Road and turn right and drive 7.1 miles and turn left onto South Coast Ridge Road, a dirt road (also known as Cone Peak Road) and drive 6.6 miles on the narrow dirt road to parking at the end of the road. South Ridge Road is closed from November through May and may not be drivable in wet weather.

Take the old road winding through a forest of pines and after half a mile the road becomes a footpath, after going 2 miles the trail comes to an abandoned road, take the old road which takes you to Cook Spring Camp. This is the turn around point.

Big Sur Hiking Trails