Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Trip 10
TRAIL CAMP & HEADLANDS TRAILS
LENGTH AND TYPE: 2-mile out-and-back
RATING: Easy
TRAIL CONDITION: Well maintained, poison oak, good for kids
HIGHLIGHTS: An array of migratory and resident birds, seals, whales, and otters make their home amid
the marsh, estuary, and ocean along Molera Beach.
TO REACH THE TRAILHEAD:
At the park's entrance kiosk, turn right. The trailhead is
at the north end of the parking lot.
TRIP SUMMARY:
Among the region's easiest coastal bluff hikes, this hike offers gor-
geous overlooks of the Big Sur River, distant peaks, sheer cliffs, and a driftwood-
blanketed beach.
Tracing the final mile of the river's 15-mile journey to the Pacific, the trails lead
through a walk-in campground nestled in an expansive meadow, past views of the
Santa Lucia Range to the east, to emerge at the river mouth. Watch for migrating gray
and humpback whales, foraging seals and sea otters amid the kelp, and hundreds of
soaring, diving, and foraging seabirds aloft on coastal air currents.
Trip Description
Trail Camp Trail
starts on the north end of the parking lot, then turns west along the
north bank of the
Big Sur River,
skirting a lush riparian habitat. After 0.2 mile the
trail broadens into a road and enters the spacious
walk-in campground.
You'll find 12
primitive sites scattered throughout the meadow. Campers are rewarded with a night's
sleep under giant sycamores and a short walk to one of Big Sur's most scenic beaches.
Bring a tent, especially in summer, when fog blankets the meadow with condensation.
Facilities include toilets, potable water, tables, and a fire ring. Purchase firewood
at the entrance kiosk or at the Big Sur Village store, less than 5 miles south on Highway
1. California State Parks reduced the number of sites from 50 to 12, conforming to state
health codes and protecting park resources.
A hundred feet beyond the campground, the trail forks. A short spur on the right
leads to historic
Cooper Cabin,
then continues east 0.2 mile to a Highway 1 turnout
(a free place to park and still access the park). Continue along the riverbank 0.2 mile
through a dense forest of twisted alders and willows. Less than 0.1 mile farther the path
narrows and reaches the
Headlands Trail junction
(0.9 mile, 20').
