Date Hiked: April 9, 2026
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
Only hiked the section from the dam to the first intersection with the river, and then back again.
Tread is present and easy to find, but there is a lot of brush, including poison oak, overhanging the trail. Also just a truly staggering number of ticks. By the time we finished, I would estimate I removed somewhere between two and three hundred ticks from myself and my dog.
Carmel River Trail
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ry_andresen
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2026 6:58 pm
Re: Carmel River Trail
Date Hiked: March 21, 2026
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
We hiked from the dam to Sulphur Springs camp on 3/20-3/22. The slide trail is confusing as you have to navigate up loose rocks around a fence with a "no trespassing" sign. We only knew to bypass the sign because of previous reports. The Carmel River Trail is in good shape for this time of year and was easy to follow. There is a lot of unavoidable brush growing into the trail, including poison oak at face level, but it was all easy to push out of the way. We got lots of small ticks on us and the dogs, even on permethrin-treated clothes. There were some mosquitoes at sunset but not bad. Most of the river crossings were thigh-deep, flowing well and required getting wet, but were not very challenging. I wore my shoes through them since there were so many back to back. Overall great springtime conditions--very green with lots of flowers right now, and the cool river and abundant shade felt great in the 90 degree heat.
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
We hiked from the dam to Sulphur Springs camp on 3/20-3/22. The slide trail is confusing as you have to navigate up loose rocks around a fence with a "no trespassing" sign. We only knew to bypass the sign because of previous reports. The Carmel River Trail is in good shape for this time of year and was easy to follow. There is a lot of unavoidable brush growing into the trail, including poison oak at face level, but it was all easy to push out of the way. We got lots of small ticks on us and the dogs, even on permethrin-treated clothes. There were some mosquitoes at sunset but not bad. Most of the river crossings were thigh-deep, flowing well and required getting wet, but were not very challenging. I wore my shoes through them since there were so many back to back. Overall great springtime conditions--very green with lots of flowers right now, and the cool river and abundant shade felt great in the 90 degree heat.
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Blanco Willy
Re: Carmel River Trail
Date Hiked: January 25, 2026
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Hiked this trail for the first time in probably 10 years, Los Padres Dam to Bluff Camp. First trip up and over the slide,a little steep but a great trail and safe. Thanks to those who built this trail, im sure a lot of hard work. I’d have to call the rest of the trail, Big Pines intersection to Bluff as passable, the tread mostly good but a lot of encroaching brush and deer weed hence lots of ticks. A beautiful hike, still as beautiful as my first trip in back in 1971
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Hiked this trail for the first time in probably 10 years, Los Padres Dam to Bluff Camp. First trip up and over the slide,a little steep but a great trail and safe. Thanks to those who built this trail, im sure a lot of hard work. I’d have to call the rest of the trail, Big Pines intersection to Bluff as passable, the tread mostly good but a lot of encroaching brush and deer weed hence lots of ticks. A beautiful hike, still as beautiful as my first trip in back in 1971
Re: Carmel River Trail
Date Hiked: December 29, 2025
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
Section: Church Creek Divide to Pine Valley
Tread is in great shape. There is some low brush before you get into the valley, but it isn't really an issue. No poison oak. Once you're in the valley, the trail is wide open. Before the junction with the Bear Basin trail, there is a large downed ponderosa which almost crosses the entire valley and you have to climb over it. I hiked into the upper valley and the trail gets faint, but the meadow is open and just aim for the back of the valley if you want to keep going down the Carmel River Trail.
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)
Section: Church Creek Divide to Pine Valley
Tread is in great shape. There is some low brush before you get into the valley, but it isn't really an issue. No poison oak. Once you're in the valley, the trail is wide open. Before the junction with the Bear Basin trail, there is a large downed ponderosa which almost crosses the entire valley and you have to climb over it. I hiked into the upper valley and the trail gets faint, but the meadow is open and just aim for the back of the valley if you want to keep going down the Carmel River Trail.
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Fred Watson
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2014 10:29 am
Re: Carmel River Trail
Date Hiked: December 21, 2025
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Ran/hiked from LP Dam parking area to just past Carmel River Camp, and back. Used the high detour past the landslide; very clear trail. Then pretty much clear to Bluff Camp; some shoulder high brush leaning into trail. Slightly less clear in sections from Bluff Camp to Carmel River Camp; some sections with minor blackberries and poison-oak stems at calf-height; some downed trees easily passed; a couple of moments where we had to think a bit to figure out which way the trail went (e.g. switchbacks up hill leaving south from Bluff Camp). 6 river crossings easily forded with wet shoes.
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Ran/hiked from LP Dam parking area to just past Carmel River Camp, and back. Used the high detour past the landslide; very clear trail. Then pretty much clear to Bluff Camp; some shoulder high brush leaning into trail. Slightly less clear in sections from Bluff Camp to Carmel River Camp; some sections with minor blackberries and poison-oak stems at calf-height; some downed trees easily passed; a couple of moments where we had to think a bit to figure out which way the trail went (e.g. switchbacks up hill leaving south from Bluff Camp). 6 river crossings easily forded with wet shoes.
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maddeningcrowds
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2024 9:43 am
Re: Carmel River Trail
Date Hiked: November 28, 2025
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
We hiked to Carmel River Camp from the Los Padres Dam. Apart from some minor brush encroachment trail is practically clear to Bluff Camp. From Bluff Camp to Carmel River Camp the tread quality begins to decline, there are some short sections where brush has been cut back (thank you VWA volunteers) and some spots where chamise is beginning to encroach. There's some small deadfall in this section that is easily stepped over. Passable
I slackpacked from Carmel River Camp to about a 1/2 mile from Buckskin flat camp. I would rate this section as passable as well, the tread quality is actually better than the short section from Bluff Camp to Carmel River Camp. There is a small rockslide (easily traversed) after Sulphur Springs Camp and a couple larger deadfalls, one of which I had to climb over and couldn't step over (I forget to take a coordinate, sorry). Around where I turned around it was clear that the tread quality was beginning to decline, the tread was beginning to outslope more than anywhere else prior. All watercourse crossings were below knee height for me this time of year (5'11'').
