Andrew Molera is great. It's got plenty of hiking trails, great sights, and beach access, but unfortunately its beaches also has the largest sea gull population of anywhere I've ever been (and they're plentiful enough where I'm from in LA), so that's a definite drawback. For beach, go to Pfeiffer, but for hiking Molera is a great place to be. Also, keep in mind that ever since the fires last year, the mountains above Molera are closed off to hikers, cutting down on the overall number of accessible trails in the area. I almost forgot one hint: Parking costs $10, so look for [free] parking off Hwy 1 before driving down to the park entrance itself. read more

little bit of a hike to the beach (about two miles) but i'm not an experienced hiker and i was fine. when you get to the beach you might have to wade across 4 feet of water to get to the good part of the beach so bring water shoes or flpflops for that part. We weren't very prepared, so I can't wait to go back and REALLY explore. i was proposed to on this beach so i'm bias. Love it here :) read more

Andrew Molera State Park - Parks Near Me - Big Sur, California

See all

Yeah, I'd agree with the last review that Molera is horrible. Please, Mr. Lizard man, tell all your bay area buddies that the central coast is just awful and not worth the trip. Nothing to see, nothing to do, and downright ugly. : ) But seriously, Molera is one of my favorite places on Earth, and has been for over 30 years. This place holds some of my best camping memories - from the time the campground was just a little three tent clearing. The hiking can't be beat, and the run up the Hidden Trail, up the ridge and back along the cliffs is one of the world's great cross country runs. To a large extent, I love camping here because people like the lizard guy DON'T! It's majorly ironic that they don't allow dogs any more, but seem to have allowed the horse tours to expand operations to the point that the beach and river trails are a mass of ruts, dust, and horse shit. read more

The views and hikes are amazing!!! BUT.... The hike from the parking lot to the campground is not easy when you have to carry your stuff from the car. It took me and my boyfriend 3 trips just to get everything to the site! I recommend picking one of the first few campsites so your hike isn't even longer! We got there late and had to take one of the farthest campsites. BEWARE of squirrels! Especially if you set up camp under a tree. The squirrels are extremely rambunctious in the morning! At first we thought they were cute, that is, until they wouldn't go away! The kept returning to our tent looking for any way to get in! They even chewed through the zipper of our tent! Twice! We had to set up a chair and a tree branch just to block the hole so we could sleep at night! The wind was unbearable while we were at camp, we actually never went to the campsite except to sleep because it wasn't windy anywhere else but the campsite! I would ONLY recommend this place for day use! NOT CAMPING!!! read more

We did the river trail then the beach trail. If you just want to go out for a walk, river trail is fine, but it is flat and not terribly exciting (3 stars). The walk to the beach was fantastic, the beach is an amazing view and not to be missed (5 stars). Before you can hit any trail, you do have to cross a river - difficulty of the crossing was very easy due to well placed rocks and planks. I did see a mother with a baby try to cross and that definitely looked a little dicey though. Parking lot was $10 and looked to be only half full. Saw a few surfers in the water (it's a long way to walk with a board though). Kind of cold and windy at the time so didn't stay long at the beach. read more

This is a beautiful area with very nice tall trees, open hills, and spectacular beach views. However, it loses a few stars due to the fact that the trails are unmaintained and not marked clearly. There is also no map of the trails at the parking lot. You start off at one trailhead and everything branches off from there, and you just have to guess which fork to take. If they would update some of the sections of trails and print off a trail map to hand you when you get there (they do hand you a newsletter that could easily have a page in it for a map) then this would be a five star park, because it is beautiful and you would be able to effectively plan your trip. read more

See all

I wouldn't come here for the short hikes (I came with people who aren't into hard hikes). You barely see the river on the river hike and it's along the highway so very noisy. The hike to the ocean is not very scenic. read more

Visited in early May. We were one of the first there that day. Parking obviously wasn't an issue. There was no bridge at the time as we crossed the Big Sur River. You have to walk across a mildly moving stream that is quite cold if you're not expecting it. Once across, you have about a mile hike to the beach. Flat and easy enough. Once you get to the beach, it's very nice and peaceful. Some folks were riding by on their horses. A nice place to picnic and enjoy the sounds of the ocean. We hiked back after some water time and then had a picnic at the benches near the parking lot. read more

