San Carpoforo Creek Beach
If you’ve followed my blog from the beginning (thank you for your amazing support!), then you know I am a Southern California beach girl at heart (see this post from my very first week of blogging). Few things soothe my soul more than the crashing of ocean waves, and today I’m sharing a unique and secluded beach spot I’ve been enjoying for over a decade. Welcome to San Carpoforo Creek Beach!
Location
Located just 15 miles north of the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, the beach trailhead is actually part of the Los Padres National Forest. San Carpoforo is often regarded as the southernmost beach along the Big Sur coast…however a portion of the land is technically the northernmost point of Hearst San Simeon State Park. This beach is 30 miles north of Estero Bluffs State Park, which is home to one of the most easily accessible shipwrecks in all of California. Ragged Point Inn is conveniently located less than 1 mile north of the beach, and it’s the perfect place to stop for food, gas, or lodging on your way up into Big Sur.
Parking/Trail
Parking and the beach trailhead are easy to miss if you don’t know what your looking for. A small pull-out and large gate on the coastal side of Highway 1 mark the parking area and entrance. Once you walk past the gate you’ll see a large sign and a cleared dirt trail that turns to fine sand, leading down to the ocean. A beautiful 40 foot cypress tree marks the halfway point on the 1/3 mile path. It’s important to stay on the trail because large amounts of poison oak grow in this area.
Creek/Lagoon
San Carpoforo Creek begins at 2200 feet elevation in Los Padres National Forest near Three Peaks. It flows 11 miles down the mountain and crosses under Highway 1, making its way towards the ocean. Early Spanish explorers named San Carpoforo for Saint Carpophorus, a Christian Roman soldier executed around 300 AD. A large lagoon is present here most of the year, as the creek is blocked by a substantial sand bar. You can either wade through the lagoon or cross over on the rocks at the northern end of lagoon in order to reach the ocean.
The Beach
I love this wide sandy beach, because unlike most Big Sur beaches (like Sand Dollar or Pfeiffer), this location isn’t heavily trafficked and doesn’t get many visitors. Big Sur beaches are often cool and windy even in the Summer months, and this beach is no exception. Early dense fog fills the sky here, making the beach beautifully moody and even slightly eerie at times.
North End
The north end of the beach rolls out into giant rocky cliffs, and in very low tide sea caves are visible here. As you look north the beautiful cliffs and mountains drop straight down into the ocean, giving you your first glimpse into the majesty of the Big Sur coastline.
South End
I love the southern end of this beach too. If you visit during low tide you can pass the massive rocks and explore a smaller secondary beach, Ragged Point Beach. This hidden beach is perfectly secluded with unobstructed views of its namesake, Ragged Point. You’ll also find a sea cave here which is more easily accessible during low tide than the northern caves. Whether you decide to visit the northern or the southern end of this beach, make sure to check the tide charts. Rogue waves come crashing in with the tides and the sea caves on either end of the park are only safe to visit when tides are very low.
Wildlife
The central coast is a wonderful place to experience a wide array of California wildlife, and this is absolutely true at San Carpoforo Creek Beach. You can easily see dolphins from the shoreline, and seasonally whales migrate up and down the coast as well. A portion of this beach is restricted and protected as a snowy plover nesting area, and you can often see these little birds near the waters edge. At the southern end of the beach located high in the large rocks, many cliff swallows make their homes. You can view them here seasonally from March to October, before they make the journey south for the Winter.
Know before you go:
• Don’t leave valuables in your car anywhere in Big Sur. This area is very safe, however over the years you’ll hear about possessions going missing from vehicles along trail heads and in parking areas. So take all your important belongings with you.
• Poison oak is abundant off the trail to the beach, so stay on the trail and remember If you see leaves of three, leave it be 😉
• Pack it in and pack it out. About half a decade ago illegal camping at this beach left a large amount of garbage, plastic, and glass bottles. I am thrilled to say on my most recent visit the area was clean and beautiful. Please make sure to keep it this way by being responsible with all your belongings, making sure to pack out trash and food.
• Please be considerate of the Leave no Trace Principles to help keep this place wild and beautiful.
Nearby places of interest:
Ragged Point Inn & Trail (1 mile N)
Salmon Creek Falls (4 miles N)
Jade Cove (15 miles N)
Sand Dollar Beach (15 miles N)
Limekiln State Park (22 miles N)
McWay Falls (35 miles N)
Bixby Creek Bridge (60 miles N)
Garrapata State Park (65 miles N)
Calla Lily Valley (65 miles N)
Estero Bluffs Sate Park (30 miles S)
Point Estero Shipwreck (35 miles S)
Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery (15 miles S)
In Summary & Behind the Blog Video
Thanks for joining me at this hidden treasures on California’s Central Coast. For more information, see my Behind the Blog video below. Until next week, I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go!
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