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This park is still relatively undeveloped and offers visitors great
hiking, fishing and beachcombing within its 7.5 acres. Andrew
Molera is the largest park in Big Sur. The park is located on the Big
Sur coastline twenty miles south of Carmel on Highway One. For
day use, one can pay the $6 parking fee or park on the highway and
walk in.
Miles of trails wind through meadows, beaches and hilltops.
Andrew Molera State Park is the largest State Park on the Big Sur
Coast, and with approximately 20 miles of trails offers more hiking
possibilities than any other coastal park.
hiking, fishing and beachcombing within its 7.5 acres. Andrew
Molera is the largest park in Big Sur. The park is located on the Big
Sur coastline twenty miles south of Carmel on Highway One. For
day use, one can pay the $6 parking fee or park on the highway and
walk in.
Miles of trails wind through meadows, beaches and hilltops.
Andrew Molera State Park is the largest State Park on the Big Sur
Coast, and with approximately 20 miles of trails offers more hiking
possibilities than any other coastal park.
Andrew Molera State Park Trail Camp
a maximum of four people per site. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. (Get there early!) Having to
walk to camp discourages people with heavy camping gear, so one can sometimes find a site at Molera when other
areas are full. Now one gets an actual site, and it costs $10 per night, still a bargain compared to the rest of Big Sur.
a maximum of four people per site. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. (Get there early!) Having to
walk to camp discourages people with heavy camping gear, so one can sometimes find a site at Molera when other
areas are full. Now one gets an actual site, and it costs $10 per night, still a bargain compared to the rest of Big Sur.
There are 20 trails, and a good map can be obtained at the entrance kiosk in the parking lot off Highway One, or at the
Big Sur Station just south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.
Big Sur Station just south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.
You can explore Molera from horseback,
one hour rides start at $25. A number of
different guided rides are available. You
can also bring your own horse.
one hour rides start at $25. A number of
different guided rides are available. You
can also bring your own horse.
Molera Ranch House Museum.
indigenous peoples, and the area's flora and fauna. Operated in partnership with the Big Sur Historical Society and
California State Parks, it is staffed by volunteer docents and is open Saturday and Sunday from 11 to 3.
Molera History
indigenous peoples, and the area's flora and fauna. Operated in partnership with the Big Sur Historical Society and
California State Parks, it is staffed by volunteer docents and is open Saturday and Sunday from 11 to 3.
Molera History
In 1992, the Ventana Wildlife Society opened a research
and education center in Andrew Molera State Park.
The Society's activities in the park include field support for
its California Condor reintroduction program,
environmental education, monarch butterfly research and
operation of the Big Sur Ornithology Lab. Visitors and
school groups can participate and observe bird-banding
and other programs offered throughout the year.
www.ventanaws.org.
and education center in Andrew Molera State Park.
The Society's activities in the park include field support for
its California Condor reintroduction program,
environmental education, monarch butterfly research and
operation of the Big Sur Ornithology Lab. Visitors and
school groups can participate and observe bird-banding
and other programs offered throughout the year.
www.ventanaws.org.
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Video. Here's a site with some nice video about
Molera, featuring Ken, our favorite Big Sur ranger.
Molera, featuring Ken, our favorite Big Sur ranger.
Big Sur Ornithology Lab. Bird Checklist. (PDF)
For spectacular views, the Ridge Bluff eight-mile loop is outstanding. The preferred route is to cross the river and
take the River Trail to the Hidden Trail, a steep three-quarters-of-a-mile climb to the Ridge Trail. Then it's a gradual
climb on a dirt road to the top, at over 1,000 feet in elevation. There's a bench at the top, affording a view of the park,
Point Sur, Pico Blanco and Post Summit.
Return via the Bluff Trail, which wanders down toward the beach, through wild flowers and coastal brush. It affords a
continually stunning view, and there are side trails to secluded pockets of beach. The trail back to the parking lot
intersects the bottom of the Bluff Trail, but a few yards farther is the beach, a must-stop on a sunny day.
There is also a trail on the east side of the highway, a few dozen yards south of the entrance. This climbs almost
1,600 feet in two-and-a-half miles before exiting the park and continuing on another two miles and 1,600 more feet to
the top of Post Summit. This is a very strenuous hike, best saved for a cool day.
take the River Trail to the Hidden Trail, a steep three-quarters-of-a-mile climb to the Ridge Trail. Then it's a gradual
climb on a dirt road to the top, at over 1,000 feet in elevation. There's a bench at the top, affording a view of the park,
Point Sur, Pico Blanco and Post Summit.
Return via the Bluff Trail, which wanders down toward the beach, through wild flowers and coastal brush. It affords a
continually stunning view, and there are side trails to secluded pockets of beach. The trail back to the parking lot
intersects the bottom of the Bluff Trail, but a few yards farther is the beach, a must-stop on a sunny day.
There is also a trail on the east side of the highway, a few dozen yards south of the entrance. This climbs almost
1,600 feet in two-and-a-half miles before exiting the park and continuing on another two miles and 1,600 more feet to
the top of Post Summit. This is a very strenuous hike, best saved for a cool day.
The beach at the mouth of the Big Sur River is perhaps the finest on the Big Sur Coast, and Molera Point offers an
ideal spot for whale-watching.
ideal spot for whale-watching.