One of the best trips I have taken. We planned on getting there super early to reserve a spot, but of course left from the Bay area kind of late. We got there around 9 am but had no problems securing a site. The park ranger was really helpful and nice. It takes about half a mile to get to the camp site. Try not to bring too much heavy stuff, especially in the summer. The campsite itself was kind of bare. Not a lot of trees or greenery. However, it's clean and you'll have lots of squirrel friends. The bathrooms were fairly decent as well. There's also a box that you can store your food in. The squirrels are SUPER sneaky and always after your things so watch out! We also saw a few snakes and some raccoon. From the campsite, it was a ~8 minute walk to the beach. However, to get to the beach, you'll have to wade across a shallow river(so much fun!) or climb from the rocks on the side. The main beach was amazingly beautiful and not too crowded. We walked for a little bit to explore more of the beach but were greeted with a lot of flies and wash up. Just stay on the main part of the beach and this won't be a problem. The rate was about $25 a night and free parking if you are camping overnight. read more

This park is nice however the attendant wasn't very friendly nor informative. She didn't tell our group that we had to cross the river for both trails and the only other trail open which was bobcat was blocked by fallen trees. Which we found out after we walked the paved road for 15 min. She told us we could crawl under the trees. Like really? ? They are paid to maintenance the trails. Regardless this place is beautiful! ! The views were amazing. I included some pictures. read more

See all

The horseback riding was an enjoyable experience. We took our nine year old granddaughter who loves horses. The girls ,Emma and Addie, we're so patient and kind. They obviously love the horses and enjoy their job leading trail rides. I would recommend this activity to anyone who wants to experience the Big Sur area. read more

Andrew Molera State Park - Parks Near Me - Big Sur, California

Just an FYI for any future visitors desiring to hike the creamery meadow trail down to the beach. The creamery meadow trail has NO place to lounge or sit alongside the trail, as the trail is surrounded by poison oak - everywhere you look. You could sit in the middle of the dusty gravel trail, but there aren't even logs or rocks to sit on....just dusty dirt & gravel. So even though it's a flat easy hike, if you are someone who needs a rest (maybe an older adult or someone who just wants to take breaks), please make sure to bring your own chair! Also this beach is very susceptible to strong winds - so much so that many people have built log forts on the beach, which may or may not be there when you visit. Just imagine walking about 1 mile down to the beach...you are hoping to lounge on the beach but are instead accosted by gale force winds & getting sand blasted constantly. It was really difficult to enjoy this beach & the hike today. read more

Another great place to camp. The spaces are far away from each other and the place is beautiful. There are wonderful trails and the place just smells so nice. I wish I could bottle it up and put it in my car LOL. Make sure you lock up your food at night, and I mean, in the car. Local critters will do whatever it takes to get to your grub and get to your grub they will. Make it unattainable if you want to keep it. This is one of our favorite spots. read more

