Sometimes, it’s best to ignore the advice of others.
When researching hikes for a recent trip to Big Sur, the Mill Creek Trail caught my eye. It seemed like a short but beautiful hidden gem that showcased the beauty of the area’s coastal mountains. However, I quickly stumbled upon comments from a few people online telling others that it was severely overgrown and in bad enough shape that people should stay away.
While these warnings were a little discouraging, my friends and I ultimately decided to see for ourselves whether this hike was truly as terrible as we read. And while it wasn’t the most well-kept trail, overall we found the conditions manageable and the reward at the end made it all worth it. Just make sure to wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and wet!
We were treated to stunning Pacific Ocean views as we hiked to the trailhead.
The valley below contained a private campground where visitors could stay.
Normally, there’s a small parking lot just north of the trailhead along Nacimiento-Fergusson Road that hikers can use. Unfortunately, when we visited, the road closed to vehicles, so we instead parked along Highway 1 and hiked to the trailhead, which added three-quarters of a mile each way to our hike. This extra mileage was hardly a burden, as trekking along the road was easy, and gave us stunning canyon and ocean views the entire time. We soon reached the Mill Creek Trailhead and officially got going.
The Mill Creek Trail trailhead.
Compared to the paved road, this trail is narrow and slightly overgrown. It also starts with a short but exposed and decently steep climb. After about 200 feet, the trail flattens out and you’ll enter a small, shaded section. Pretty soon, though, you’ll be back in the sun.
The trail was definitely overgrown but was still fairly simple to navigate.
The first of several shaded sections.
While the trail is overgrown and cramped at points, the path was still mostly visible – bushwhacking was nowhere near necessary. In fact, I spotted several prominent California plant species, including Coast Morning Glory, California Sagebrush, and unfortunately, Pacific Poison Oak. Wearing long pants or some sort of leg protection is smart, especially if your skin is sensitive to poison oak’s toxic oils. The trail is also washed out in parts, so hiking poles are a good idea for those who aren’t the most confident walking on an eroded path.
There were still plenty of flowers in bloom, even in the middle of summer.
At mile 0.2, you’ll once again enter the shade, and can now see Mill Creek flowing below you. Above you are pine trees and to your left and right are large, leafy plants like Thimbleberry and various ferns. From the hot, dry, and very exposed sections to the lush, serene, and cool shaded areas, the stark and sudden changes I experienced reminded me how diverse nature can be, even within the span of a few hundred feet.
Mill Creek churning below you.
You’ll continue to alternate between sun and shade at mile 0.3 when the trail starts climbing uphill again. There’s also no doubt that Mill Creek is to your right, as you can hear it roaring below you.
It was interesting to see a mixture of verdant plant life and brown, dried-out grasses.
Working your way down to the riverbed.
At mile 0.4, you start working your way downhill. Finally, after traversing your way over and around several fallen trees, you’ll reach your reward – the gently flowing Mill Creek.
There are a few fallen trees you have to navigate past.
Mill Creek flows between the redwoods.
There are several different pools that you can swim in, and taking a dip in the brisk river was refreshing after building up a sweat on the hike. With majestic redwood trees towering around us and the creek babbling along, the whole place felt enchanting. We spent a good 30 minutes here, hanging out in the water, lying on rocks, and taking in the beauty around us. And the best part was that we had the place all to ourselves the entire time. Safe to say that we were glad we didn’t listen to those telling us to avoid this trail.
We enjoyed wading in the cool water and soaking in the sun.
While the trail continues from here, the path becomes even more overgrown and much harder to follow, so unless you’re comfortable route-finding and committed to trudging through dense foliage, it’s best to turn around. As you hike back, soak in beautiful views of the forest, canyon, and the Pacific Ocean.
Ocean views open up on your way back.
Tags: Big Sur, Los Padres National Forest, Mill Creek, Overgrown, redwoods, rivers, water features
