Garrapata State Park Trails
SOBERANES CANYON/ROCKY RIDGE LOOP
Although best-known for its two miles of coastal access along Highway 1, Garrapata State Park also boasts two beautiful trails leading inland east of the highway: the Soberanes Canyon Trail and the Rocky Ridge Trail. Taken together, these trails form a roughly 7-mile loop with approximately 1850 feet of elevation gain, encompassing the redwood-shaded canyon of Soberanes Creek and sweeping coastal views from Rocky Ridge.
The trailhead for both the Soberanes Canyon and Rocky Ridge trails is at turnout 13 on Highway 1, 7.1 miles south of the Intersection of Highway 1 and Carmel Valley Road.
For more information on these trails, take a look at the VWA's
Visitor Information Page
for a link to California State Parks' Garrapata page. You should also check out
Hiking the Big Sur Country: the Ventana Wilderness
by Jeffrey P. Schaffer, which provides a trail map of the park and a full description of both the Rocky Ridge and Soberanes Creek trails, although admittedly written before the trails were joined to create a loop.
Trail Condition Reports
Submitted 4/09/2001 by Sarah Timmons
I hiked the Rocky Ridge - Soberanes loop this past weekend. The trail
from the trail head up to Rocky Ridge and around the peak to the
vernal pool was in good condition. From the vernal pool down to the
canyon, some of the wooden steps are loose due to erosion.
The relatively new side loop trail through the redwoods is beautiful,
but you have to keep a look out for poision oak encroaching on the
sides of the trail.
Given all the rain in the past few months, the area is beautifully
green with many colorful wildflowers. Now is a perfect time to go!
Submitted 8/01/2001 by David Jacobs
I hiked the Rocky Ridge - Soberanes loop 3 weekends ago. State Parks, or
some auxiliary group, has "improved" the trail. For my money they've done too
much. From the trail head up to Rocky Ridge and around the peak to the vernal
pool is unchanged. However from the vernal pool down to the canyon the steepest
areas now have wood stairs built in. I rather liked the steep and slippery
stretches.
From the intersection of the steep downhill with the dead end trail heading back
to the highway has changed dramatically. First of all, the storms of 98 (El
Nino) dramatically altered the stream bed, especially the last 1/4 mile before
Hwy 1. Of particular interest to me was the downed 1st growth redwood that had
about 7 new redwoods growing out of it. Pre El Nino one could walk underneath
this tree in the stream bed. I'm guessing there was 5 feet of vertical
clearance for about 20 feet laterally. Now it looks like the 7 young redwoods are growing out of the ground. Only upon close inspection can you see the downed giant. Over the next few years I
suspect the silt will wash out, re-exposing the downed giant.
In addition to the silt issues, those crazy State Park trailophiles have
installed little wooden footbridges over any little gully that might have water
in it. The next step will be to make the entire route wheel chair accessible.
This bodes well for me as old age nips at my heels.
If you've walked this trail recently and would like to submit a Trail Condition Report, write it up on our Trail Report submission form.
|
|