A true story of magic. One year, for my birthday I decided to go camping by myself. I drove down down down the beautiful highway 1, not knowing where I'd stay, just knowing I'd camp somewhere near the ocean. I happened to see this little sign pointing to Andrew Molera campground. As it was getting late in the afternoon, and I didn't know what else lay ahead, I elected to stop here. It was December, so, the parking lot was empty except for one other car. There was no ranger in the hut, just a pole with a slot in which to shove money for the camping. (Very cheap: $5 for the night.) So I paid, parked, then grabbed my gear for the short trek (1/4 mile) to the campgrounds. There's a pleasant, winding trail through the forest, alongside water, easily traversed with whatever camping equipment you want to bring. Suddenly the trail opens up into a wide open space, spotted with trees, with a dancing eucalyptus grove at the end. I clearly have the place to myself, though it's evident that in the summer it can get quite crowded. I plop my stuff on the ground and amble around, searching for the perfect spot. Since this trip was very last minute, I don't even have a tent with me, so I'm looking for something sheltered. I settle on a cosy spot under a huge, protective oak tree, with a wide base and root structure that looks like it'll block some of the wind that's bound to come racing across this open space off the ocean during the night. So, I move in, set up camp, then go for a walk. Perhaps some of the magic was already working, as I certainly felt entranced with my surroundings. And possibly, this trance was working on me as I walked along, absorbed in the trees, the ocean air. Suddenly, I became aware of an old man, very near me (how had I not noticed him before?), leaning on a picnic table and playing the sweetest violin music I have ever heard. He didn't look at me at all, instead, playing to the mountains as the sun cast late, orange rays across the trees there. When I got quite close, as the path I was on led me to do, we made eye contact, smiled, the achingly beautiful music continuing and my feet carrying me along. It was an intense moment, though no words were spoken. When I came back later that same way, he was gone. Moments past our encounter, I found myself leaving the wide open space and becoming enveloped in the Eucalyptus grove. The air was still, at first, then vibrating with the beating of millions of beautiful orange and black wings. The Monarchs! Oh the Monarchs. Thousands upon thousands of them swirling among the leaves, lighting on my hair and shoulders, and so incredibly beautiful and abundant. I laughed out loud and leaped around with them. Past the grove, the trail narrows, and I pick my way carefully toward the ocean. The trail opens up again to reveal the roaring surf, surrounded by low cliffs and foliage everywhere. Naturally, I throw off all my clothes and go skipping into the ocean. Just as naturally, I last for about 2 minutes in the frigid, December waters, then come bounding out and wrap up in a blanket I had brought. Elated and crazed with the cold and the strange wonderfullness of my time here so far, I go streaking, running up and down the beach to warm up. Tired and calm finally, I bundle up and head back to my campsite. I build a little fire, warm some soup, roast some marshmallows, and look at the brilliant stars. I crawl into my sleeping bag and sleep a solid night. I wake up to find my sleeping bag surrounded by various animal prints, some of which are certainly those of a large cat. Oh. Fortunately, he was no where in sight, so I pack my things back to the car and then head out for one of the prettiest all-day hikes I've ever been on (from the trailhead in the parking lot). Since that first trip 11 years ago, I've been back here many times, often on my now annual ritual to go camping by myself. It's so peaceful and magical here. I feel invigorated and enlivened when I spend time at Andrew Molera. It does look like it can get crowded in the summer time, so I recommend going in the off-season (especially in the winter to catch the Monarch migration). Go and love the stars and the ocean! It's all so so beautiful!! read more

NO DOGS?! I am so disappointed that dogs are no longer allowed at Andrew Molera. We can't even bring our 3 kids camping here since only 4 people are allowed per site. We work hard all year and pay a ton of taxes to California, and now we can't even go camping at the beach with our family and dogs. Its really sad what this state is turning into. read more

No dogs allowed. What kind of park doesn't allow dogs? Where I'm from it'd be called a sanctuary, because on their website they dont allow dogs due to the dog scent disturbing wildlife. Curiously, horses are ok. I recommend Los Padres national forest just a few miles away. It is just as pretty, has considerably less people, is more relaxed about camping, and allow dogs. read more

This is a nice state park that does give you beach access. Unfortunately on the day we went the coastal access hikes were closed and we went on the Molera Point hike which goes past a campground but does take you basically to the beach (where the river and ocean come together). We enjoyed the hike. It was 10 bucks to park but was free bc we had paid at Pfeiffer earlier that day. They have multiple bathrooms at the beginning and then when you walk by the campsite. I think it probably would be worth it if the other hikes were open. It is closer to the North side of Big Sur and about 10-15 mins from Pfeiffer read more

Andrew Molera is a great state park. I visited this park during the June 2008 heat wave (pre-fires), and it was awesome!! We crossed the river to get to the trail that led to the beach. It didn't take very long, eventually the trail became soft sandy, and then lo & behold.......the ocean!! Wind, lots of rocks, and beautiful blue water!! A nice haven, I recommend Andrew Molera. read more

Nice beach, but the walk via the dirt trail seemed REALLY long for us, with our 3 year old. We were told it was a mile, but it seemed longer than that. read more

