Palo Colorado Canyon.
Sitting twelve miles south of Carmel-by-the-Sea on Highway 1, Palo Colorado Canyon takes about twenty minutes to reach by car and is known for its steep redwood ravine and historic cabin community along Palo Colorado Road. It offers direct access to rugged backcountry ridges above the Pacific fog line. Palo Colorado Canyon is worth visiting if you want quiet redwood hiking and remote canyon driving away from coastal crowds. Look elsewhere if you need cell service, shops, paved sidewalks, or restaurants.
Last updated 24 Oct 2026
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What to do in Palo Colorado Canyon California United States
Life in Palo Colorado Canyon revolves around the creek and the trees. A single narrow road branches east off Highway 1, winding through dense groves of coast redwoods where residential cabins sit along the water. Days here belong to quiet walks on redwood paths, watching fog clear from the upper ridges, and driving down to the Big Sur coast for cold salt air. It suits independent travellers with sturdy shoes and a full tank of petrol.
24 hours in Palo Colorado Canyon California United States
Start early by walking the lower canyon road beneath towering redwoods. At midday, pick up sandwiches in Carmel before heading south to Garrapata State Park for a coastal bluff hike. Finish before dusk with a bowl of clam chowder or grilled sand dabs at a Highway 1 roadside perch above the surf. Select 1 Day above to see it.
2 days in Palo Colorado Canyon California United States
A second day lets you push deeper into the hills. Hike inland toward the Ventana Wilderness ridges for wide views above the marine layer. Afterward, drive ten minutes north to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve for tidepools, followed by braised artichokes and local pinot noir in Carmel Highlands. Choose 2 Days to expand the plan.
3 days in Palo Colorado Canyon California United States
With three days, venture south past Bixby Bridge down to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Hike through oak woodland to coastal waterfalls, browse local photography galleries, and take an unhurried dinner of roasted pork belly and local greens in the Big Sur valley before returning to the quiet canyon.
Palo Colorado Canyon California United States itineraries by interest
Forest Hiking in Palo Colorado Canyon California United States
Follow trails under dense second-growth and old-growth coast redwoods, climbing past sword ferns and seasonal creeks toward high ridgelines.
Coastal Vistas in Palo Colorado Canyon California United States
Drive out to Highway 1 pullouts near Rocky Creek Bridge to watch Pacific surf crash against granite bluffs and sea stacks in late afternoon light.
Local Wildlife in Palo Colorado Canyon California United States
Scan the redwood canopy for Steller jays and spotted owls, or watch offshore rocks at the canyon mouth for sea otters and migrating gray whales.
Wilderness Backpacking in Palo Colorado Canyon California United States
Access trailheads leading into the Ventana Wilderness, tackling steep ascents through madrone and chaparral toward isolated interior camps.
Scenic Drives in Palo Colorado Canyon California United States
Navigate single-lane Palo Colorado Road as it twists through deep shade, crossing wooden bridges and passing early twentieth-century redwood cabins.
Botanical Walks in Palo Colorado Canyon California United States
Identify redwood sorrel, wild ginger, Douglas firs, and coastal fog lichens lining moist canyon stream beds and shady drainage corridors.
Nearby Dining in Palo Colorado Canyon California United States
Head north to Rocky Point or Carmel Highlands for Pacific rockfish, artichoke soup, and Monterey Bay calamari with unobstructed ocean views.
Photography in Palo Colorado Canyon California United States
Capture morning fog filtering through high redwood branches and dramatic sea mist swirling around the rocky mouth of Palo Colorado Canyon.
Coastal Reserves in Palo Colorado Canyon California United States
Walk the wind-swept coastal headland trails at nearby Garrapata State Park, following paths along sheer cliffs down to wild, exposed beaches.
Geology in Palo Colorado Canyon California United States
Examine fractured Santa Lucia granite and crumbling coastal shale exposed where mountain runoff cuts sharply down toward the Pacific shoreline.
Birdwatching in Palo Colorado Canyon California United States
Spot acorn woodpeckers storing mast in canyon snags and brown pelicans gliding in tight formation just above coastal swells at the mouth.
Picnicking in Palo Colorado Canyon California United States
Pack local sourdough, Monterey Jack cheese, and fruit from Carmel Valley farms to unpack at turnout benches overlooking the rugged coastline.