On a drive down Highway 1 in Big Sur on the California Coast, one of the easy to miss, yet really awesome, state parks that litter the coast is Garrapata State Park. While you may see a sign signaling you have entered the park, there are no major parking areas or really any signage at all, but don’t let that dissuade you!
A fantastic, but short and easy, trail through Garrapata State Park is the hike to Soberanes Point and Whale Peak. This short hike is only a couple of miles long, but in it you will get clifftop vistas of the Pacific, hilltop views up and down the coast, and the opportunity to see wildflowers, wildlife, and so many great views!
This easy to miss spot is a must see on a drive through Big Sur!
Miles/Elevation:
1.8 miles
300 feet vertical gain
About Garrapata State Park:
The northernmost park in Big Sur proper, Garrapata State Park is one of the lesser known parks in the area (this probably has something to do with the fact that there is only one sign with the park name on it!). Garrapata State Park is one of the least visited parks in Big Sur, and thanks to that fact, the trails are generally less populated than other parks in the area!
The park is a good place for wildlife viewing. You might spot otters, seals, sea lions, or, if you’re there at the right time of year, grey whales!
The park, which consists of former ranch land, is one of the foggiest places in Big Sur, so if it’s foggy during your visit (like it was for my last visit), keep travelling and it will hopefully clear up!
There are no parking fees at Garrapata State Park.
Stop at Point Lobos on your trip through Big Sur as well!
Getting To Garrapata State Park:
Garrapata State Park is located on Highway 1 in Big Sur on the Central Coast of California. There is not a robust public transit option in Big Sur, so you will most likely need to drive yourself.
The park is about 10 miles south of Carmel and Monterey, about a 15 minute drive. From San Francisco, the park is about a 2 and a half hour drive. While it is doable as a day trip from the Bay Area, it does require quite a bit of driving each way!
Soberanes Point and Whale Peak:
Finding It:
The first thing you need to do to start this hike is find the park and the parking area. The best way to find the park is to use Google Maps before you lose service and enter Soberanes Point Trails Trailhead. It will be on the ocean side of the road, and if you are coming from the north, it will be right before the road heads uphill and cuts between two hills.
Whale Peak:
If you’re interested in this hike, you should check out Andrew Molera State Park as well!
When you do this hike, you have a choice: do you climb the peak first, or do you hike to the point first. We decided to get the climbing out of the way first and head to the summit of Whale Peak first (climbing at the end of a hike is the worst!).
While the word peak is in the name, Whale Peak is really more of a moderately sized hill. The climb is only a couple hundred feet, but it’s pretty steep, so you’ll probably be breathing hard by the top!
The trail is smooth and a straightforward if leg burning walk, but the views are worth it! From the summit of Whale Peak (not a real peak) you can look north and south along the rugged coastline of Big Sur. This would also be a great place to look for whales as the vantage looking out to sea is spectacular! Visit in April for some fantastic wildflower blooms!
Big Sur is a great road trip destination, but be sure to save as much money as you can!
Soberanes Point:
The way we did the hike was to climb Whale Peak first and then do Soberanes Point second, but you could do this part of the hike first, or skip Whale Peak all together. Create your own adventure!
From the summit of Whale Peak, descend down back towards the road. There is a way to make this hike a loop that goes basically all the way around Whale Peak, but we just hiked back down the way we ascended.
If you’re taking a road trip make sure you have our road trip playlist to accompany you!
Back at the bottom, it’s pretty simple: start walking towards the ocean! It’s pretty easy to see the point (it’s the piece of land that sticks into the ocean!), so start walking on the trail that goes in that direction (west for the compass users here).
Once you are approaching the point, it can be a little unclear of how to actually get out to the point. There is a narrow use trail that heads towards the point, but we actually walked past this the first time we saw it because it didn’t seem like a legitimate trail, but it’s actually the way to get out to the point. The trail to the point is more towards the northern side of the peninsula than the southern.
Always follow basic trail etiquette when on trail!
Once you start on the narrow trail out to the point, you have a few different places you can go. There are a couple of side trails that lead to coastal cliffs, and they are yours to explore! There are fantastic views looking up and down the coast, as well as out to sea and back inland! Be on the lookout for wildlife, and wildflowers as well!
Once you’ve had your fill of sightseeing, head back to your car at the parking area. There is a little bit of climbing to get back to the road, but the trail is pretty gentle all considered.
Topdown Lifestyle Rating: 8/10
For a hike that is under two miles, this trail is loaded with great ocean views! There aren’t a lot of place where you can climb up to huge panoramas, and get up close and personal with the spray atop ocean cliffs. I probably wouldn’t go out of my way just to do this trail, but if you’re driving through Big Sur, there’s no reason to skip this trail!
Always be sure to follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles when in the outdoors!
What Next?
From your car, the rest of Big Sur is yours to explore! Consider heading south to Andrew Molera State Park, the next park going south. Or if you’re going north, Point Lobos is a must see spot in Big Sur!
The hike to Whale Peak and Soberanes Point in Garrapata State Park is one of the highlights of a drive through Big Sur. This trail is short and relatively easy, but it provides big views, opportunities for wildlife viewing, all easily accessible from Highway 1! Check it out on your drive through Big Sur!
Pros:
- Big views
- Nice, well graded, trail
- No fees
- Easy and quick
Cons:
- Long drive from major cities and airports
- Hard to find
Alternative Hikes:
South Shore and Cypress Grove, Point Lobos
Creamery Meadows Andrew Molera State Park
When To Visit Garrapata State Park:
Planning a road trip through Big Sur? We’ve got all the planning tips you need!
Garrapata is definitely a 4 season destination. Spring is a fantastic time to visit, and the weather should be pleasant and mostly dry. Spring is also the best time to see wildflowers in all their glory!
Summer brings the warmest temperature of the year (still comfortable), and morning fog that usually burns off by afternoon. Fall is generally the clearest weather, and winter brings the most precipitation, though it’s still a nice place to visit! This is an especially foggy part of Big Sur, so keep that in mind as well!
Honestly, I’ve been to this area every time of year, and Big Sur (including Garrapata) is always awesome. If you have the chance to go, you definitely should no matter what time of year!
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