Garrapata State Park: Beautiful Coastal Views!

Just off of US Route 1 sits Garrapata State Park where you can hike and enjoy some stunning coastal views.  And the best part??  This is a free state park!

This beautiful place is absolutely worth the stop whether you’re taking a California road trip or are just in the area.  And since the park is right below Monterey, you can easily add this little stop.  

So let’s just right into all the details about Garrapata State Park!

Important Links 

• Garrapata State Park website
• Park Brochure
• Hiking Backpack Checklist Freebie – Be Prepared on the Trails
• Hiking Journal – Never Forget the Details of Your Favorite Hikes Again!

Location

Just 20 minutes south of Monterey, CA, this is a great place to stop and visit while in the Big Sur area. 

And if you’re looking to do an entire California coastal road trip, Garrapata State Park is 2.5 hours from San Francisco, CA and about 6 hours from Los Angeles, CA. 

Hours

Garrapata State Park is open daily from 8am to Sunset.

Fees

Unlike most of California, Garrapata State Park does not have a fee.  You can simply stop, park, and go for a quick walk.  So enjoy a quick and FREE stop by visiting Garrapata State Park!

Parking

One unique thing about Garrapata State Park is the lack of parking.  There is no parking lot, but there is plenty of pull-off space along the highway.  

Essentially, you’ll be looking for a pull-off space near here.  Please be careful as you are parking right on the side of Route 1 (PCH).  This road is windy and people tend to drive faster than they should here, so be careful! 

Hiking Trails

Inside of Garrapata State Park there are 5 hiking trails.  Some of the trails are back in the woods, but others are right along the coast.  So let’s take a look at these trails!

Trails with Coastal Views

1. Garrapata Bluff Trail: This trail is easy and less than a mile long.  Perfect for a quick stop with stunning coastal views.  
2. Soberanes Point and Whale Peak: Also an easy trail, this hike will lead you along the coast and up to the top of whale peak. These are the best coastal views!

Trails in the Woods

3. Soberanes Canyon Trail: A moderate hike that leads you through a valley of thick forest and Redwood Trees.  
4. Doud Peak via Soberanes Canyon Trail: This 6 mile trail is classified as hard and leads you to the top of Doud Peak. 
5. South Plateau-Mound Meadow Loop: An easy loop in the meadows along the coast.  

This state park has easy and challenging hiking if you have the time.  From deeply forested trails, to the top of a mountain, to an easy coastal walk.  It’s all here for you to enjoy.

Only Time For 1 Trail?

If you only have time for one trail in Garrapata State Park, make it the Soberanes Point and Whale Peak Trail. You’ll get amazing views of the coast, an awesome view from the top of Whale Peak, and you might even get to see some wildlife (Harbor Seals, Sea Otters or even migrating Whales)!  This trail will take you anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes.  

But if you only have time for a very short stop, take a quick stroll along the Garrapata Bluff Trail for 15 – 30 minutes.  

How Much Time Should You Spend Here?

Garrapata State Park is a great place to stop and stretch your legs if you are road tripping the PCH.  It’s also a great park to go for a nice long hike too.  The choice is yours.  

My husband and I were driving the PCH and stopped here for about an hour.  We enjoyed the beautiful coastal views and had a great time hiking to the top of Whale Peak.  If we’d had more time we definitely would have added the hike to the top of Doud Peak, but we were on a time restraint!

In short, you can spend anywhere from a full-day here hiking along the coast, or you can stop for 15 minutes. Whatever fits your trip best.

Our Hike

When we visited Garrapata we followed this AllTrail map and hiked to the top of Whale Peak.  The views were stunning and the coastal breeze made this hike enjoyable even in the heat of day.

Things To Do in the Area

Just south of here is an awesome state park called Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.  If you don’t know this park, you need to check it out!

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is home to the famous McWay Falls and is less than an hour south of Garrapata State Park.  Be sure to add that park to your trip!

On the other hand, if you are willing to drive a little bit further, you can also add Pinnacles National Park to your trip.  This national park is full of hiking, awesome views, and is a must see in central California!

Conclusion

Garrapata State Park is an amazing place to soak in some coastal views.  With 2 miles of beachfront and coastal hiking, you’ll get to enjoy the beauty of the California coast!

There are also some more challenging hiking trails back in the woods if you’re up for a challenge.  

As always, feel free to email me at averagewildexperience@gmail.com with any questions!

-Happy Hiking!