A $260 million wildfire started deep in this Big Sur canyon, and the redwood trail into it is just 2.5 miles round trip
A single illegal campfire in a Big Sur canyon set off the most expensive wildfire fight in U.S. history at the time. Lit about two and a quarter miles up Soberanes Creek in July 2016, it grew into a blaze that scorched 132,127 acres, destroyed 57 homes, and ran up a $260 million firefighting bill.
Here’s the part that surprises people: the canyon it started in is still one of the prettiest short hikes on this whole stretch of Highway 1. The Soberanes Canyon Trail in Garrapata State Park climbs out of sun-baked coastal scrub and into a shady redwood creek in about a mile, and you can be back at the car in time for lunch in Carmel.
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Scrub, cactus, and then redwoods
The trailhead sits on the east side of Highway 1, across from Gate 8, and the first stretch feels like classic dry Big Sur: chaparral, sage, and even a few cactus along the path. Soberanes Creek runs alongside you the whole way, and that creek is the whole secret.
Keep walking and the canyon walls pinch in, the air cools off, and the coast redwoods take over. It’s one of those Big Sur moments where you can’t quite believe the dusty hillside and the ferny, creek-fed forest are part of the same hike. Expect a few creek crossings along the way.
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The numbers, before you lace up
State Parks lists the trail at 1.25 miles to the back of the canyon, so you’re looking at about 2.5 miles round trip with roughly 500 feet of climbing. It’s a moderate walk that’ll get your heart going a little in the upper section, but nothing that needs a training plan.
One important note: the canyon is an out-and-back right now. The Rocky Ridge Trail, which used to turn this into a big, steep loop, is closed for hazardous conditions, so when the trail ends at the back of the canyon, turn around and enjoy the redwoods a second time. Check the official park page for current trail status before you go.
How the canyon came back
The Soberanes Fire burned for about three months before crews hit full containment on October 28, 2016, and it scorched most of Garrapata State Park along the way. The canyon trail stayed closed until State Parks trail crews reopened it in April 2018.
Walking it now, the creek-bottom forest is shady and green again, which makes this hike feel a little like a comeback story you get to walk through. Does it get much better than a redwood grove you can reach from a Highway 1 pullout?
Why fall is the move
Hot take: fall is the best season for this trail. Summer’s peak road-trip rush is behind you, and the long, low afternoon light coming down the canyon makes the redwoods glow.
Also, a fun piece of trivia you’ll appreciate around mile one: “garrapata” is Spanish for “tick.” The park itself warns about ticks, poison oak, and rattlesnakes, so stay on the trail, wear long pants, and do a quick tick check back at the car.
Make it a half-day on the Garrapata coast
Don’t drive off right after. The coast side of the highway has the Soberanes Point and Whale Peak loop, our favorite trail in the park, a short, easy wander out to big headland views. Our full guide to Garrapata State Park breaks down every trail, including the Calla Lily Valley walk down to Garrapata Beach.
A real safety note for the beach side: the surf here is dangerous, and State Parks tells visitors not to swim, wade, or climb on rocks or cliffs. Enjoy the ocean from the bluff and leave the wave-watching to a safe distance.
Garrapata is about 6.7 miles south of Rio Road in Carmel, which makes it an easy add-on to a day in Carmel-by-the-Sea, a morning at Point Lobos just up the road, or the start of a longer Big Sur drive. Want more trail ideas while you’re down here? Our roundup of the best hikes in Big Sur has plenty.
The park is open 8 a.m. to sunset, day use only, and parking is along Highway 1, so take extra care pulling in and crossing the road.
Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, lock in your hotel in Carmel or Monterey before the good rooms are gone, or skip both and book a camper van instead.
So, are you a canyon-first or coast-first hiker? Tell us which side of Highway 1 you’d hit first at Garrapata.
Rules and fees change — always confirm current requirements before you go.
