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Carmel-by-the-Sea Trails That Will Take Your Breath Away (One Way or The Other)

No two experiences on a Carmel trail are the same. One day sun may glint off of crashing waves, while dolphins frolic in the deep blue swells. Another day, fog may stream across your path turning a trail run into a transcendent, ethereal experience.

However you enjoy your trails, Carmel-by-the-Sea serves up unforgettable running, hiking or walking experiences for visitors of all ages and all abilities.

Image of hiking in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
"You can do a nice flat coastal trail, which is incredible along the water or you can hike up the mountains and get as much vert as you want. So there's literally something here for everybody."
– Janice Cleary, owner of Coast Carmel
Image of shoreline in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Image about Carmel-by-the-Sea, California #94-1

Stroll between statuesque, ocean-front Cypress planted by one of Carmel's earliest artist icons — renowned poet and naturalist Robinson Jeffers. Climb high above the sea, and peer back at Carmel Beach's iconic crescent of white sand, along with views of rocky Point Lobos and the iridescent greens of Pebble Beach. Or wind your way across coastal bluffs above sea stacks and hidden beaches. If any of that sounds like your idea of a good time. Read on.

Laid-Back Coastal Bliss

The most accessible — and some of the most stunning — coastline is right along Scenic Drive in Carmel-by-the-Sea. A flat, seaside path weaves between stunning Cypress trees, each a work of natural art on their own. Wooden stairways drop to the white sand of Carmel Beach. But the path continues down the coast. You might even happen upon Joaquin Turner or any of a number of Carmel plein air painters, who frequent this stretch of coastline to paint the Cypress trees shaped by their coastal environment.

Getting There: From Ocean Ave. take the Scenic Pathway south toward Carmel River State Beach. The path ends at the southern edge of Carmel Beach, but the one-way traffic and slow-speed vehicles make for easy walking on the road around the point — with bonus views of Robinson Jeffer's stone Tor House, the iconic Butterfly House and a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed coastal masterpiece. Walk to Carmel River State Beach before retracing your steps, and stopping to admire this epic intersection of land and sea.

Tip: Carmel is one of the most walkable towns you'll find. Leave the car where you parked it when you arrived, and walk down Ocean Ave. to the beach before exploring Scenic Ave. paths along the beach.

Image of Carmel beach at sunset

Find Inspiration (and a little perspiration)

Inspiration Point at Palo Corona Regional Park is aptly named. With steep hillsides dropping dramatically to the grasslands of a retired ranch, and then to the crashing waves of the ocean, the lookout point is seemingly suspended over the Carmel coastline. Views from Inspiration Point extend from Carmel to Point Lobos, Pebble Beach and beyond.

The view must be earned, though. From Palo Corona's lower grasslands, the trail climbs 850 feet, at first gently and then quite steeply. Weave through moss-draped oak trees until you pop out at Inspiration Point. Benches offer rest for weary legs. For those seeking a longer hike or run, the trail doesn't stop at Inspiration Point. It continues on throughout the 10,000 acre Palo Corona park, where trail adventures are virtually endless.

"You can be on the coast one minute, you can be up on top of a mountain half an hour later. You can be in the valley at a vineyard."
– Chris Cleary, owner of Coast Carmel
Image of woman jogging at Palo Corona park in Carmel

For the athletes out there, coastal mountains within Palo Corona rise to more than 3,000 feet, giving ample elevation for training and testing endurance.

Getting There: The most straightforward way to access Palo Corona is to travel up Carmel Valley Rd. and turn right on Rio Rd., where ample parking is available. Other access options are noted here.

Tip: Coastal weather changes minute by minute, so don't be dissuaded by fog. Oftentimes the climb to Inspiration Point will put you up above the fog, and you can watch the coastal weather change in front of your very eyes as the fog dissipates over the beaches, rocks and sea down below — a mesmerizing display of natural beauty.

Image of coastline near Carmel

Meadows and Marine Life

Carmel Meadows serves up short but spectacular loops of trail alongside coastal bluffs and hidden beaches. This system of bluffs between two spectacular beaches — Carmel River State Beach and Monastery Beach — even holds a few secrets and surprises. You may happen upon a cross marking spot where the 1769 Portola-Crespi Expedition erected a wooden crucifix to signal its supply ship. Carmel Meadows features both wide, well-graded roads and singletrack. Meander through trails, stopping to spot otters, seals and oftentimes whales and dolphins as they pass along the rocky coastline.

Getting There: When the Carmel River has not breached the beach (typically in summer and fall) the Carmel Meadows trails can be reached by walking south across Carmel River State Beach.

Tip: Take it slow and enjoy the spectacular views of Point Lobos, a state park that is rumored to be the inspiration for the pirate's lair in Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. Stevenson spent significant time in Carmel, well before he became a literary icon.