Andrew Molera State Park Trails
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Pico Blanco from the Redwood Saddle at top of the East Molera Trail.
Photo ©1995 by Phil Williamson |
At about 7½ square miles, Andrew Molera State Park is the largest State Park on the Big Sur Coast, and with approximately 20 miles of trails offers more hiking possibilities than any other coastal park. It is also the only local State Park to offer walk-in tent camping, at the Creamery Meadow campground about ¼ mile from the parking area. The beach at the mouth of the Big Sur River is perhaps the finest on the Big Sur Coast, and Molera Point offers an ideal spot for whale-watching. Horse hire and guided equestrian tours are also available.
The trails of Andrew Molera pass through a varied range of environments: lush riparian corridor along the Big Sur, beach and coastal rocks, shady redwood canyons and high grassy ridgetops with sweeping coastal views.
For more information on Andrew Molera State Park, take a look at the VWA's
Visitor Information Page for a link to California State Parks' Andrew Molera 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 all the hiking trails in the park.
EAST MOLERA TRAIL
Description
The trailhead of the East Molera Trail can be reached either from Highway 1 or from the Andrew Molera State Park parking area. From the Highway, you'll find the trailhead about 0.3 mile south of the park's entrance road. There is no roadside parking at the trailhead, but there are turnouts about 0.1 mile north and south of it. You'll find the trailhead a few yards northwest of a conspicuous gate across a dirt road. From here, the route up to the redwood saddle at the top of the trail (elev. 1549) is about 1.6 miles.
From the State Park parking area, backtrack about 0.1 mile up the entrance road, and take the service road which branches off to your right ( southeast). Follow the service road a few yards, pass the barn, and you'll find the signed trailhead. From here the trail curves southeast, parallels the highway, then passes under it through a culvert. You'll find yourself on a dirt road, which you follow briefly until you see the trail which crosses the road as it comes up from the highway. turn left (uphill) and you're on your way. The total route length from the parking area to the redwood saddle is about 1.9 miles.
The East Molera Trail climbs gradually, parallelling a redwood canyon, for about 0.6 mile. It then turns north ad begins a shadeless and steep (20% average grade, in places as steep as 30%) climb of almost a thousand feet over about 1 mile. The tread is rubbly, so be very careful to avoid slipping, especially on the descent. At the top you come out onto a grassy ridgetop running NW - SE. Before you you'll see a stand of redwoods, standing improbably on the crest of the ridge. This is a great place for a picnic, especially in hot weather when the shade of the trees provides cool relief after your gruelling climb. The redwood saddle and the ridgetop provide stunning views up and down the coast to the west and south, and to the east and north of the canyon of the South Fork of the Little sur River, with the marble mass of Pico Blanco rising majestically beyond.
Condition Reports
See the VWA East Molera Trail condition report page for the most current trail information available.
If you've walked this trail recently and would like to submit a Trail condition Report, please use our online trail condition report form.
BLUFFS/PANORAMA/RIDGE TRAIL LOOP
Description
Condition Reports
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.
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