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USA Parks
California
Central Coast & Central Valley Region
Andrew Molera State Park
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Andrew Molera State Park © Gary OToole
Andrew Molera State Park © Andrew Molera State Park / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Andrew Molera State Park
Andrew Molera State Park © Andrew Molera State Park / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Andrew Molera State Park
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ANDREW MOLERA STATE PARK
ANDREW MOLERA STATE PARK
Big Sur Station #1
Big Sur, California   93920

Phone: 831-667-2315
In the spectacular Big Sur area, this park is still relatively undeveloped and offers visitors great hiking, fishing and beachcombing.

Miles of trails wind through meadows, beaches and hilltops. A primitive walk-in trail camp, popular with hikers and bikers, is located approximately one third mile from the parking area.
History of the Area
Was once part of a Mexican land grant given to Juan Bautista Alvarado. In 1858 it became property of John B.R. Cooper who sold it to Andrew Molera's family around 1890s.

Andrew Molera commercialized artichokes and his sister Frances inherited the ranch after he passed away in 1931. She maintained ownership until her death in 1968 when The Nature Conservancy purchased the area for preservation purposes.

In an agreement with state officials, they transferred control over to California State Parks system by early-1972 where public access has been allowed ever since.

Camping
Andrew Molera SP Trail Camp:

There are 24 identified sites. Camping is allowed only at these sites with a maximum of four people per site. Registration will continue to be on a first-come, first-served basis.

The establishment of 24 sites with a limit of four people per site will allow for maximum availability of individual campsites, yet continue to meet the required carrying capacity. Due to these changes, however, group camping at Trail Camp is no longer feasible. Please contact the park for additional information.



Trails
Beach, Headlands Trails

3 miles round trip

Mountains, meadows and the mouth of Big Sur River are some of the highlights of a walk through Andrew Molera State Park, largest state park along the Big Sur coast. More than 20 miles of trail weave through the park, which has a diversity of ecosystems. You can hike along the bluffs overlooking three miles of beach, and climb through meadows and oak woodland. At the river mouth are a shallow lagoon and beautiful sandy beach.

In 1855, Yankee fur trader Juan Bautista Roger Cooper acquired this land, formerly part of the Mexican land grant Rancho El Sur. Grandson Andrew Molera, who inherited the ranch, had a successful dairy operation. His Monterey Jack cheese was particularly prized.

A good leg-stretcher walk is to take Beach Trail to the beach at the mouth of the Big Sur River, then return via Creamery Meadow Trail. Beach Trail and a number of other park roads are old dirt roads, which allow side-by-side walking, thus appealing to sociable hikers. A longer tour of the park can be made via the Bluff, Panorama and Ridge trails. The coastal views from these trails are magnificent.

You may hear a number of foreign languages en route. The state park?s walk-in campground is very popular with European visitors.

Note that the round trip loop described below relies on wading across the mouth of the Big Sur River. At times of high water, you?ll have to make this trip an out-and-back or get your feet (and possibly much more) wet by crossing the river.

Directions to trailhead: Andrew Molera State Park is just off Highway 1, some 21 miles south of Carmel.

The hike: From the parking lot, cross the Big Sur River on the seasonal footbridge. Walk 100 yards of so along a broad path that soon splits. Bear right onto Beach Trail. (The left fork joins Creamery Meadow Trail, an ideal return route for those who like loop trails.) The trail stays near the river, whose banks are crowded with thimbleberry and blackberry, honeysuckle vines, willow and bay laurel.

At 0.3 mile, you pass through the park?s campground. A side trail leads to Cooper Cabin, an 1861 redwood structure that?s the oldest building on Big Sur?s coast.

At the river mouth is a small beach and shallow lagoon, frequented by sanderlings, willets and many more shorebirds. A short path (Headlands Trail) leads above the beach to Molera Point, where you can watch for whales (January through April) or passing ships. The beach to the south is walkable at low tide.

Loop around the point and then either return the same way or via Creamery Meadow Trail on the south side of the Big Sur River.

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Area Campgrounds
Big Sur Campground
47000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA
831-667-2322
Fernwood Resort LLC
47200 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA
831-667-2422
Nearby Hotels
Booking.com

Directions
The park is 20 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1, Latitude/Longitude: 36.2833 / -121.8333.

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California
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California State Parks

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