Guides
360 degree view of Monterey Bay, San Benito Valley, Salinas Valley, and the Santa Lucia Mountains east of Big Sur.
The trail starts off by going up the service road a few feet, and cuts off to the right. The trail is very nicely up-kept, and is wide enough for two people. The loop is fairly short and only takes about thirty minutes to complete. The trail gets fairly steep at the end and can prove challenging for some people. For the less eager there is a great...
Sea lions, shore birds and more share this gorgeous chunk of Pacific Coast south of Carmel, California
You can cram all the charms of California's amazing coastline into one stop at Point Lobos State Reserve, about 100 miles south of San Francisco. It's all there at Point Lobos: crashing waves, barking sea lions, chattering shorebirds, sun-bathing sea otters, remarkable rock formations. Granted, you get a few nibbles of this anywhere along California...
4.7 mile trail in Garrapata State Park, California
The most spectacular part of the hike is through the Soberanes Canyon where the trail is flanked on both sides by impressive redwoods. Once you leave the redwoods and get above treeline, it isn't the immediate scenery that captivates, but rather the panoramic views. These views are typically obscured facing west due to the blanket of fog and mist that...
Found on the Fort Ord Army Base, these public lands are a must if you are in the Monterey area. Little known to the local public due to its location on the now closed Fort Ord, these trails are true treat. Walk, bike or ride a horse through the grove after grove of oaks. Shown here is but one of the many trail routes that you can take and with the...
5.9 mile trail near Carmel Valley Village, California
Garland Ranch to Sniveley's Ridge is about 5.9 miles long and located near Carmel Valley Village, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes a half day
4.0 mile trail near Carmel Valley, California
This is a fun moderate hike to Redwood Canyon. Starts through a beautiful oak grove. A lot of wildflowers in bloom in the spring, and a small patch of Redwood trees and ferns with that incredible smell you only get in redwood groves.
Trips
Toro County Park: Ollason Peak Loop
Serra Village, California, United States
Hiking | 7.4 miles (5.9 miles away)
Hiking | 7.4 miles (5.9 miles away)
Toro County Park (near Salinas) seems like an interesting place. It feels to me much like a less-popular Alum Rock; there are playgrounds and "fitness trails" near the parking areas, which are all clustered near the park entrance, but beyond that there are about twenty miles of apparently rarely-used hiking trails that head uphill quickly.Heading into last Saturday, I knew I was going to have a chance to hike but had no...
Garland Ranch to Sniveley's Ridge
Carmel Valley Village, California, United States
Hiking | 5.9 miles (13.1 miles away)
Hiking | 5.9 miles (13.1 miles away)
A short hike up Sniveley's Ridge in Garland Regional Park.
Up to the top of the hill with the Watchtower on it.
DescriptionThis is one of my favorite short day hikes in Fort Ord the bench on the Bluff is a great place to sit.This the first Hike that I am tagging as Dukes Trails...This is also a great Mountain Bike Trail...
Luckily I trained for this hike, but I should have trained more. The distance combined with the elevation gain made it quite exhausting in the last 1/3.No need to do 30 miles here, as there are great trails of any distance with great views. All have some measure of incline though. No flat trails.
Garland Ranch - Redwood Canyon Trail
Carmel Valley, California, United States
Hiking | 4.0 miles (14.2 miles away)
Hiking | 4.0 miles (14.2 miles away)
Garzas Canyon / Terrace / East Ridge / Redwood Canyon / Garzas Canyon. Fun moderate hike to Redwood Canyon. Starts through a beautiful oak grove. Had to rock hop across Garzas creek four times, J fell in on the last crossing. A lot of wildflowers in bloom (even saw one lonesome Blue Bonnet). Small patch of Redwood trees and ferns with that incredible smell you only get in redwood groves.
Toro County Park - East Ridge / Eagle Peak / Toyon Ridge Loop
Creekside, California, United States
Hiking | 6.3 miles (5.3 miles away)
Hiking | 6.3 miles (5.3 miles away)
Nice birthday hike. The trailhead is by the flag pole after park entrance. Went through inland California style grassy hills with oaks and some cow pasture land. Gorgeous panoramic views of Monterey Bay and Salinas from Eagle Peak. Downhills were steep and slippery at points.
Garland Ranch - Maple Canyon / Mesa Trail / Siesta Point / Waterfall
Carmel Valley Village, California, United States
Hiking | 3.8 miles (13.1 miles away)
Hiking | 3.8 miles (13.1 miles away)
Just a quick hike before J had to go to work. Beautiful blue sky and a lot of seasonal changes since we last did the hike. Most of the rolling green fields had turned brown. We ran about a third of the hike.
Palo Corona Regional Park
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, United States
Hiking | 5.5 miles (17.6 miles away)
Hiking | 5.5 miles (17.6 miles away)
One of my favorite hikes in the Carmel area. Permits are required (see tips), with the result that there are not a lot of other hikers, which is great. The trail starts off relatively flat through fields and then climbs moderately to the top of the hill at Inspiration Point. The views of Carmel, Point Lobos, Pebble Beach and the Carmel Valley are phenomenal and well worth the uphill hike. Continue from the top...
Proposal Hike - Garland Ranch - Garzas Creek
Carmel Valley, California, United States
Hiking | 3.5 miles (14.1 miles away)
Hiking | 3.5 miles (14.1 miles away)
I came home from work early and took J out for my favorite hike in Garland Ranch. It was raining on the way to Redwood Canyon. We took a break on the bank of Garzas Creek and I made sure to place her on a comfortable rock. She was completely surprised when i got down on my knee and told her how happy she makes me. I pulled the ring out of...
