Garrapata State Park

Getting There
The park is located on Highway 1, 6.7 miles south of Rio Road in Carmel (18 miles north of Big Sur).

Seasons/Climate/Recommended Clothing
The climate is moderate, with a mean average of 50-65 degrees year-round. Variable weather includes cool, foggy mornings, strong onshore winds, and hot summer days in the backcountry. Layered clothing is advised.

Operating Hours & Contact
Please call the park for operating hours.
Telephone: 831-624-4909

Activities
Hiking: The Rocky Ridge Trail, on the north ridge of Soberanes Canyon, and the Soberanes Canyon Trail through the redwoods form a strenuous 4.5-mile loop. The 1-mile North Fork Trail and the 1.5-mile Peak Trail are spur trails that return via the same route. The 2-mile round-trip Soberanes Point Trail loops around Soberanes Point and ends at Whale Peak.

Scuba diving: Because of the merciless, rocky shore off the north portion of the park and the depth of the underwater canyons, diving in this location is not recommended.

Wildlife watching: On some weekends in January, park staff lead whale-watching programs as the Pacific gray whales pass by during their yearly migration. Call the park for information.

Natural History
Garrapata’s bold, vertical headlands and offshore sea stacks are a combination of granitic rock, marine sandstone, shale, volcanic rock and chert. Their proximity to several fault lines keeps them in a state of seismic movement.

Plants & Animals
Garrapata’s diverse terrain supports six vegetation types and several plant and animal communities.
Scrub: Northern bluff scrub includes lizard tail, mock heather and dune buckwheat. Central coast scrub is dominated by coyote brush, California sagebrush, sticky monkeyflower and poison oak. California sagebrush and black sage grow on the rockier inland slopes. Mixed coastal scrub along the shoreline provides food and shelter for the endangered Smith’s blue butterfly.
Chaparral: Northern mixed chaparral includes Manzanita, blue blossom and chamise. The denser, taller mixed chaparral at Rocky Ridge shelters the sensitive California horned lizard.
Grassland: Cattle grazing and drought introduced non-native grasses. Near the Rocky Ridge Trail, rare California oatgrass, purple needlegrass, California brome and blue wild rye grow among the non-native grasses, home to the black-shouldered kite, peregrine falcon, merlin and American kestrel. Beechey ground squirrels and Brewer’s blackbirds live among the annual grasses.
Coniferous forest: Coast redwoods dominate parts of Soberanes and Malpaso Creeks, where sensitive spotted owls and Pacific giant salamanders live. Giant chain fern, redwood sorrel, California spikenard and western coltsfoot form a typical understory. Conifers and occasional big leaf maples and white alders shelter gray squirrels, Merriam chipmunks and numerous bird species.
Streambank woodland and forest: Several species of willow and coyote brush grow along the lower portions of Soberanes and Doud Creeks and intermittent streams in the coastal area. Sixty species of mammals and 110 species of birds live in the coastal oak woodland.
Mixed evergreen forest: On some north-facing slopes, tanoak, madrone and buckeye mix with coast redwoods. Song sparrows, small burrowing rodents and common garter snakes live here.

Marine habitat
The cold waters of Monterey Bay are rich with invertebrate organisms that are a food source for the area’s whales, pinnipeds and seabirds. Southern sea otters bob about in the offshore kelp forest. On the Lobos Rocks, California brown pelicans roost above resting sea lions.

Tips & Rules
-The surf is extremely dangerous. Do not swim, wade or climb on rocks.
-Camping is not permitted - the park closes at sunset.
-Rattlesnakes, ticks and mountain lions live here - walk only on established trails.
-Dogs are only allowed on Garrapata Beach and must be kept on a 6-foot leash at all times.
-Fires are not permitted.
-Do not remove plants, minerals and other natural features.
-Bicycles are permitted only on Rocky Ridge Trail.

Accessible Features
Disclaimer
We are working to improve accessibility throughout our parks but we regret that there are currently no (wheelchair) accessible activities at this park. This may be an undeveloped park, or there may be terrain, historic or resource protection issues or other limiting factors. However, there may be some wheelchair accessible features, such as parking areas, restrooms, and routes of travel, that meet some of the current accessibility guidelines. Call the park or email us at access@parks.ca.gov for details.