The Best Carmel Area Hiking Trails

Monterey County boasts an array of diverse seascapes and mountain backdrops that beckon the curious explorer, and the best way to see it all is on foot. There is no shortage of scenic hiking trails to discover throughout the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel Valley, and Salinas Valley, with options suitable to hikers of all ages and skill levels. With options like waterfalls, rock formations, towering redwoods, endless fields of wildflowers, and abundant wildlife when you hit the trails of Monterey County, you choose the path to the reward of your dreams. Our moderate climate means year-round accessibility and appeal, although there are a few seasonal perks you may wish to take advantage of, like seasonal wildflower blooms and whale migrations. Regardless of when you visit, or which trail(s) you trek, you're sure to find that our tranquil homes are the perfect place to unwind after your quest for discovery along California's Central Coast. Here are our top recommendations for day hikes in the area.

Jacks Peak County Park

Less than ten miles from Carmel-by-the-Sea, Jacks Peak County Park features 8.5 miles of trails for horseback riding and hiking. It's a popular spot for picnics, photography, and basking in the glow of unspoiled nature. The park opens daily at 8:00 AM. Closing time varies by season.

Our Favorite Trail At Jacks Peak County Park

The Skyline Nature Trail is a short but sweet, easy hike with big rewards. The 0.8-mile loop trail encounters minimal elevation gain, and the parking lot is located near the peak. Though wildlife is not a common sight on the trail, fossil finds are not unusual here. It's an ideal choice for those with kids, novice hikers, or just those who wish to find exceptional beauty without a lot of effort. The trail leads to expansive views of Monterey Bay, Carmel Valley and Point Lobos.  

Other Popular Trails At Jacks Peak County Park

• Earl Moser Trail Loop - 1.8 miles, loop, rated moderate

• Iris Trail and Rhus Trail - 1.9 miles, loop, rated easy

• Lower Ridge, Rhus, and Coffeeberry Loop - 4 miles, loop, rated moderate

Pinnacles National Park

About an hour's drive inland from Carmel, Pinnacles National Park boasts a unique landscape resulting from the eruption of multiple volcanoes. Hikers can venture through caves and rock formations covering more than 26,000 acres of protected land. Scan the dramatic landscapes for sightings of falcons, eagles, and even the mighty California Condor! Raccoons, squirrels, and red-legged frogs can also be found throughout the park. This is California's newest and smallest National Park, having been "upgraded" from National Monument status. Trails are accessible 24 hours a day from the east side entrance.

Our Favorite Trail At Pinnacles National Park

There are 30 miles of trails at Pinnacles, and it's no easy feat to narrow down merely one favorite. Moses Spring Trail is the best bet for a universal crowd-pleaser and it's easy to make one simple hike branch into an inspiring experience with a "best of" aspect that highlights the most unique elements of this beloved National Park. Pick up the Moses Spring Trailhead near the park's Visitors Center. The Moses Spring to Rim Trail Loop is a whimsical 2.2-mile round-trip including small caves, rock formations, and a tunnel before reaching a staircase to the Bear Gulch Reservoir. This is part of the more ambitious Condor Gulch to High Peaks Loop, an iconic (but strenuous) 5+ mile round-trip hike.

Other Popular Trails At Pinnacles National Park

• The Juniper Canyon Loop - 4.3 miles, out-and-back, rated strenuous 

• Balconies Cave Trail - 9.4 miles, out-and-back, rated moderate

• Jawbone Trail - 1.2 miles, out-and-back, rated easy

Garland Ranch Regional Park

Located just 15 minutes from Carmel, Garland Ranch Regional Park is part of the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District. This 4,462-acre recreational area is home to a range of landscapes and wildlife, with a variety of insects, birds, and mammals to observe among the dense woodlands and stark canyons. Set against the Santa Lucia Mountains and the Carmel River, the park is a popular site for photography, mountain biking, hiking, geocaching, and bird watching. Garland Ranch Regional Park is open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Our Favorite Trail At Garland Ranch Regional Park

Snively's Ridge is a challenging 7-mile trek (14 miles round-trip) that leads to the highest spot in the park and panoramic views of the Monterey Peninsula. The journey is more than worthy, with plenty to admire along the way, including old homestead sites, benches, creeks, and canyons as well as spur intersections and steep uphill climbs.

Other Popular Trails At Garland Ranch Regional Park

• Waterfall Trail - 2.1 miles, loop, rated moderate

• Garzas Canyon Loop - 7 miles, loop, rated moderate

• Lupine Loop Trail - 1.5 miles, loop, rated easy

Garrapata State Park

Situated 10 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1, Garrapata State Park showcases the very best of the California Coast from the craggy spires lining the Pacific shoreline to the legendary redwood forests. A prime location for epic coastal hikes, the 2,939-acre park is home to 2 miles of beachfront, hosting views of sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, gray whales, and endless horizons. The unpopulated hiking trails are a treasure trove of discoveries to be made as you wander, making this a genuine gem of Big Sur. The park is open for day use from 8:00 AM to 1/2 hour after sunset.

Our Favorite Trail At Garrapata State Park

Soberanes Canyon Trail is a difficult, 5.4-mile loop along the back of the canyon featuring a waterfall and forests of majestic redwoods. This trail has been closed since July 2016, but a 1.25-mile length recently reopened to the public. Visitors can now access the trail exclusively from the main trailhead across from Gate 8 of the Garrapata coastal trail. 

