Garrapata State Park
*HEAT ALERT: With temperatures set to exceed 110 degrees throughout much of the state this week, California is urging everyone to take extra precautions as they celebrate the Fourth of July. Governor Newsom has directed the Office of Emergency Services to activate its State Operations Center. Read about how California is preparing for this heatwave. The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for parts of California from 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 2, through Sunday, July 7, at 8 p.m. PDT. Please be sure to take extra precautions when heading outdoors and know before you go by checking the park’s webpage ahead of time. Visit our safety tips webpage and get the latest on the weather at weather.gov.
The Park is currently OPEN.
Park Facilities
BIG SUR STATE PARKS RE-OPENING
The Highway 1 project was successful, and access has been restored to Big Sur beginning Friday, Mat 17, 2024. Significant delays for access can be expected due to the new traffic signal, but the public is allowed into Big Sur at this time.The advanced date for opening has allowed people to access the Big Sur area earlier than expected, providing opportunities for local businesses and a return to normal for park visitors.
California State Parks is supporting the Governor’s Office and the Big Sur community by opening all recreational activities as soon as possible. Big Sur State Parks will be open to camping on Thursday, May 23rd so that people may enjoy the State Park system in a safe, responsible, and enjoyable manner.
Some of the lodges and private campgrounds may be open this weekend. We encourage visitors to look for overnight accommodation in the surrounding area, including the Big Sur Lodge, which is currently taking guest reservations. However, the soonest we can responsibly provide camping opportunities will be May 23rd. We apologize for any inconvenience over the next seven days due to the earlier than anticipated opening date.
State Parks is proud to have been a significant contributing agency to the emergency response effort following the Hwy 1 road slip out. During the closure, we provided equipment staging facilities, emergency response, medical evacuation areas, and facilities for the community members that were temporarily stranded in Big Sur. We are now shifting our operations from emergency support back to our regular campground activities. We want to thank you for your understanding as we work diligently to return to normal operations.
NOTE: Highway 1 is still closed to the south 5 miles south of Julia Pfeiffer Burns. Please see the Highway 1 closure info and maps on our websites.
Highway 1 remains closed between Dolan Point and Limekiln Creek. While motorists on Highway 1 can now drive to the Limekiln State Park entrance gate from the Cambria/San Simeon area, the park remains closed.
For more information about USFS properties, please visit USFS - Los Padres National Forest - Big Sur Los Padres National Forest - Home (usda.gov)
For current highway closures and conditions please visit CalTrans - Road Conditions Map
Always check area weather forecasts and road updates before visiting. NOAA Weather- Big Sur
ABOUT GARRAPATA STATE PARK
Garrapata State Park has two miles of beach front, with coastal hiking and a 50-foot climb to a beautiful view of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a federal marine protected area. The park offers diverse coastal vegetation with trails running from ocean beaches into dense redwood groves. The park also features outstanding coastal headlands at Soberanes Point. Sea lions, harbor seals and sea otters frequent the coastal waters and California gray whales pass close by during their yearly migration.
Location-Directions
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 weather can be changeable. Layered clothing is advised.
SOBERANES CANYON TRAIL and ROCKY RIDGE TRAIL
Located on the East side of Highway 1, the Soberanes Canyon Trail is currently open. The Rocky Ridge Trail is CLOSED due to hazardous conditions.
The Soberanes Trail is open exclusively from the main, gated trailhead on the east side of Highway 1, across from Gate 8 of the Garrapata Coastal Trail. The hike is along the 1.25 mile length of the trail to the back of the canyon. Plan on an out and back hike as the Rocky Ridge portion of the trail is closed due to hazardous conditions.
Garrapata State Park Coastal Trail Improvement Project and Coastal Trail Closures Begin October 4, 2023
California State Parks - Monterey District is embarking on a large trail improvement project for Garrapata State Park on October 4th, 2023.
The Garrapata Coastal Trail will be closed at the north end between Gates 1 and 3 through 2024.
DOGS
There is limited access for dogs on leash at the Garrapata State Park beach area:
Dogs ON LEASH are ONLY allowed on the beach at Gate 19 (south end of park) and on the trails leading to it.
Dogs are NOT allowed in all other areas, including across Hwy 1 in the Soberanes Canyon Trail area.
Thank you for partnering with CA State Parks to protect our habitat areas' wildlife by adhering to dogs on leash regulations!
Marine Protected Area Coloring Book - Area Marina Protegida - Libro Para Colorear
Embark on a journey of discovery about Marine protection in a fun and easy way!!
The Marine Protected Areas Coloring Book - Area Marina Protegida - Libro Para Colorear - helps students of all ages learn about the rich diversity of plant and animal life found in California's Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The book includes three new 3D augmented reality coloring pages that will allow students to interact with their colorings using a smartphone or tablet while learning about marine life and California's marine protected areas.
Download the new marine protected area (MPA) coloring book along with the California Coastal Explorer Guide at: https://www.mpacollaborative.org/kids/
