Choose Your Adventure

Big Sur:

salmon creek

BY PADEN HUGHES

On the Central Coast, Big Sur is the king of greenery, and it is never more abundant than after winter rains. The rain not only paints the countryside green, it also creates surging waterfalls. If you have an affinity for hiking, enjoy the outdoors and find beauty in waterfalls—you cannot miss Salmon Creek in Big Sur.

Salmon Creek is one of the most popular hikes in Southern Big Sur, along scenic Highway 1. Although just over an hour’s trek to the trailhead, the drive should be counted as one of the trip’s advantages. The route carries travelers past Morro Rock, through Cambria, below Hearst Castle, past a raucous elephant seal colony, and along the weaving highway clinging to the sides of the rising Big Sur cliffs.

To find the Salmon Creek trailhead, drive north from Morro Bay on Highway 1 for 48 miles to the Monterey County Line. From there, the trailhead is only one-and-a-half miles further, just after a sharp hairpin turn you will see the trailhead sign announcing the hike’s start.

There are two stunning waterfalls along this hike. The first can be seen from the highway, and is only 0.2 miles from the trailhead. If you have young children, the first waterfall will likely be your destination, and you will not regret it. Couched in a labyrinth of haphazardly placed boulders, tall trees clothed in moss and enveloped in a heavy mist from the powerful waterfall, you can easily wind your way down the the creek banks to get a view of the 100-foot cascade of water.

After basking in the power of the falls and enjoying the radiant scene, you may be inspired to seek out the second waterfall. Trace your steps back from the banks of the first waterfall to the trail, and then continue up gaining another 500 feet in less than a mile.

The panoramic views you get of the Salmon Creek Valley and the ocean in the distance are truly breathtaking and the real reward of the journey. So before the summer tourists hit the Big Sur trails, add Salmon Creek to your to-do list. It is definitely worthwhile.

Warning! The elevation gain in the beginning of the hike is not for the faint of heart, and some of the trails move precariously close to steep slopes, so watch your step. There is also a tremendous amount of poison oak if you venture off the path.

The trail is designed to cater to the interests of every type of hiker, providing several key highlights along the path. The milestones of the full hike include: the lower falls (0.2 miles), Spruce Creek Camp (2.0 miles), second waterfall (2.6 miles) and finally ends with Estrella Camp (3.25 miles). SLO LIFE