Salmon Creek Falls
- Height
- 120 ft
- Hike
- 0.25 mi round trip
- Elevation gain
- 60 ft
- Road
- Paved
Salmon Creek Falls drops about 120 ft on Salmon Creek in Monterey County, California. Reaching it is a 0.25 mi hike round trip with 60 ft of elevation gain.
Closures and warnings
Poison oak is common beside the short path. Reaching the water means scrambling over boulders. Confirm Hwy 1 and Los Padres fire/road closures before traveling the Big Sur coast. As of September 28, 2026.
The falls
| Height | 120 ft |
|---|---|
| Flow note | About 120-foot cascade in the Santa Lucia Mountains a short walk from Hwy 1. Strongest after winter and spring rains; can dwindle in late summer drought. |
| Water type | Waterfall basin |
|---|
Access
| Hike | 0.25 mi round trip |
|---|---|
| Elevation gain | 60 ft |
| Road | Paved |
| Parking | Roadside pullouts on Hwy 1 at the large horseshoe bend, just south of the former Salmon Creek Ranger Station / Buckeye Trail area. Limited space. |
| Managed by | USDA Forest Service, Los Padres National Forest (Silver Peak Wilderness) |
Rules
| Camping | Not allowed |
|---|
Common questions
Common questions
Is Salmon Creek Falls open?
Poison oak is common beside the short path. Reaching the water means scrambling over boulders. Confirm Hwy 1 and Los Padres fire/road closures before traveling the Big Sur coast. As of September 28, 2026.
How tall is Salmon Creek Falls?
Salmon Creek Falls drops about 120 ft.
How long is the hike to Salmon Creek Falls?
It's a 0.25 mi hike round trip with 60 ft of elevation gain. The road in is paved. Parking: Roadside pullouts on Hwy 1 at the large horseshoe bend, just south of the former Salmon Creek Ranger Station / Buckeye Trail area. Limited space.
When is Salmon Creek Falls flowing?
About 120-foot cascade in the Santa Lucia Mountains a short walk from Hwy 1. Strongest after winter and spring rains; can dwindle in late summer drought.
What are the rules at Salmon Creek Falls?
Camping is not allowed.
Nearby
Camping nearby
Public land
Salmon Creek Falls is inside Los Padres National Forest .
Just outside: Silver Peak Wilderness (0.1 mi) , California Coastal National Monument (0.7 mi) .
Sources
1
- https://www.hikespeak.com/trails/salmon-creek-falls-big-sur/ (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager, waterfall.heightFt, waterfall.flowNote, access.hikeDistanceMi, access.hikeDistanceBasis, access.elevationGainFt, access.trailhead, access.parking, rules.camping, hazardNote, waterbodyName, swimmerNotes.waterType)
More: California waterfalls