Garrapata State Park (SP) / Malpaso Creek / Little Malpaso Beach
United States / Big Sur, California
Location ID: #1571
The undeveloped park has no entrance signs or parking areas. Offers coastal vegetation with trails that run from ocean beaches, through strands of cactus into dense redwood groves. Sandy and rocky beaches, bluff/cliff.
Garrapata State Park, 6.7 miles south of Rio Road in Carmel in MONTEREY COUNTY, features the Soberanes canyon/ridge trail that winds through meadows, a riparian zone, a lovely redwood grove and an exposed coastal ridge. Visitors may feel on certain sections of this trail that they’re swimming through flowers, which can include Shooting Stars, Johnny Jump Ups, Blue Dicks, Golden Buttercup, Elegant Clarkia, Goldfields, Douglas Iris, Checkerbloom, Star Zygadine, Fushia-flowered Gooseberry, Trillium, Tidy Tips, Footsteps of Spring and a fantastic variety of Bush Lupine. Visitors can also encounter the more common Monkey Flower, Seaside Painted Cups, Coyote Brush, Lizard Tail Yarrow, Mock Heather and Poppies. Visitors are advised that this is not a particularly easy hike. The first couple of miles are relatively flat and easy but the ridge can only be reached by a steep climb. For more information, the park phone number is (831) 624-4909.
Location Category:
- AGRICULTURAL - *;
- AGRICULTURAL - Barns;
- CITIES, TOWNS & PUBLIC SPACES - *;
- CITIES, TOWNS & PUBLIC SPACES - Cityscapes / Aerial Views;
- CITIES, TOWNS & PUBLIC SPACES - Coastal Towns;
- NATURAL LANDSCAPES / PARKS - *;
- NATURAL LANDSCAPES / PARKS - Open Terrain / Scenic Vistas;
- NATURAL LANDSCAPES / PARKS - State Conservancy Lands;
- NATURAL LANDSCAPES / PARKS - State Parks;
- WATER & COASTAL AREAS - *;
- WATER & COASTAL AREAS - Beaches / Coastline;
- WATER & COASTAL AREAS - Coastal Dunes