The Best Backpacking in Cambria

Feel free to hike Salmon Creek Trail at your own pace – you can choose to turn back at any point, or at the Spruce (2 miles in) or Estrella (3.25 miles in) sites. The trail leads to open vistas of the coast, giving stunning views of the cliffs and ocean. Around 2 miles in, follow the fork to the...

Salmon Creek Trailhead to Buckeye Camp is an out-and-back trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near San Simeon, California.

Park on the shoulder of Cabrillo Highway and begin your ascent! Once the trail turns inland, you can hike down to a river for a break by the rushing water (this is a good place to refill waters - don't forget a pump or a filter). Once you get to Upper Cruikshank, descend down to the river and fin...

Cruickshank Trail and Salmon Creek is a point-to-point trail where you may see wildflowers located near San Simeon, California.

While you can make a day-hike out of it by driving up the gorgeous Sur-Nacimiento Road from Highway 1 to the Coast Ridge Road and take a 2 mile trail to the summit with 1300' of elevation gain (4 miles roundtrip), the more adventurous types do a Sea to Sky, starting at Kirk Creek Campground and u...

Campsite:There is nothing quite like driving or biking along US-1, the Pacific Coast Highway. Make sure you get a chance to do the drive during the day so that you can see all that Big Sur has to offer. Be careful when pulling off especially onto the shoulder and never stop on a curve in the road...

The Vicente Flat Trail is well kept and wide, with many campsites at the end. This trail is very close to Cone Peak, and is used for mountain biking, trail running, birding, and nature trips. 

To find this trailhead, head down Highway 1 towards Limekiln State Park Campground. Between Lucia and Limekiln, there should be a shoulder off the side of the road to park overnight. Cross the street to the trailhead of Twitchwell Flat Use Trail. Bear in mind that there is abundant poison oak alo...

Blinn Ranch and Santa Margarita Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Santa Margarita, California.

Junipero Serra Peak is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a river located near Greenfield, California.