Garland E Garza, East Ridge and Terrace Loop

Just a short drive from downtown Monterey you will find yourself amongst the rugged yet serene hills of Toro Park. For a day-use admission fee ($) you will have access to 20+ miles of trails that climb through canyons and run along ridgelines to peaks with views of the ocean in the distance. While the map is full of official trails, you will find additional social trails weaving through the hi...

This magnificent trail was recently converted into part of the Monterey Regional Parks System. Walk through pastures of cows, through coast oaks, up a steep incline with vast views of Carmel Valley, Carmel and the Pacific Ocean up to the top where a picnic table awaits you at Inspiration Point.  This 3.75-mile trail is part of the very large 4,300 acre park. The rest of the park is not develop...

Backpacking to Pat Springs is a way to see Big Sur and the San Lucia mountains from a perspective that few get to experience. The Ventana Wilderness is rugged and remote, yet Pat Springs is one of the most beautiful campgrounds around that will allow you to take in this amazing terrain.  To get to Pat Springs, you will hike along Skinners Ridge. The Trailhead is at the Bottchers Gap campground...

Garrapata State Park is located along California's Highway 1, roughly 5 miles south of Carmel, California. The park is entirely free with multiple pull-outs and serves as one of the first grand views travelers encounter while heading south from the Monterey Peninsula to southern California. Garrapata is where you will find many scenic and iconic vistas of both the San Lucia Mountain range and j...

Fort Ord National Monument is a fantastic place to cruise around on your mountain bike, whether you are a beginner or an experienced rider looking for flowy trails to cruise on. Access is easy from the highway and there is ample room in the parking lot even on busy days.  Dozens of trails wind through the canyons and ridgelines of this open park, and linking up trails is easy with a network of...

The Carmel Meadows Trail in California is a 0.6-mile scenic loop along the rugged coastline near Carmel-by-the-Sea. With breathtaking ocean views, sandy paths, and opportunities to see wildflowers and coastal wildlife, this easy trail is ideal for a short, relaxing hike. It’s a family-friendly and dog-friendly trail, with some rocky areas and mild elevation changes.  Accessible year-round, i...