Salmon Creek Falls Trail
Salmon Creek Falls Trail
4.5
Full view










Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Attractions
4 within 6 miles
See what other travelers are saying
- PinkShoeAddictDarien, Illinois101 contributionsShort but rewarding hikeI went here in June with my family. The hike is short with a lot of rocks/boulders. If you can’t climb it all, you will still be able to see some of the waterfall. The swimming hole/best views do require you to go across a small set of planks with a rope. The 6-year-old in the group was devastated he could not try it, but he did well on the rest. My mom is in her mid-70s and did okay for most of it, but could not do the very end due to a fear of heights. Nonetheless, the views are great and if you can handle heights and some climbing, you can get a very close view. There are no amenities at this site, so if you need to use the toilet or get a drink, go at Ragged Point down the road a few miles. There are nice bathrooms and a place to get drinks/coffee. As a bonus, there are some very easy walks with nice views that don’t require the long hike downhill.Visited June 2021Traveled with familyWritten June 23, 2021
- Beth SSouth Lake Tahoe, California421 contributionsWatch where you walkWarning: ticks and poison oak in the area and on the trail. We saw this as a warning on someone's review and headed the warnings! The hike is steep and rocky so be aware. The hike to the falls is short. We continued from the falls up hill to Silver Peak. The view was extraordinary.Visited February 2022Written February 27, 2022
- Teresa SMorro Bay, California21 contributionsA beautiful hikeI've hiked up to the falls numerous times with family and friends. Good for active children, but not little ones. It's not that far from my house. You can hike further up to campsites. Take everything you'll need with you.Visited February 2022Written September 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
41 reviews
Excellent
23
Very good
13
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Laura T
Middlesbrough, UK6,947 contributions
May 2014 • Couples
Salmon Creek Falls Trail is probably our favourite walk so far, of our journey up the Pacific Coast Highway from San Diego to San Francisco, and we have a LOT to choose from!
There is a lot of clambering over rocks involved, even if you take the main trail path, if you want to get the best views of the waterfall so I would not recommend this trail for very young children or the elderly.
Parking is directly alongside the Pacific Coast Highway - google maps knows roughly whereabouts! The easier route to take would be the main trail, which is to the right as you park. We took the lower trail (starts off downhill from parking area) by mistake and this involves lots of clambering over rocks, climbing up rock faces, hopping across streams, ducking under branches etc etc! All GREAT fun but a little tricky and we often wondered if we were going the right way! Just keep going though, and the sound of the waterfall will guide you.
The waterfall views are AMAZING and totally worth persevering for - keep climbing over rocks even if you think you must already be there to get to the full uninterrupted view right at the end.
The trail was very quiet (unlike most of PCH - ssssh keep the secret! lol)but there were a couple of families at the waterfall in swimwear - it looked great fun for the kids to play in the beautiful water.
We would definitely recommend if you are nearby or making the trip up PCH (Route 1). You could spend as long as you like here really, we were here just over an hour but you could stay longer if you wanted to dip your toes in the water and really explore amongst the rocks. Try to make time to see this beautiful waterfall!
PS No toilet facilities, this is not a tourist attraction!
There is a lot of clambering over rocks involved, even if you take the main trail path, if you want to get the best views of the waterfall so I would not recommend this trail for very young children or the elderly.
Parking is directly alongside the Pacific Coast Highway - google maps knows roughly whereabouts! The easier route to take would be the main trail, which is to the right as you park. We took the lower trail (starts off downhill from parking area) by mistake and this involves lots of clambering over rocks, climbing up rock faces, hopping across streams, ducking under branches etc etc! All GREAT fun but a little tricky and we often wondered if we were going the right way! Just keep going though, and the sound of the waterfall will guide you.
The waterfall views are AMAZING and totally worth persevering for - keep climbing over rocks even if you think you must already be there to get to the full uninterrupted view right at the end.
The trail was very quiet (unlike most of PCH - ssssh keep the secret! lol)but there were a couple of families at the waterfall in swimwear - it looked great fun for the kids to play in the beautiful water.
We would definitely recommend if you are nearby or making the trip up PCH (Route 1). You could spend as long as you like here really, we were here just over an hour but you could stay longer if you wanted to dip your toes in the water and really explore amongst the rocks. Try to make time to see this beautiful waterfall!
PS No toilet facilities, this is not a tourist attraction!
Written May 6, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scruff_UK
Chester, UK219 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
Salmon Creek Falls is a hidden pair of twin waterfalls towards the south end of Big Sur which is well worth a half-hour stop on your drive down the coast, if you're reasonably fit and don't mind a little scrambling. The falls themselves are gorgeous and they have a large swimming hole at the bottom - and with any luck you'll be the only people there.
Location and route: There's a huge horseshoe shaped bend in the road about 45 minutes south of Fernwood Resort; pull into the long off-road car parking on the mountain side of the road, and then head right towards the signposted trail head. Follow the trail to the waterfall - watch out for poison oak; once you reach a wide open campground-esque area you can either head up or down. Head up until you reach a big scary cave, then head down to your left to the river, followed by a short barefoot splash across the shallow river and a little rock scrambling, but nothing too strenuous by any means.
