Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Trip 44
BLUFF & CARMEL RIVER CAMPS
LENGTH AND TYPE: 9.8-mile out-and-back
RATING: Easy to moderate
TRAIL CONDITION: Clear, poison oak, good for kids
HIGHLIGHTS: Experience wilderness solitude amid brilliant autumn colors, the gurgling Carmel River,
and crystal clear wading pools.
TO REACH THE TRAILHEAD:
This hike begins at the Los Padres Dam Trailhead.
TRIP SUMMARY:
This route meanders through Carmel River canyon, lush with ferns
and shaded by colorful deciduous trees. Those on day hikes or short weekend trips visit
the riverside Bluff Camp, only 4.1 miles from the trailhead and big enough to hold a
large group. Just 0.8 mile farther along the trail, the smaller Carmel River Camp lies at
the confluence of Miller Creek and the Carmel River.
While summer temperatures and accompanying low water levels are best for hik-
ing and swimming, flies are a constant annoyance, often swarming your eyes and ears.
The wet season (November through April) brings an onslaught of ticks, which exploit
the overgrown trail to hitchhike on unsuspecting hikers. Wet months also mean high
water, which may end your hike at Bluff Camp, where a waist- to chest-high wade
could be dangerous. Heavy storms can also rapidly swell the Carmel River and its trib-
utaries, making the fords impassable.
