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| Hiking | 5.45 Miles |
602 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.45 Miles | 2 Hrs 13 Mns | | 2.62 mph |
| 602 ft AEG | 8 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | As always, the weather here is 100% unpredictable and can't be forecast. I picked this day and stuck with it, despite the thick marine layer. It was breaking up a mile away on the ride to the point, but did not relent during my 2 hour loop until the last half mile. Even then, I decided to ride back out to revisit the roadside viewpoints I had walked to earlier, but alas, just a quarter mile and these spots were still socked in.
Despite the clouds and fog, the scenery here is second to none. Coastal geology, magnificent cypress trees, colorful wildflowers and succulents, pelicans and other sea birds, otters and seals, tidal pool critters, and deer on shore ... 10/10 would do again. 
If you're ever on the central coast, make this one a mandatory stop.
I found the north shore to Cypress Grove to be the most scenic and interesting. The south shore and Bird Island just a fraction less so, and the south plateau and carmelo meadow just the required coastal forest meh to complete the loop.
It's $10 to drive a vehicle in, but bikes and pedestrians are free. There's ample parking along the highway outside of the park if you don't mind adding a half mile to your day. And you might be forced to do so anyway as the gates close once the lots fill up. It's a nice feature that actually keeps this super popular spot from ever feeling too overrun. |
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| I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies. |
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