Think of this hike as a bit of a treasure hunt, with spectacular Salmon Creek Falls just a quarter-mile in, but extremely difficult to find due to limited access through the steep, dense forest. Hike to falls ¼ mile Silver Peak Wilderness 15 miles difficult The hidden delight that is Salmon Creek Falls ©Shutterstock / Wirestock Creators Salmon Creek Trail and Silver Peak Wilderness Best hike to a hidden waterfall Continuing east will get you all the way to China Camp on Tassajara Road, traversing a large swath of the rugged Ventana Wilderness. It’s a 10-mile trek to the hot springs and another two and a half to Redwood Camp, with possible overnight stops at the Terrace Creek and Barlow Flat hike-in campgrounds along the way.
Enter the Ventana Wilderness Alliance and the National Forest Service: together, these two organizations restored the springs and now do their best to police the area proactively, discouraging people from causing further damage. Nature wasn’t the only troublemaker–over the years, the springs were dammed and channeled into man-made pools and tubs by hot springs enthusiasts, trashing the surrounding environment in the process. Once a historic post road connecting Big Sur Station to Tassajara Road in the Carmel Valley, the trail reopened in spring 2021 after being closed for almost five years due to damage from the 2016 Soberones fire and subsequent storm erosion.
The last rays of sun hit the ridgeline in Los Padres National Forest ©David Pu'u / Getty Images Pine Ridge Trail, Big Sur Station, Los Padres National Forest Best hike for overnightersįew California trails generate quite the buzz that surrounds the Pine Ridge Trail to Sykes Hot Springs and the Redwood Camp from Big Sur Station. The short loop around Soberanes Point and Whale Peak, accessed via the Coastal Bluff Trail, is a top choice for spotting gray and humpback whales during their winter and spring migrations. Soothed by coastal fog, these former ranch lands are lush with wildflowers in spring and provide some of the coast’s most directly west-facing views, meaning some amazing sunsets.įor a mid-length out-and-back trip, the Soberanes Canyon Trail follows Soberanes Creek through ferns and redwoods before ascending the hill for spectacular coastal views. Just 7 miles south of Carmel Valley, Garrapata State Park is where locals go to enjoy nearly 3,000 acres of pristine hillside meadows and a secluded stretch of shoreline that is usually missed by those rushing south to Bixby Bridge and the area most people think of as Big Sur. Look out for humpback whales from the headland at Whale Peak ©Chase Dekker Wild-Life Images / Getty Images Soberones Canyon Trail and Garrapata Coastal Trail, Garrapata State Park Best hike for whale-watchersĢ.8 miles each way (1.8-mile loop for the Garrapata Coastal Trail) moderate
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