Other Popular Trails At Garrapata State Park

• Soberanes Point and Whale Peak Trail - 1.8 miles, loop, rated easy

• Garrapata Bluff Trail - 0.6 miles, out-and-back, rated easy 

• Doud Peak - 5.9 miles, loop, rated strenuous

• Garrapata Beach/ Calla Lily Valley - 1.1 miles, loop, rated easy

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Just 2 miles south of Carmel, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is often referred to as "the crown jewel of the State Park system." The coastal reserve is home to impressive, rare plant life communities, rock formations, and an array of wildlife, like seals, sea lions, sea otters, seabirds, and migrating gray whales. A popular site for photography, painting, SCUBA diving, and picnics, Point Lobos offers an assortment of easy nature hikes that pay off in breathtaking views and a brilliant sampling of some of the region's most exceptional natural environments. The reserve opens daily at 8:00 AM. Closing time varies by season.

Our Favorite Trail At Point Lobos State Reserve

The best way to explore the vast wonders of the natural reserve is on the Point Lobos Loop, which combines the North Shore, Cypress Grove, Sea Lion Point, Sand Hill, South Shore, Bird Island, South Plateau, Carmelo Meadow, and Granite Point Trails on a spectacular 5-mile tour. The trail includes exquisite lookouts at notable points such as Cannery Point, Pebble Beach, Whalers Cove, and China Cove.

Other Popular Trails At Point Lobos State Reserve

• Cypress Grove Trail - 0.6 miles, out-and-back, rated moderate

• Sea Lion Point Trail - 0.3 miles, out-and-back, rated easy

• South Shore Trail - 1 mile, out-and-back, rated easy

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

Located 37 miles south of Carmel, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park boasts magnificent forests and the 80-foot McWay Falls Waterfall that cascades into the waters of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The park is a favorite observation point for catching migrating gray whales who pass near to the shore in the early winter and again in the spring. Sea otters, harbor seals, California sea lions, and assorted sea and shore birds are among the passing visitors you may also expect to encounter here. The State Park is also home to an advanced dive site, the Julia Pfeiffer Burns Underwater Area, nestled between Partington Point and McWay Creek. The park is open to day use visitors from 8:00 AM to sunset.

Our Favorite Trail At Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

It's practically impossible to visit the state park without taking the short stroll along the fully-accessible McWay Falls Trail. The round-trip is barely over a half-mile, and well worth it for the namesake centerpiece. Hikers can view the crest of the remarkable waterfall from McWay Cove as it flows into the Pacific Ocean. McWay Falls is easily one of the state’s most picturesque coastal scenes, and an essential photo spot.

Other Popular Trails At Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

• Partington Cove Trail - 1 mile, out-and-back, rated moderate

• Ewoldsen Trail - 5 mile, loop, rated strenuous

Andrew Molera State Park

About a half-hour south of Carmel on Highway 1, Andrew Molera State Park is the largest of the Big Sur parks, and an unspoken icon marking the backdrop of the Big Sur Valley. It's an ideal stop for a pristine experience in really undeveloped territory, where beachcombing, sunbathing, surfing, and hiking are complemented by panoramic views of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. A network of trails weave through lush meadows and forests, bluffs, beaches, and hilltops.

Our Favorite Trail At Andrew Molera State Park

The Ridge Trail - Panorama Trail - Bluff Trail Loop is an ambitious journey that promises everything you seek from a Big Sur experience, from a redwood grove and breathtaking views to unspoiled beaches and the Big Sur River. This loop combines the park's most popular trails for an 8-mile jaunt with 1,100 feet of elevation gain. From June through October, a seasonal footbridge is open, allowing access to the Creamery Meadows Trail for beautiful wildflower blooms and an alternate pathway to the beach. It's a good warm-up as you approach the Ridge Trail!

Other Popular Trails At Andrew Molera State Park

• Bobcat Trail -  2.6 mile, loop, rated easy

• East Molera Trail - 3.6 mile, out-and-back, rated moderate

A Few More Pathways To Wander

Inspiration Point at Palo Corona Regional Park is just as the name describes. This inland trail is just over a mile in length (round-trip), with sweeping views of the shoreline from 600 feet above. It's a steep climb, but the summit holds epic rewards, as well as benches to relax and take it all in.

From Carmel's Scenic Road, a walking path weaves along the bluff at the back of Carmel Beach. The Carmel Waterfront Scenic Walkway runs 3.5 miles from the northern end of the beach, around Carmel Point to Carmel River State Beach. Stairways provide road access along the trail, allowing for a full or segmented walk along the sun-soaked shores.

Mission Trail Park and Nature Preserve is a 34-acre park just east of the Carmel Mission with three miles of hiking trails and a marvelous collision of habitats to discover, including wetlands, coastal prairies, and forests. The trailhead is quietly tucked between some nearby homes just 3 blocks from the Carmel Retreats cottages, providing a perfect pathway for an easy, tranquil stroll from your front door, through the Trail Park, and over to the beautiful Carmel Mission to start your perfect Carmel day.

The 18-mile Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail spans from Castroville to Pacific Grove. The paved trail is open only to pedestrians and bikes, with access points breaking it up for smaller stints as well. The trail passes notable sights like Cannery Row, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Old Fisherman's Wharf, and Lover's Point Park in Pacific Grove.