Nicholas Flat

Overview

Hiking to Nicholas Flat from Leo Carrillo State Park is perhaps one of the most rewarding hiking experiences you can have in Southern California. The trail itself is beautiful but challenging, rising through four different plant communities as it climbs almost 1700 feet from the Pacific Coast to the Flat, which has the feel of a tucked-away, hidden paradise far from the crowds at Leo Carrillo State Beach. The grasslands of the Flat are especially beautiful in the spring, when wildflowers fill the landscape with eye-popping color and (depending on rain) there may be seasonal streams or even a pond hidden in the mountains – but even in the summer, the remote beauty is a joy to experience … even if you find yourself muttering curses on the long, slow climb up. This trail begins at the developed trailhead just inside the main entrance to Leo Carrillo State Park. If you decide to park inside the official lot, you’ll be charged a hefty day-use fee ($14 at the time of writing), an unfortunate response to the constant slashing and mismanagement of the State Parks budget. You can, however, park for free on the Pacific Coast Highway if you don’t mind walking a short distance in either direction. If you end up parking ton the south side of the PCH, there is also a pedestrian underpass from the beach to the Visitor Center, so you don’t have to worry about playing Frogger on the way to your hike. If you start early enough, you may even have some remnants of the marine layer helping to shade and cool your trek – a welcome addition on hot summer days. Just to the east of the entrance booth, look for a sign for a trail to Camp 13. A few hundred feet past this, you’ll reach the beginning of the Nicholas Flat Trail at the junction with the Willow Creek Trail. Both routes are about the same distance, although the Willow Creek Trail is slightly more steep. Read about the native California grassland you’re about to encounter on your journey on an information board and stay to the left to start your ascent on the Nicholas Flat Trail

Trail Stats

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