Date Hiked: September 21, 2024
General Condition: Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and/or well maintained)
(Rating is for trail up to its current end point)

I went out to assess what remains of the former Headlands Trail, which prior to the Big Sur River Flood of 2017 went all the way out to the headlands (hence its name!).

The former "Headlands Trail" started at Andew Molera parking lot, but currently State Parks has it starting at Route 1, where a gated service road leads towards the campground, accessed by a side trail at Cooper Cabin. From there, the current trail follows the former trail to an "End of Trail" post at its first encounter with the river, marked by the end of the green trail on Big Sur Trailmap.

Beyond one can see a trampled path, which I explored hoping some "use trail" might lead to the headlands. Threading through downed branches and copious poison oak, I found many flooded sections where the Big Sur River has eaten into the former bank - thankfully shallower than my above-ankle boot top but wet feet did result. Finally after 0.1 mile I encountered a steep embankment about 15 feet high - my attempt to climb found only handholds which pulled away, so I abandoned the attempt and turned back.

The former Headlands Trail is a black 'historic' line on Big Sur Trailmap. My path beyond the post went north of that, reaching 90 feet north at the embankment. That path was very close to the river at points, so the Big Sur RIver has definitely engulfed what had been the old trail.

At this point I cannot imagine State Parks working to create a new trail, so the former trail is now "historic" ("lost"). From Google Earth, it appears some are accessing the headlands, with its wonderful view, by following the fenceline marking the north boundary of the state park, and so starting from an elevation well above the river, eventually making a short lateral move to get to the former trail.

This trail is in Andrew Molera State Park.