During my October week off, I was taking day trips to the best hiking spots I knew of in the Bay Area and beyond. Luckily for me, the incredible Big Sur is an easy day trip, and I had to head back down! The place I decided to go was Andrew Molera State Park.
I’ve been here multiple times before, and the short Creamery Meadows Trail is one of my favorite easy hikes in Big Sur, but I had never done the longer loop through the park. This longer, 8 mile, loop promised huge views, and I was excited to check it out!
Miles/Elevation:
8 miles
1,440 feet vertical gain
About Andrew Molera State Park:
Named for the former owner of the land it is situated on, Andrew Molera State Park first became public property in 1965. The park straddles Highway 1 on the Big Sur coast, and features hiking trails, beaches, forests, meadows, and the Big Sur River.
The park has 20 miles of hiking trails, and a 24 site walk-in campground. The campground is first come first serve, so make sure you get there early enough to find a site! The park has a $10 daily parking fee, but the pass you get is good for all other California State Parks on that day!
Getting To Andrew Molera State Park:
Andrew Molera 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 20 miles south of Carmel and Monterey, about a 30 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!
Creamery Meadows, Bluffs, Panorama, and Ridge Trail Loop:
Creamery Meadows Trail:
From the parking lot, head down the gravel road for a couple hundred yards, and then turn right. You’ll immediately be faced with the Big Sur River. In the summer, there is usually a footbridge across that will keep you dry, but if you aren’t visiting in summer, you’ll have a little ford to do!
Once across the river, you have about ¾’s of a mile of easy flat walking on the Creamery Meadows Trail. There isn’t all that much for scenery here; most of the trail just walks through coastal forest. But, it makes for quick walking, and before you know it, you’ll be at the turnoff for the ridge trail!
Ridge Trail:
Take a left onto the ridge trail and head up the first little hill. At this point, you have a decision to make. I think the best way to hike this trail is to continue straight here and do it clockwise, but you could also turn right, which would take you towards the coast first. Going straight means you get big ocean views on your descent, so I recommend continuing straight for the clockwise loop!
For more info on hiking in Big Sur, check out our list of the best Big Sur hikes!
Continuing straight on the Ridge Trail, you continue climbing, and will continue climbing until the summit of the trail in about 2.5 miles. The trail here is on wide dirt roads. It’s not the nicest trail, but it’s at least smooth!
The trail kind of roller coasters its way up. There are steep sections of intense climbing followed by flat, and even slight downhill, segments of trail. It can be hot here as there is no shade whatsoever, so take it slow if you need!
The best part of the ridge trail are the incredible views you have all around you! Looking inland, you have unobstructed views of the peaks and ridges of Big Sur. To your right is the mass of the Pacific, and on a clear day, you can see the Point Sur Lighthouse far to the north! I had a couple of glimpses of the lighthouse due to the fog, but it almost made it cooler, seeing it break the fog only to be overtaken once again!
Travelling to Big Sur? Check our complete Big Sur road trip itinerary!
Eventually, the ridge trail enters a forest on the inland side of the ridge. Here, you will not be able to see the ocean, but you will still have great views of the mountains, and some shade!
The trail continues climbing through the woods, and I was shocked to see a handful of mature Redwood trees! Usually, Redwoods grow to massive sizes in valleys along streams, sheltered from the wind and weather, but here, on top of this exposed ridge, I was walking through an actual Redwood forest! A great addition to an already awesome hike!
Once you start seeing Redwoods, it means you are approaching the summit of the ridge. Continue hiking through the woods, and eventually you’ll emerge out of the trees at the highpoint, with 360 degree views all around!
I probably don’t have to say the views are great at the top, but they are! The Pacific, the mountains, Highway 1 in the distance, it’s fantastic! Definitely take it all in up here, but the views aren’t over!
Views from the top
Panorama Trail:
Whenever you’re ready to continue, get yourself ready and head downhill towards the ocean. The descent is along the Panorama Trail, probably named for the epic panoramas you get of the ocean!