One of the best hikes I've ever had in the Bay Area. About 2 hours from the San Jose area gets you to the clearly market parking lot where they charge you $10 for parking and $1 for a map. The only slight hitch is to get to the trails you have to cross the Big Sur River. When I went (early March) the low water table made the crossing easy - make sure though you bring a towel to wipe your feet off or you'll have sand in your walking shoes for the duration. Once you've crossed the river you pick up the beach trail which takes you, yes, to the beach. That in itself is lovely and deserving of time. I pushed on to the Bluff trail which takes you alongside the ocean. The views are just fantastic! I was able to see whales close to shore, an added benefit. At a couple points I was absolutely stunned by the scale and beauty of what I was seeing. I wished I'd had some binoculars as I'm sure I could have seen more wildlife. I'd like to come back during the humpback migration season as I bet you'd be able to watch them quite easily from the great vantage points. You want to have some good sturdy walking shoes, not smooth bottomed as some of the trail has wear from rain and other hikers. In some places it is badly rutted. I would also recommend spraying your legs with Off or some repellant as the weeds have grown in and you run the risk of picking up ticks. A good hat and sunscreen are a must as there is no shade on the trail. About 4 miles down the bluff trail you turn inland and start the steepest part of the hike. You follow the Panorama trail essentially up and then curve back toward the parking lot, following the Ridge Trail. There's more pleasure here as the trail takes you through cypress and redwood groves, giving you some time in the shade and cool. The Ridge trail slowly descends as you head back toward the parking lot. You can follow it all the way back, or, as I did, take the Hidden Trail which cuts a little time off. My hike was about 8 miles, which I did in about 4 hours with lots of time for picture taking and of course lunch. Aside from the splendid views I really enjoyed the tremendous variety of landscapes. And, the wide variety of living things - a tremendous selection of flowers, interesting plants, birds and other small animals. While you are out on the trail there are no facilities and no benches. You want to make sure you've visited the bathroom before you head out and have plenty of food and water. There's a lot to see and enjoy - I highly recommend it, especially in the Spring. read more

Beautiful park, but the signage on the trails ranges from non-existent to terrible.

Awesome state park with lots to do. We did a short 6 mile hike here. It was effortless but full of beautiful costal scenery as you hike a loop by the cliffs. Also offers a horse back trail adventure or you can take your mountain bike on the trail. Definitely pack a jacket for windy conditions. Watch out for ticks and poison ivy on trails. read more

Nice beach with a fresh water stream that runs into it. My kid had a blast swimming in the stream there. Beach was not too crowded and all the people there seemed friendly. Lots of flies because of the kelp and see grass. It's a beach so can't take a star away for flies. They seem to stay around the see vegetation. read more

The Boy and I both love hiking. However, I love deep woods with their tall redwoods and dark nooks of foliage, while he's a fan of open fields and potential for spotting bobcats. Andrew Molera is more his deal... but it offers a nice hike out to a not overly crowded beach. For those seeking to avoid entrance fees (because park hopping in Big Sur can get pricey!) there was ample space for several cars to park on the highway then just take the quick walk down. read more

Really nice state park with great camping ammenites. Every time I camp in Big Sur I usually choose here because of how good it's been to me in the past. Beware, many campgrounds have about a 1/3 mile walk from the parking lot. It is also on a first come first serve reservation basis, so avoid weekends in the summer. read more

Really cool spot to do an easy hike. So many beautiful vistas and a nice beach with a little river that reminds me of Huck Finn. The water is calm, beautiful and FREEZING. You can hike up to the top of the hill and see all the surfers and birds below or just sit at the beach and enjoy the beaustiful view of the ocean. Toatlly worth the side trip off the freeway. read more

One of the best hikes in Big Sur is here. You do have to cross the river, but the views are worth getting a little wet. We took the creamery trail to the ridge-panorama-bluffs trail. I would definitely recommend taking the ridge trail first so that when you loop back towards the beach you're able to enjoy the amazing view of the coast . read more

The bluff trail is definitly worth seeing! So gorgeous view! One of the most underrated place to visit in big sur, not many people hiking there like Pfieffer state park, so this gives you a better and more private experience! Will go next time to big sur! Highly recommend! read more

What did this park do to deserve 1 star? 1. It is overrun with ground squirrels that will chew through your camping equipment. They even chewed through my Camelback tube, which only held water! 2. There was no water in the sink in one of the 2 bathrooms by our campsite. 3. Several campsites are located with no trees around for shade or wind protection. The wind does pick up here in the afternoon and made it difficult to put up tents. 4. This is a hike-in site, half a mile from the road. Many people think it's like car camping so they bring too much stuff and have to make 2 trips. I guess this isn't the campsite's fault, though... 5. The main hike here has a lot of sun-exposed uphill climbing with narrow paths full of poison oak. 6. Campsite is flat and ugly. 7. If you go on the weekend in the summer, you have to get there before 10 or 11 on Friday morning to get a campsite. People who show up later sometimes sneak in and poach campsites. read more

A great place to stop for an easy hike to the beach. About a mile hike with options to continue along a beach ridgeline for another 8 miles. Beautiful views and it's less traveled than some of the other trails in the area. read more

