Directions to hike locations are listed below.  Some activities meet at different locations than where the activity will actually occur.  PLEASE CHECK THE LISTED MEETING PLACE TO MAKE SURE YOU MEET YOUR ACTIVITY LEADER AT THE CORRECT LOCATION.

Frog Pond Preserve

Entrance on Canyon Del Rey Rd. between General Jim Moore Blvd. & Highland St.

Garland Parking lot & Visitor Center

700 West Carmel Valley Rd. – Approximately 8.6 miles east of Highway 1 or 1 mile west of Laureles Grade. The Visitor Center is located just within the park. From the upper parking lot along Carmel Valley Rd., enter the park via the metal bridge to the west. On the other side of the bridge, turn left and proceed about 100 yards to the Visitor Center. From the lower parking lot, a seasonal footbridge to the Visitor Center is available late spring through fall. 

E. Garzas Trailhead (Garland Park)

From Highway 1, go east on Carmel Valley Rd. for 10.2 miles, turn right on Boronda Rd., go 0.5 miles, turn left on E. Garzas Rd., go 0.2 miles to trailhead on right hand side.

Kahn Ranch Addition to Garland Park

From Highway 1, go east on Carmel Valley Rd. for 11.8 miles, turn right on Esquiline Rd., go 0.6 miles, turn right on Southbank Rd., go 0.8 miles.  Go left at Hitchcock Canyon Rd., go 0.6 miles to Kahn Ranch entrance & parking area.

Marina Dunes Preserve

Take Highway 1 to Reservation Rd. exit (west), turn right at Dunes Dr. Parallel park at the end of the road near the northern trailhead across from the Marina Dunes RV park exit.

Mill Creek Preserve (Park closed indefinitely due to damage from the Soberanes Fire and recent storms)

Drive approximately 10 miles south from Rio Rd. in Carmel on Highway 1 toward Big Sur. Look for Palo Colorado Canyon Rd. (about ¼ mile past Rocky Point Restaurant).  Turn left on Palo Colorado Canyon Rd. The entrance to Mill Creek Preserve is located approximately 6.8 miles east of Highway 1. Drive very slowly and carefully. Parking is available on the shoulder of the road, adjacent to the entrance to the trail.  The Mill Creek Preserve is currently open to limited public access by permit reservation only, on a “first come, first served” basis for up to 8 permits per day.

Palo Corona Ranch

To enter the park via Carmel Valley Rd. (north gate)
From Highway 1, turn east on Carmel Valley Rd. From Carmel Valley Rd., turn right (south) onto Rio Rd. (east), just past Carmel Middle School. Turn left at the end of the road into the park and proceed to the designated parking area. Trailhead located on the west side of the parking lot. 

To enter the park via Highway 1 (west gate)
Take Highway 1 south past Rio Rd. intersection in Carmel; proceed south of Carmel River Bridge approximately 200 yards.  Make the left-hand turn into the park entrance driveway. Do not block driveway.  Parking is by permit reservation only, on a “first come, first served” basis for up to 13 permits per day.

To enter the park via the new South Bank Trail (east gate)
Parking is available in the new Big Sur Land Trust parking lot at 26700 Rancho San Carlos Road, which is about 0.40 miles from Carmel Valley Road, over the Carmel River bridge.  There is no parking along the road shoulders.  Turn right at the mailbox, into the first small, gravel parking area.  Parking is very limited and first-come-first-served basis for up to 8 permits per day.