The reason I recommend hiking this trail in the direction that I do is because of the views on the descent of the Panorama Trail. The steep descent means that you’ll be staring at the ocean the entire time!
For an easier hike at Molera, just do the Creamery Meadows Trail!
The views are epic, but the trail isn’t so great. Much of the Panorama Trail is steep and washed out. Not only is it steep and washed out, but it is also covered in dust and loose dirt, meaning it’s very easy to slip. You aren’t on a cliff edge or anything so a slip isn’t going to kill you (most likely), but falling is never fun!
The Panorama Trail descends basically all the way to the ocean, so keep going! Once you’re only a couple hundred feet above the waves, you’ll come to a ravine. You should see the trail on the other side as it climbs out of the ravine, but little did I know that there is a beach here!
Stop at Point Lobos on your trip through Big Sur as well!
Drop into the ravine, and then follow the signs for the beach. The last little stretch towards the sand takes you through a pile of old driftwood, so be sure not to turn an ankle.
The beach itself is awesome because it’s so quiet. Even if you take the most direct route to get here, it’s still a 2.5 mile hike each way. That distance means you won’t have many families or surfers, and you might even have it to yourself. If you’re looking for an easy hike to a beach, the Creamery Meadows Trail reaches the beach in an easy mile.
Bluffs Trail:
From the beach, head back into the ravine and climb up the other side. From here, you will be heading back towards the Creamery Meadows Trail on the Bluffs Trail.
Aptly named, the Bluffs Trail follows the top of the seaside bluffs. You’ll be close to the ocean here, and will actually be able to look down at the beach for quite a bit of the trail.
On a nice clear day, this part of the hike would be a great, easy, relaxing, walk along the ocean. However, the day I visited the fog rolled in as I got onto the Bluffs Trail, and I really wasn’t able to see much beyond the hills immediately around me, and the waves below me.
Always be sure to follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles when in the outdoors!
The Bluffs Trail follows the coastline for a mile and a half until it reaches the intersection you came through before. To head back towards the trailhead, turn left onto the Ridge Trail. The Creamery Meadows Trail is a few hundred feet down the hill. If you want to redo the circuit that you just completed, turn right back up the hill!
Creamery Meadows Trail:
Always follow basic trail etiquette when on trail!
Once back on the Creamery Meadows Trail, you have less than a mile back to the parking lot. It’s totally flat, and you’ll cover it in no time. Traffic really picks back up again here, so get ready for people after likely having the trail mostly to yourself for the last couple hours!
Hopefully the bridge is up and you don’t have to get your feet wet (or maybe you want to get your feet wet)! Make your way back to the parking lot, and you’ll have finished one of the best trails Big Sur has to offer!
Topdown Lifestyle Rating: 9/10
This is an excellent trail that has consistently excellent ocean and mountain views! I actually think this is my new favorite hike in Big Sur! I considered giving this trail a 10, and I was legitimately pretty close to doing so, but there’s a couple of nitpicky things that prevent me from going to a 10.
The views are excellent, and there are very few places that exceed the views on this trail, but I do think there are some, so for me the views are a 9, not a 10. I also don’t think the trail itself warrants a 10. It’s washed out in spots, is wide dirt road in others, and has no especially exciting sections. Again, excellent hike, but it’s a 9 for me!
Pros:
- Awesome views throughout
- Beach access
Cons:
- Can be foggy
- Trail is washed out in spots
Alternative Hikes:
The Boranda Trail to Timber Top
Garrapata State Park: Soberanes Point and Whale Peak
When To Visit Andrew Molera State Park:
Andrew Molera 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!
Honestly, I’ve been to this area every time of year, and Andrew Molera is always awesome. If you have the chance to go, you definitely should no matter what time of year!
Links For Further Reading:
Best trails in Andrew Molera State Park, California
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