Andrew Molera has been on my bucket list for a while. I'm so glad we took the time to explore this wonderful place. We were only able to do the Beach Trail as we had young kids with us. It was about 1 mile each way, a decent hike for kids to do. The trail starts with a crossing through the Big Sur River. There is no way around this, you must cross the river at some point on all the trails. Normally there is a plank bridge, but it was taken down. The park ranger said they put it back up in June. Luckily the river was more of a creek when we were there. The trail meanders through a meadow and ends at the entrance to the beach. It was definitely worth the trek. The sandy beach stretches for miles. It was low tide and our daughter was able to explore the tide pools. There were two drift wood shelters which provided much needed shade as there was none and it was a sunny day. If we had more time I would love to explore the Bluff trail which goes along the cliffs. Absolutely recommend this park and beach. read more

See all

Beautiful park! Great for camping with spots for hookups! Hikes aren't all that strenuous and great views from some of the peaks. The last time I was there, there was a small house close to the beach built of sticks. It had rooms for crying out loud. Beautiful! Definitely worth a few hours of your time and lots of photo opportunities as well. read more

Amazing hike! Pretty easy to follow....started with the Trail Camp Beach trail....it's extremely windy and chilly once you get there...and then heats up as you leave....the rocks and scenery are all so breathtaking....we continued on to a more strenuous trail called the "ridge trail"...also highly recommended...bring lots of water with you!! It does get pretty hot going up the "ridge trail" with no shade. When you're coming back down, there is more shaded area...Enjoy! read more

Have done the hiking trails and they're great. Yes, sometimes there are a lot of people, but I still count myself as one of them, so............ Scenery is gorgeous even when it's foggy and facilities are really great (though with cut-backs who knows how it all will be maintained, so take care of them). Rangers friendly and knowledgeable. Parking may be expensive (around $10 and it goes to good use), so if available park outside Molena and walk in. Horseback rides are available and are especially interesting because you can see a little more several feet off the ground. Sunset rides are beautiful. Just remember it's "nose to tail" riding. Oh, and for the guy who thought it was awful to have horses and not dogs - sorry, but horses (a) not attack hikers (dogs have) and (b) dogs, even those with rabies and various other protective shots, can get bitten. These are chances that the State Park people just don't want to take. Sorry, it's really not about manure vs. dog poop. read more

this is a really nice place. we saw a butterfly habitat, a beautiful beach, and three deer. Crossing the water can be cold to some people, but it feels really nice to walk on the dry sand. read more

Incredibly beautiful. Go. Horseback ride, hike, picnic, walk in the stream barefoot, sketch, take photographs, smell the air, listen to the sounds, enjoy this place. There is nothing else to do. read more

Great hiking trails and campsites! The only issue is that the walk to the site is a ways away from the parking lot. Great if you have enough helpers! read more

This hike wasn't at all what I expected. We walked the 8 mile loop and it was full-sunlight almost the entire time. The beach is very pretty, but we were swarmed by little flies almost immediately so we left. The stupid things followed up throughout most of our hike. About halfway up one of the steep climbs, there's a really cool little shady spot under and amongst a ton of trees. Sadly, we didn't get to explore or stay very long because there was a huge group inhabiting all the shade. On we went. After 2 or 2.5 hours we finally reached the top. It was exhausting because of the constant sun, and we couldn't take breaks because if we stopped for even a minute the flies were all over us. The rest of the walk was cake. It's pretty clear that taking the loop clockwise as opposed to counter-clockwise would have made it a lot easier. :-) One thing I really didn't like was all the people. The views were wonderful, but I think I'd pass up Andrew Molera in favor of hiking less populated trails. read more

Beautiful hike. Its just over a mile, wich does not seem far but i hiked it with my girlfriends who dont hike, and it was hard for them. Fairly flat walking though. Carry in all you need because nothing is available once you get there. But at the end you see the rustic California Beach in all its beauty. We saw dear grazing on the way, and its not often you get to see a big mountain stream empty into the ocean. All in all worth it and a great day trip if you are in the area. read more

LOVE this park. The coastal and valley views are STUNNING! The Ridge Bluff 8 - Mile loop is the best. I would suggest buying the map/brochure (a one dollar investment) and following the directions for the trails on the right side of the map. For the Ridge Bluff Loop, you take the Ridge Trail FIRST and circle back to the Panorama Trail. The ridge is wider and easier to go up the 1.100 foot incline, and you can take your time and appreciate the views going down the steeper and rockier Panorama Trail. The trails are not marked in a few places, so again - having the map is very handy. read more