Location and route: There's a huge horseshoe shaped bend in the road about 45 minutes south of Fernwood Resort; pull into the long off-road car parking on the mountain side of the road, and then head right towards the signposted trail head. Follow the trail to the waterfall - watch out for poison oak; once you reach a wide open campground-esque area you can either head up or down. Head up until you reach a big scary cave, then head down to your left to the river, followed by a short barefoot splash across the shallow river and a little rock scrambling, but nothing too strenuous by any means.
Written September 27, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GreenMR
Rochester107 contributions
Sep 2017 • Family
The trail is close to Rugged Point - just a short drive north via beautiful Cabrillo Highway. The trailhead is easy to recognize by parking area where the road makes a sharp turn. A lot of huge boulders to go through and explore. You do need good hiking shoes there! There is a metal pipe to use in order to cross the creek and get to the waterfall secluded area. It does not look like the one on Tripadvisor pictures, all it is a single pipe and a rope. Since I did not want to slip into the creek I simply used my behind... Not very comfortable but possible - and the view is rewarding!
Written October 20, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KnowledgeTraveler
Chicago, Illinois, United States14 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
My 2nd trip to the Salmon Creek falls. There is actually no sign to the waterfalls, so the info from TripAdviser is very important/helpful. Follow the sign to start the the trail. After a short walk, there is a fork with the sign "trail" going up (right). DON'T follow the trail at this junction; instead, going left (down). From this point, there is actually no trail but rock climbing (easy) down to the creek. When you see the steel pipe, that is for the creek crossing. You can actually see the falls before crossing the creek. However, it is definitely worth the challenge to cross the creek and see the beautiful falls.
Written August 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beach-Nana93402
Los Osos, CA89 contributions
Jan 2016 • Solo
Just a few miles north of Ragged Point, it's worth a stop at Salmon Creek Falls. You can't see the falls very well from the road, so you have to walk in a short distance and drop down to the edge of the creek to get a good look and enjoy it up close. A great place for a picnic. If you choose to take the trail, watch for the cut-off to the right before going to the falls.
Written February 29, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shivranjani R
57 contributions
Its a short trail but involves climbing. You are walking/hiking through rocks and trees till you get to the falls. There are pipes there to get to the other side (near the waterfall). It may look risky but its very stable and easy. So do go across and see the water basin up close.
Written November 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andyadf
Canterbury, UK30 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
We wanted to see some Falls, and what a lovely place.
As said it's not signed but just follow your ears.
Just take it slow as the fallen leaves can be slippery, only a ten minute walk!
You must make the stop!
As said it's not signed but just follow your ears.
Just take it slow as the fallen leaves can be slippery, only a ten minute walk!
You must make the stop!
Written September 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandaye24
Buderim, Australia41 contributions
Jan 2015 • Couples
A short and easy climb/trek to this hidden gem. Be sure to climb right up to the area in front of the falls where there are pipes for support while you can take photos and enjoy the falls.
Written January 5, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nordy2014
Grover Beach, CA58 contributions
Have heard so many great things about Salmon Creek Falls. It is beautiful and the falls are only a short walk along the creek! Definitely recommend!! If you do take the hike up be prepared for an uphill battle for 2 miles before you see the creek again.
Written April 16, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike Duck
27 contributions
Nov 2019 • Couples
Rugged short hike..but as a fairly experienced hiker, there should be a few trail markings on the "path"..I know the hike is short 0.3 of a mile but it would not take much to lose your place out there..and it would not take much for the California Forestry to put up a few markers on the trail..
Written November 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FitnessInNature
Morro Bay, CA5 contributions
Are dogs allowed on this hike?
TracyM
Cincinnati, OH889 contributions
It’s such a hidden hike...so hardly even any signs and definitely not any kind of park ranger to tell you no! So I’m not 100% sure but I’d say it’s probably fine. However your bigger issue is going to be the challenging part of the hike where you need to climb a large rock to get to the falls. I feel like it would be really hard to bring a dog that far.
Can you camp there?
maikel b
Pismo Beach, CA
No, there is no space for camp there.
leannepaxton
Grass Lake, MI
How long does it take to hike to the falls?
maikel b
Pismo Beach, CA
Approximately 10 / 15 minutes!
Recently viewed
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingSalmon Creek Falls Trail (Big Sur) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Salmon Creek Falls Trail
- Hotels near Salmon Creek Falls Trail:
- (3.33 mi) Treebones Resort
- (0.90 mi) Big Sur Beautiful Ocean View Private Stone House Estate
- (1.35 mi) South Coast Big Sur; Amazing Views; HWY 1 OPEN FROM THE SOUTH ONLY
- (7.73 mi) Lucia Lodge
- (4.42 mi) Kirk Creek Campground
Salmon Creek Falls Trail Information
| Excellent Reviews | 23 |
|---|---|
| Very Good Reviews | 13 |
| Salmon Creek Falls Trail Photos | 46 |



















