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
We hiked to Carmel River Camp from the Los Padres Dam. Apart from some minor brush encroachment trail is practically clear to Bluff Camp. From Bluff Camp to Carmel River Camp the tread quality begins to decline, there are some short sections where brush has been cut back (thank you VWA volunteers) and some spots where chamise is beginning to encroach. There's some small deadfall in this section that is easily stepped over. Passable
I slackpacked from Carmel River Camp to about a 1/2 mile from Buckskin flat camp. I would rate this section as passable as well, the tread quality is actually better than the short section from Bluff Camp to Carmel River Camp. There is a small rockslide (easily traversed) after Sulphur Springs Camp and a couple larger deadfalls, one of which I had to climb over and couldn't step over (I forget to take a coordinate, sorry). Around where I turned around it was clear that the tread quality was beginning to decline, the tread was beginning to outslope more than anywhere else prior. All watercourse crossings were below knee height for me this time of year (5'11'').
Re: Carmel River Trail
Date Hiked: November 12, 2025
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Hiking in late Fall and early Winter makes this trail much easier. With the poison oak reduced to sticks, and other plants dormant, the trail and flagging are easy to see and quick stream crossings thanks to the low flow. For my hike from the Los Padres dam, I'd rate the trail Passable all the way to the first stream crossing beyond Buckskin Flat.. after which the trail stays in the creek's floodplain and is difficult.
There are sections between Los Padres dam and Buckskin that are brushy, with failing tread, specifically Carmel River camp north to the Wilderness sign. Immediately north of the wilderness sign however, its obvious a crew was there and did some great work.
The current trail coloring on bigsurtrailmaps.net for this trail is good as-is.
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
Hiking in late Fall and early Winter makes this trail much easier. With the poison oak reduced to sticks, and other plants dormant, the trail and flagging are easy to see and quick stream crossings thanks to the low flow. For my hike from the Los Padres dam, I'd rate the trail Passable all the way to the first stream crossing beyond Buckskin Flat.. after which the trail stays in the creek's floodplain and is difficult.
There are sections between Los Padres dam and Buckskin that are brushy, with failing tread, specifically Carmel River camp north to the Wilderness sign. Immediately north of the wilderness sign however, its obvious a crew was there and did some great work.
The current trail coloring on bigsurtrailmaps.net for this trail is good as-is.
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smith_cc
Re: Carmel River Trail
Date Hiked: October 24, 2025
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
Hiked from Pine Valley to first crossing of the Carmel River. No water at the river crossing and overgrowth became a nuisance at that point so turned around.
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
Hiked from Pine Valley to first crossing of the Carmel River. No water at the river crossing and overgrowth became a nuisance at that point so turned around.
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EDB56
Re: Carmel River Trail
Date Hiked: August 27, 2025
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
I hiked pass the locked gate (which honestly makes the Carmel River Trail appear to be closed due to geological instability). The reroute was well built considering the area. It appears than many people are walking the waterline or traversing the slide. Which is why the area is closed I think.
I believe most people are turning around at the gate, due to very little signs of use. Once you drop down onto the Carmel River it’s impossible not to come into contact with poison oak.
If the gate remains up I’m afraid it won’t take long for even the route to the river camp to become impassable. It’s sad, this route up to Pine Valley used to be one of my favorites. Over the last 30 years I’ve really watched things degrade out there as access gets blocked off. Back in the early 2000’s I remember access being blocked to the coast ridge due to the condors, and it was my suspicion at the time that over time the whole area was going to get gated or blocked off.
I really don’t blame them, with the advent of the internet many of these places have become overrun. It’s sad though.
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)
I hiked pass the locked gate (which honestly makes the Carmel River Trail appear to be closed due to geological instability). The reroute was well built considering the area. It appears than many people are walking the waterline or traversing the slide. Which is why the area is closed I think.
I believe most people are turning around at the gate, due to very little signs of use. Once you drop down onto the Carmel River it’s impossible not to come into contact with poison oak.
If the gate remains up I’m afraid it won’t take long for even the route to the river camp to become impassable. It’s sad, this route up to Pine Valley used to be one of my favorites. Over the last 30 years I’ve really watched things degrade out there as access gets blocked off. Back in the early 2000’s I remember access being blocked to the coast ridge due to the condors, and it was my suspicion at the time that over time the whole area was going to get gated or blocked off.
I really don’t blame them, with the advent of the internet many of these places have become overrun. It’s sad though.
Re: Carmel River Trail
Date Hiked: May 31, 2025
General Condition: Impassable (completely overgrown or tread obliterated)
From the Pine Ridge Trail to Pine Valley camp: Wilderness Freeway
From Pine Valley camp to Hiding Canyon camp: Impassable. The further down you get, the more overgrown the trail becomes. Lots of poison oak, up to face level. I finally gave up and turned around.
General Condition: Impassable (completely overgrown or tread obliterated)
From the Pine Ridge Trail to Pine Valley camp: Wilderness Freeway
From Pine Valley camp to Hiding Canyon camp: Impassable. The further down you get, the more overgrown the trail becomes. Lots of poison oak, up to face level. I finally gave up and turned around.
